The Ola Cabs Mobile Application and Platform

As mentioned before, the application was developed for both the Android and iOS interfaces to streamline the cab booking process for the average commuter. Now, the app itself was launched in June of 2012 and has thus far been downloaded a total of over 100 Million times on the Google Play Store alone.

Customers can access a wide range of benefits and features through the app, so without further delay let us have a look at some of the features that make this product and brand stand above the rest in the market.

Ola Daily

This is one of the three main ride types that Ola Cabs offers to its users. The Ola Daily is for the average commuter who needs to make it from point A to point B within their respective cities. The concept is fairly simple and straightforward, you log into the app, select the location you want to be dropped at, the location you are at currently and the method of payment. Then you just sit back and let the app connect you to a verified driver who will come pick you up. This is perfect for those of us who want to beat the morning traffic.

Ola Rentals

This is exactly what it sounds like, you rent a cab for how many hours or kilometres suits you and your budget. The App gives you a range of choices from a minimum of 1 hour or 10 Kilometre package up to a maximum of 24 hours or 220 Kilometre package. It’s sort of like hiring a personal limo service but with cabs.

When employing the services of a rental you can make multiple stops and go to multiple destinations using the same cab as long as it falls into the purview of the package you booked initially. This is something that is not a possibility in the daily feature, which is more of a one-and-done kind of service. Of course, if you want the ride to keep going, you can still do that, with additional charges.  

Ola Outstation

Ola offers this service for those long road trips out of the city. The benefit of this feature is that it offers a very competitive price point in comparison to a lot of the outstation car rental providers like Zoomcar. With this booking feature, you can book yourself a cab out of the city almost instantly and select the type of car you want, be it a small economical car, a prime sedan or a luxury SUV.

Customers can also select if they want the cab for a one-way trip or a round-trip. Once the location is selected, the duration needs to be set, which is considered on a 24-hours basis. This means that if you opt for a two-day trip, the app will automatically set the end of the trip for 48 hours after the trip begins.

When considering the rigid pricing that many of the outstation rental services that other private cab aggregators provide, it adds up to a fairly decent package.

Ola Share Pass

Similar to buying a season ticket or pass for the bus or train, but for cabs. You buy a share pass and pay the same fare at a locked-in rate every day. There is also no peak pricing when you book a ride using Share Pass, which helps you make the most of the flat fares as per your respective city. All in all, a very economical way to commute on a regular and predictable basis.

Ola Express

This feature is a bit of a mix and match of the carpooling option and a daily option. In essence, the Ola Express feature allows customers to book cabs from point A to B, using the fastest routes with little to no deviations, hence the name express. This is particularly useful in the morning and evening six O’clock rush hours. There is a catch, however, as the rides will pick up and drop off customers based on their relative locations at pre-determined Ola pickup/drop points. These points cannot be altered and you will need to walk the rest of the way.

Ola Corporate

The Ola Corporate feature is a business travel booking option for companies who wish to track, monitor and keep better tabs on employee business trips. The rides get automatically paid through the Ola Corporate balance account that the company pre-pays for the employee.

It also makes invoicing and tracking easier. This gets rid of the hassle of collecting travel receipts and managing reimbursements, creates cost centres and helps control the budget. With Ola Corporate, employees can choose point-to-point travel or executive travel. Additionally, it also works to the benefit of night shift employees with night drops and even weekend work travels.

Ola Select

This is equivalent to the VIP section of the club. With this feature, you gain some interesting membership benefits. For one, you ride without any peak prices 24×7. Your booking is given the number one priority and connects you with the highest-rated drivers and cars in the area. You also get a host of different discounts, offers and access to events like concerts and matches.

Ola Money

Ola Cabs has taken it a step past their own name with the Ola Money scheme. Ola, in partnership with Zipcash, launched Ola Money. It can be used to pay for everything from cab fares, hotel bookings, mobile bills, DTH recharge and even electricity and gas bills. Ola Money acts as a digital prepaid wallet that you can use with anything Ola related.

Ola Safety

Ola has very high safety standards that make it a popular choice for clients. In terms of physical safety in the day-to-day scenario, all drivers under the Ola banner are verified, as are the clients who book them, once booked you have the option of sharing your location with a trusted third party to keep track of your whereabouts and there is an additional SOS button in case an emergency does arise.

In terms of the post-Covid scenario, Ola Cabs rose to the top of the pack in terms of customer popularity thanks to the myriad of safety features that they implemented across the board.

The health and safety measures during the peak pandemic months included:

• • • Mask usage by drivers and mandatory use by clients
    • Cars sanitised and fumigated every 48 hours
    • The use of safety partitions between riders and drivers
    • Mandatory cleaning before and after every ride
    • Temperature testing for drivers regularly
    • AC off and windows down
    • Self-loading of luggage to minimise contact
    • Maximum 2 people in a car
    • Cashless travel (i.e., OlaMoney or some other form of digital payment)