Richard Commins: The Young Irish Entrepreneur Making Waves
Richard Commins is a 23-year-old college graduate from Claregalway, Co Galway who is making waves in the taxi market with his revolutionary app. 'Flag - The Taxi App' is the first of its kind in the world and allows users to hail and pay for a taxi without the need for a phone, bank card, or cash. In this article, we will delve deeper into Richard's journey and how his app is set to revolutionize the taxi industry.
From Dash to Flag
The idea for Flag evolved from a similar student taxi app called Dash, which Richard developed while in his final year of Business Information Studies at NUI Galway. While promoting Dash in universities around Ireland, Richard met George Grama, who had helped develop two highly successful taxi apps in eastern Europe and the US. With George's expertise in developing taxi apps, they built a full-blown taxi app with much more advanced software, which led to the creation of Flag.
Revolutionizing the Taxi Market
'Flag - The Taxi App' is set to revolutionize the taxi market by providing a wallet-less feature that allows people to hail a taxi via the app without the need for cash, card, or phone on them. Users need to upload a photo ID and a personal code to their account, which is then linked to their debit or credit card. In the event of a dead phone, the user can simply hail a taxi, and the driver can key in their four-digit code, confirming their identity and ability to pay the fare. This feature ensures that passengers get home safe and drivers get paid even if the passengers have no cash, card, or phone on them.
Backed by Enterprise Ireland, Nissan, AIB, An Garda Siochana, and the Irish Taxi Driver's Federation, Flag has gained immense support in the industry. The Irish Taxi Driver's Federation praised the app for its wallet-less feature and its ability to provide support to both drivers and passengers.
How Flag - The Taxi App Works
Flag requires users to upload a photo ID and a personal code to their account, which is then linked to their debit or credit card. When a situation arises where a person's phone is dead, they can simply hail a taxi and have the driver key in their four-digit code, confirming their identity and ability to pay the fare. The app also allows people to hail or 'Flag' a taxi via the app, just like other apps, but also ensures drivers get paid if passengers have no cash, card, or phone on them. The passenger's photo appears on the driver's phone, and payment can be made without having any payment method on hand.
24/7 Support Line for Drivers
Richard has set up a 24-hour support line to deal with driver registration and queries. Drivers can text their addresses, and the company will post them their info pack the next day, which has proven very successful. The company has also allowed drivers to use the app for free for a few months pre-launch, so they can experience how well it works.
Conclusion
Richard Commins' entrepreneurial journey from developing a student taxi app to creating 'Flag - The Taxi App' is an inspiration to many young entrepreneurs in Ireland. His app's wallet-less feature has the potential to revolutionize the taxi market and provide a safe and convenient way for people to get home. With the support of major players in the industry, Richard is poised to make a lasting impact on the taxi market, both in Ireland and worldwide. 'Flag - The Taxi App' is available for download now, and we encourage everyone to give it a try.
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