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THERE ARE FEW companies that have built up as much goodwill as Hailo. Since it arrived on the scene back in 2012, it has been quickly adopted by the country and has expanded to almost all of Ireland.
But while its focus has been mainly on individuals, the taxi company now setting its sights on both businesses and the hospitality industry.
For the latter, the company is currently testing out a new service called Hailo Hub, a web service designed for the hospitality industry. It allows these services to book taxis for their guests, who provide their name and number and receive notifications through SMS making it accessible for non-smartphone users.
Currently, Hailo is trialing the service with a number of businesses in Dublin, but this new focus doesn’t mean it’s neglecting either individual consumers or businesses, according to the company’s general manager for Ireland, Tim Arnold.
Rather than moving away [from individuals], we’re broadening our focus to include businesses and the hospitality industry. We’ve got a business product for companies who want to give Hailo access to all their employees than separately, we’ve got this solution [Hailo Hub] for the hospitality industry and of course, our regular retail customers. We’re still targeting them as well.”
In recent times, the company has been busy adding new features to its service. Alongside Hailo Hub, it incorporated iBeacon, Apple’s Bluetooth-powered location service which allows later iPhones and Android devices to recognise if you’re in a Hailo taxi, to allow those with the app to jump into a taxi and still pay through the app, as well as a redesign of the core apps.
The other areas it’s improved is its business offerings, mainly providing one central account for companies for employees traveling for work purposes, as well as giving the app a cleaner design.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing though. It recently did hit a setback when it announced it was pulling out of North America recently (and its co-founder and co-CEO Jay Bregman left to focus his attention on drones) but its focus is on Europe and Asia as according to Arnold, “they’re the markets where our model is working” (it recently launched in Singapore).
Scaling in Ireland hasn’t been as difficult, it being the first service of its kind to arrive here certainly helped matters, but its quick expansion meant it became the first country to see almost nationwide coverage which gave it a major advantage.
What’s interesting is in Ireland, it’s easy to expand as there’s one taxi regulator so all of the regulations, they’re all the same and [usually] it’s a challenge for our driver team to build up those drivers in each market that we go into… now that we’ve got coverage all over the country, and we’ve users all over the country, you find that if you use Hailo in Dublin and you go elsewhere, the first thing you’re going to do is to try Hailo. It encourages more taxi use which is great for taxi drivers across Ireland.
While it’s widespread, Arnold puts their success here down to the overall service it provides. By taking care of the drivers, that feel good factor filters down to customers and keeps everyone happy.
“Our model is the most efficient and economical way for drivers to find customers,” says Arnold. “And when you’ve got happy drivers who provide a great service, you have happy customers.”
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Do they have a minimum fare in Ireland? They introduced a 10 quid minimum fare in London and I stopped using them.
I don’t think you can get anywhere for less than €10 these days.
Minimum fare is €4.10
I haven’t had any issues with Hailo in Dublin or since I moved to Cork. Cars come in less time than quoted generally, day or night.
That said, it’s all well and good when I’m at home and want to go somewhere. It can be patchy if you’re relying on it somewhere out of the ordinary. i.e. It works very well if you’re near a place where taxis congregate (e.g. a large pub), or in a residential area where drivers are having a cup of tea and can grab you.
Amusingly I got a hailo one evening and I saw him swing down from the local lidl on the app. When we got in the back the seat was full of clinking bags of cheap vodka and wine he’d forgotten to transfer to the boot in his haste. Obviously does late night booze sales from his boot.
Where was a ‘Boozo’ app when I needed it in my early 20s
Unreliable company. Drivers cancel after they confirm they’ve arrived on a regular basis. No response when I complain on their website. Happened to me 6 times in 2 months. Never use them again.
Why don’t you tell us once more delores?
Use them a lot. Drivers are much better if its on account as there’s a paper trail.
Even used it in NYC recently (although that car & driver were disappointing), seemed more like a hackney service there.
I do think they should set minimum standards for cars though & perhaps consider wrapping them in a uniform colour.
I use them a good bit and there’s a car wrapped up in yellow Hailo livery that looks really nice, they should consider funding other drivers to do the same.
Hailo have become too big for their boots recently. I use them regularly and pay them from my credit card with an inbuilt 10% tip. Yet 6 times in two months I got confirmation from the driver to say they were outside only to walk out the door to get a message of cancellation. I can only guess they’re picking up another client along the way. I’ve complained on their website & never even got a response. The point is, if I cancel a booking, I get a charge added to my card so where’s the balance when they cancel? I’ve had to walk for 10 minutes to the main road to get a taxi after they cancel. I won’t be using their (unreliable) service again.
The auto tip function can be disabled
Unreliable service. Have had 6 confirmed calls cancelled in 2 months. I pay by card with built in tip. No response when I complain on their website. Never using them again
Oh jaysus
Who in business cares about consumers who cannot afford a smart phone when one can be purchased SIM-free from China for €79.
Roish
It’s actually for hospitality industry, so basically all the tools who need reception to do stuff for them. Wake them up, call taxi, tell them what time is now etc. :)
“Who in business cares about consumers who cannot afford a smart phone when one can be purchased SIM-free from China for €79.”
If you’re trolling I applaud you, if you’re serious I pity you
Uber drivers are not insured to carry passengers for hire or reward God forbid anything happens but if it did you could be left high and dry plus their drivers have no checks done on them and only need an ordinary drivers licence to operate any degenerate could be driving you
How’s this any better than uber ?
In terms of price, it’s not better than Uber. Uber is a good bit cheaper than taxis. In terms of availability (i.e. cars on the road), Hailo is leagues ahead in Ireland however. You wait 10 minutes or more for Ubers. Finally, Hailo doesn’t do surge pricing, so you’re never hit with 1.5x fares.
Never tried uber. Are they a taxi or Hackney?
Hailo drivers are standard licensed taxi drivers, with all the checks and safety that comes with the taxi license. Uber drivers seem to be whoever the hell wants to sign up to be a driver.
Sorry for so comments but they weren’t coming up as being posted so I thought there was a problem with my connection. Don’t know if I can delete the previous comments.
Maybe there is a problem with your phone so, can’t blame the Journal on it for the post not coming up AND blame the taxi company as well. You are the common denominator in both. In fairness, I did book a taxi with them to the airport for 5:45 one morning, app said taxi was outside, went out and no sign of taxi, the driver rang me and asked me where I was going and I said airport and he told me he was going home and the airport was out of his way and to cancel the taxi on the app and order another. Only downloaded the app the night before and didn’t really know the ins and outs of it. Cancelled the taxi on the app and got a fine of €5 for doing so because I cancelled it, gave feedback and got no response.
Prefer Uber I must admit.
I wish there was a setting in the app to change the cabs radio station from Q102
have your say