Yego Innovision has launched Yego 9191, a toll free telephone booking system for car and motorcycle taxis in Kigali, Rwanda in a move to make booking and paying for taxis far easier, cheaper and safer for both passengers and drivers.
Yego 9191 doesn’t require people to have a smartphone, to download the App and have data on their phone. To order a taxi, they simply call ‘9191’ for free from an MTN, Tigo or Airtel line then speak to the Yego agent (in either Kinyarwanda, English, or French) and provide their location, and whether they’d like a car or a motorcycle taxi and then receive a free SMS text message with the licence plate number, driver’s name and phone number within a few minutes.
According to Karanvir Singh, CEO of Yego Innovision, “The informal market for both motorcycle and car taxis is no longer suitable for modern life in Rwanda – and across Africa. As data is expensive and most passengers don’t have smart phones, our 9191 service addresses 100% of the market.
Yego makes life easier for passengers, drivers, the police, and licensing departments. The Platform’s possibilities are endless: as an ambitious company, our next goal is to begin delivering goods and people such as electricians, plumbers, cleaners to people’s doorsteps. Yego is really much more than just an e-Mobility & Service Delivery, we intend to create a multi-country logistics and payments platform that will foster economic growth and upliftment for all.”
Yego 9191 also addresses Africa specific issues such as the lack of proper addresses, inaccurate maps and the language barrier between passengers and taxi drivers.
Yego has been working with the Rwandan Government since 2016 to regulate the traditionally informal taxi market. It is the first company in the country to receive a license to provide taxis with Intelligent Connected Fare Meters (ICFM).
After an extensive trial in 2017, Yego has now provided meters to more than 1900 drivers of cars and motorcycle taxis across Rwanda. The use of meters has formalised several elements of the journey, including:
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Metered Fares:
The Yego meter automatically calculates the fare for a trip based on the distance travelled, with the fare regulated by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RUWA). This brings an end to haggling.
Cashless Payments:
Travelers can pay using mobile money, NFC Tap & Pay and Cash. Cash payments are currently allowed but will be phased out in line with Rwanda’s Vision 2020 to become a cashless economy.
Remote Payments:
Fares can be paid by someone not on the journey by sharing the Trip ID and amount. Parents can also pay for their children by connecting the NFC tag to their mobile money account.
Verified Taxi Drivers and Taxi Owners:
As part of the registration process, Yego has vetted the documents of Taxi Owners and Drivers – and the vehicles themselves. A portal with all their details is available to the relevant authorities in Rwanda to ensure that the necessary documents to operate a taxi, such as a license, insurance and authorisation, are always valid.
Yego is committed to Rwanda’s national economic strategy to encourage cashless transactions, enhance safety and security, drive financial inclusion, create employment and facilitate digital literacy to benefit all Rwandans.
