Case study: Cork Taxi Co-op
Moving with the times,
the Cork Taxi Co-op has always been an innovative organisation.
It was formed back in 1971, when the city’s taxi drivers saw the need to provide a radio-controlled taxi service.
Since these early days, technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. The Cork Taxi Co-op has always been ahead of the game, and today harnesses cutting-edge expertise to provide a super-efficient taxi service within a twenty-mile radius of the city centre.
GeoDirectory's Address Database allows a 15 second service
Speed is of the essence for any taxi company. As well as transporting private passengers, the Cork Taxi Co-op provides taxi and courier services to over 800 local businesses, including most of the blue-chip companies operating in the city. These organisations frequently have to work to tight deadlines.
In early 2008, the Co-op, which has 90 shareholder/drivers and 10 employees, purchased the segment of GeoDirectory which covers Cork City and the surrounding area. The database, GeoAddress Locator, was then linked to Auriga's automated booking and automated dispatch system.
The new set-up allowed the Co-op to move to a much quicker pick-up time, which means that a taxi can now be assigned within 15 seconds of the call centre staff receiving the booking.
Instant and precise address information
Clem Mahon, the Chair of Cork Taxi Co-op, says that GeoDirectory has been vital to the success of the new system. “Now, when someone phones up to book a taxi, our operators key in the pick-up address and the destination address. Even if the information is only partial, we can instantly pinpoint the exact location using the GeoDirectory pull-down options.”
“For example, someone might want a taxi to come to 50 Cromwell Street. By keying in the first few letters of the address provided, the operator can see the full range of options – 50 Cromwell Place, 50 Cromwell Drive, etc. – and select the exact location.”
“That is then matched to the X,Y coordinates associated with the address on the GeoDirectory database, and the system can then connect instantly to the nearest available driver.”
“In the past, we had a computerised system, but had to rely on local knowledge. For example, we might have to ask: ‘Is that the house with the green door at the corner?’”
“Now we have precise information. Sometimes customers are impressed that even before they’ve finished telling us the full address, we know the name of the house, for example, or other details that we’ve discovered instantly from the GeoDirectory database.”
All in all, GeoDirectory has helped the Cork Taxi Co-op to deliver a more efficient service to its customers, and has increased revenues by boosting passenger turnover.
By following in the tyre-tracks of the Cork Taxi Co-op, and utilising the unique GeoDirectory database, any business involved in transportation within Ireland can save precious time, slash costs, improve customer experience, boost revenues - and reduce their carbon emissions into the bargain.
This project was completed using GeoAddress Locator.
Call us now
For expert advice on how GeoDirectory can make a huge difference to your business, call us now on +353 (0)1 7057005, or email geodirectory@anpost.ie
View Next Case Study