Ethiopian taxi hailing app ZayRide has ensured it can be used even on slow internet connections and added a variety of new services to its Uber-style platform.
Disrupt Africa reported in September on the launch of ZayRide, with the startup’s on-demand taxi dispatching system connects riders and taxi drivers based on location.
Ethiopia recently suffered from an internet blackout, prompting ZayRide to make changes to its application so that its services are not disrupted by inefficient internet. The new application works on “super slow internet”, ZayRide founder Habtamu Tadesse told Disrupt Africa.
“We were able to compress the application by five times, that way it works on slow internet and it doesn’t require 3G or more,” he said.
ZayRide has also added SUV and VIP options to its platform, as well as a food delivery option.
“We partnered with local delivery food and document delivery company. We are also working on adding an ambulance service. We hope to add it in the next few weeks,” said Tadesse.
“We partnered with some hospitals and private ambulance companies to help them out with technology that will cut down on emergency response times.”
The startup currently has 540 registered drivers, and has completed over 2,600 trips.
