Rapid growth for ride-hailing app Autocab as it helps the fightback against Uber

“The growth of ride-hailing apps has completely changed the passenger market, turning the industry on its head. By investing in the latest technology and converting our business to a SaaS model however, we have been able to provide a solution that was long overdue – and it’s levelling the playing field for local taxi firms.”

A family-owned business, led by Alkateb and nephew Hassan Abod, Autocab currently has 170 employees including a 24-person development team.

The business, based in Cheadle in Stockport, has evolved into a SaaS business that is providing local taxi firms with the technology required to combat the threat to the industry posed by ride-hailing apps such as Uber.

“The transition from hardware supplier to software supplier wasn’t easy,” explains Alkateb. “It was a bit like converting a propeller plane to a jet plane in mid-flight. But after a bumpy transition, we now have a profitable business and are looking to reinvest in further innovations.

“Not only are we helping taxi firms to transform their operations, we are also exploring ways that they can play a leading role in the technology revolution currently taking place in transportation and mobility. This includes developments in ride sharing, connected and autonomous vehicles and the exciting emergence of Transportation-as-a-Service.”