While rest of the world has been working hard on the next generation of transportation solutions such as scooters, self-driving cars, electric vehicles and affordable air travel, a Germany-based company named Flixmobility is belling up to the bar to revolutionize the current(old) modes of the transportation.

Flixmobility which works somewhat similar to Uber, ties up with individuals and companies to build efficient long-distance routes. With its robust app, it lets users reserve the seats in the buses that run on fix routes. Flixmobility claims that they offer to travel through Europe at an unbeatable price.

Recently, Flixmobility has announced that they have successfully raised €500 million in their series F funding round from TCV, Permira and HV Holtzbrinck Ventures. Thanks to this whopping amount, Flixmobility hits $2 billion+ valuation. The recent funding round which was closed successfully by Flixmobility is the largest ever funding round for a German tech company.

In one of his interviews, founder and CEO of Flixmobility, Jochen Engert said that they will use this cash injection to expand their business operations in South America, Asia and further into the USA. They are also planning to introduce trains (FlixTrain), new group-focused on-demand bus service (FlixBus) and long-distance ride-sharing service (FlixCar) by next year.

Many business experts quote the business strategy of Flixmobility to dig already explored market with technology and not shaking up the current trends of the mobility industry, as the factor of success.

So, like Flixmobility, if you don’t want to work on the space-age transportation solutions and just want to fit the old transportation solutions in the standards of 21st century, starting a Uber for bus service can be the very profitable beginning. If you want to know how you can achieve it, keep reading this blog.

Market possibilities of developing Uber-like bus service app

With the advent of Uber and similar services, last-minute transportation has picked up the momentum in the last few years. However, it’s costly. So, the whole hype has turned towards last-minute mass transportation like a mobile app-enabled bus service.

Uber-like bus service benefits users in so many ways. It costs very less as it carries more passengers. Users can also buy the monthly pass to get into it at a more minimal cost. Moreover, it is safer than the cab ride. These smart buses are equipped with all amenities like wifi and restroom which help business owners to provide a pleasant user experience. Overall, people do not have any reason to not utilize Uber for bus service.

Talking about the usage rate, more than 45 million users have used Flixmobility’s bus service in 2018. This number shows us that people are making themselves comfortable with such easy-going, affordable and faster transportation service.

The recent movement in the on-demand bus service market

The market of on-demand bus service is at its early stage. However, according to our business experts, the market is going to be intensified in the next couple of years. Rising fuel prices and rising demand for affordable transportation are major two reasons why the future of on-demand bus service is fruitful.

According to many media reports, Uber is reportedly planning to launch its bus service in its one of the most profitable markets, India. The Uber India and Uber south Asia head, Pradeep Parameswaran said in his one of the interviews that they have already launched bus service in some parts of Latin America and the Middle East, and now they are eager to apply their learning in the Indian market.

An Egypt-based on-demand bus service named SWVL which was founded by Mostafa Kandil in 2017, raised $42 million in its series B funding round last month. The round was co-lead by Swedish VC Vostok Ventures and Dubai-based BECO Capital, with China’s MSA, US-based Endeavor Catalyst, Oman’s OTF Jasoor Ventures, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Kuwait’s Arzan VC, Dubai-based Blustone, San Francisco-based Autotech, and Property Finder’s CEO Michael Lahyani.

The popular business model for you to follow in Uber for bus business

Once you develop Uber for bus service app and deploy it in the market, there are many ways you can make money. Following are the few most popular and profitable business models our business experts have discovered in their research.

Charging users based on the kilometres they ride in your bus is the most obvious way to make money. However, for the sake of generating more revenue while filling the seats faster, you can also charge them based on the seat occupancy rate. Meaning, if there are only a few seats left, increase the fare and if the seat occupancy is at the bottom, offer them the discounted ride.

Another way you can make money is by introducing the premium service. It helps you to make more money while keeping the revenue per employee maximum.

If you want to go the extra mile to earn more money, you can start the shuttle service for the corporate people who commute every day on the fixed route.

(We have written a separate blog on shuttle app and its benefits, you can read it from here.)

After reading so far, if you have successfully found the potential in the Uber for bus business and want to develop an Uber-like bus service app, feature set plays a significant role. Following is the list of features which you don’t have to ignore in order to develop one of the most promising Uber for bus service apps.

Features you have to integrate into your Uber-like bus service mobile app

• Users can sign up by adding the least possible details as a prolonged sign up process may annoy users.
  Show them the most popular routes with the ability to add their desired routes.
  The app screen containing the route details with the available buses should be well-documented.
  Your app must have a feature which presents the seat map. Users can then choose preferred seats.
  Give all the details of stopovers(if any) in the app.
• If users are required to change the bus after a certain station, let them know before the journey, from the app itself.
• Enable users to pay in multiple ways. Also, offer them the way to save payment details or card details for the quick checkout.
• A live tracking screen should have the current location and other information about the bus.
  If a bus is running late, notify the users.
• For those users who own a monthly pass, the app should have a dedicated feature to check the validity of the pass and to top it up.
• As a security feature, your app should be equipped with the Contact Emergency Service and Share My Trip options.

How much does it cost to develop Uber-like bus service app?

Coruscate is the top Uber-like app development company which entertains numerous queries related to Uber-like app development and taxi app development. We accommodate some highly skilled designers and developers who work parallel to the research team to make sure your app has all futuristic features. We do not only develop apps but we become the business strategic partner of our clients to help them out throughout the business journey.

With our rapid app development technique, we can develop an Uber-like bus service app within 45-55 business days and under $10k.

To ask for Uber-like app demo and free consultation, connect with our app scientist and business expert by filling out the following form.