Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    DIDI Chuxing, the largest app-based vehicle service provider in the world, announced in Beijing yesterday its partnership with some 50 taxi companies across eight cities including Shenzhen to launch new efficiency-and- service enhancing initiatives.

    Shenzhen Shangchao Taxi Service Co. Ltd. represented peers within the city in signing the agreement with Didi, along with other representatives from Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Chengdu, Shanxi, Anhui and Nantong at a ceremony.

    The partners will launch pilot projects for an intelligent and coordinated request-dispatching (IRD) system to enhance driver efficiency and user experience, and support the taxi industry’s reform and upgrading programs.

    According to the agreements, Didi will help taxi partners upgrade their rider-driver matching systems, building on its big data capabilities. Considering distance, traffic information, demand, supply, and drivers’ ratings, among other variables, the new IRD model automatically assigns ride requests to the most suitable vehicle.

    The IRD system is designed to lower vacancy rates and improve the income of taxi drivers as well as the quality of service. Beta tests show that hourly income of the driver may rise by as much as 50 percent, and the vacancy rate may drop by as much as 36 percent when switching from the ride-bidding system to the new IRD system.

    The partnership will also extend to coordinating requests for dispatching across taxi and private-car hailing services. Taxi drivers working for the partner companies will be able to pick up private-car rides upon the consent of the riders. Didi will assist the partners in upgrading the information management system, improving operating efficiency, and exploring innovative business models.

    Earlier this year, the Central Government legalized ridesharing at the national level.