Split

To make an MVP to prove the hypothesis of the relevance of such services (app for scooter rides). In building an MVP, the client wanted to use basic logic when the user requested a ride on the platform. That is why we included only the basic functionality of the app in order to check the viability of their hypothesis.

The process of booking a ride operates on an IOS app:

• From the customer side: You can only request a ride once you’ve registered and logged in.

Verification: You also have to verify your phone number and accept “The Rules of The Road”, “Terms of Service” and “Release of Liability”. Passengers are only able to request rides within predefined regions.

User location: The starting location is adjusted automatically so that you don’t have to type it in manually. If you want to change your current location, however, this option is also available.

Smart matching mechanism: You indicate the destination point and request a ride. Then the system searches for the nearest driver, calculates ride cost and displays information about the ride. You can always cancel your ride but only until a driver is found. In case there are no drivers available in the queue, you will be notified with a “No Drivers Available” message.

Advanced billing system: To request a ride, you must first enter your credit card info. Once you enter your card credentials, they are saved in the app for future rides.

Visualization on the map: You can also monitor the driver’s movement to the pick-up point. If you want to cancel your ride after it has been accepted, you will have to pay a cancellation fee. You will be notified when your ride arrives. You will be charged only after arriving at your destination. You can always leave feedback for your driver.

• driver side: To register as a driver, you must fill in your phone number and click the “Apply to drive” button.

Equipment: You will give rides to passengers using approved scooters. You will also be equipped with a built-in navigator. Once you are registered, you are ready to give rides.

Driver’s location: First of all, you will need to press the “Go online” button. Then the system will set your coordinates automatically or you can set them manually. The driver’s coordinates are updated every few seconds.

Accepting a ride: When a passenger requests you for a ride, you are notified and will have 10 seconds to accept or decline the ride. If you ignore the request, it is automatically forwarded to the next–closest driver. By accepting a ride, you immediately receive the necessary information to complete it.

Hitting the button: You will be given a list of different ride statuses that you will need to report, e.g. accepted, pickup, departed, drop off, cancelled, completed.

Not available: You will be considered eligible for a ride only if you are within 4.5 miles from the pickup point. You can become “Not Available” by clicking the “Go Offline” button. You can’t go offline if you have accepted a ride.

To provide the best experiences for both parties, we integrated only the useful features for the marketplace application that the client wanted.

While building an MVP we implemented:

• an admin panel
• payment processing system
• solutions for ride requests and ride processing
• push notifications
• the option to leave feedback.

Finding the nearest driver within a certain radius

In order to save passengers’ money, we have combined Redis geospatial with Google Matrix API.

WebSockets

We had to go into the sources and see how everything worked. After conducting our research, we made a small hack, the gist of which was turning to Redis and checking whether the connection of web-docks really opened or not.

October 2018 — May 2019