App developed to reduce taxi wait times

A new EU-funded tool has helped develop an app to reduce the wait time for taxis. The Smartaxi app can be used by drivers to collect and pool information on the ‘hot spots’ for pick-ups.

The app has used funds from FIWARE, an innovative, open cloud-based infrastructure for creating new apps and services. The Smartaxi team says that FIWARE offers a catalogue of generic enablers and has helped to deal with Big Data. The Smartaxi app has already been used by 400 taxi drivers in the cities of Barcelona and Moscow, with tests soon to take place in the Spanish capital Madrid, too.

Speaking about the development, Federico López, chief executive of Smartaxi, said: “The app is based on collective intelligence. Smartaxi takes that information and, combined with its technological intelligence, can forecast where to find areas with the most demand. The heat map in the application shows in a quick glance what areas are best at that precise moment.”

Adding her thoughts, Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, says: “Many apps have already been built using the tools of FIWARE – from warning about earthquakes to preventing food waste. I am proud that Smartaxi is one of them. Europe should be open to innovation and new services – they can ease the life of taxi users as well as taxi drivers.”

The European Commission has made €80m of EU money available to around 1,300 small businesses and web entrepreneurs using FIWARE tools. They will be awarded via 16 accelerators from across Europe. FIWARE is part of the EU Future Internet Public Private Partnership and the EU’s commitment to help entrepreneurs thrive in Europe via the Startup Europe initiative.