WAZE, the groundbreaking community-based global positioning system road-navigation app, recently announced that it will be introducing a ride-sharing service that it expects will further decongest traffic, especially during rush hours.
During a videoconference at the Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business that was organized by the Israeli Embassy, Waze Cofounder Dror Cohen said they are currently developing the new scheme, which they expect to make available worldwide, including in the Philippines.
“We expect Waze Carpool to eliminate half the cars on the road,” Cohen confidently declared during the videoconference.
Currently, Waze Carpool is undergoing beta-testing among 25,000 employees from select companies in San Francisco in the United States.
Under the new ride-sharing service, individuals can download the Waze Rider app, while those who currently have Waze will be able to use Waze Carpool. Under the new scheme, a Waze driver can pick up only one rider during the trip.
The way it works is that, through Waze Carpool, those who drive cars will be able to see riders who have a near identical routes from their homes to their offices and vice versa. The matching and verification will be done by Waze
Those who want to have a ride with a Waze driver should make the request one day in advance and must share in the cost of gasoline that will be consumed during the ride.
For a Waze driver, they have the option to accept or decline the request for a ride during their drive to the office or when going home.
Also, during the videoconference, Cohen said they are improving Waze for it to forecast holiday traffic behaviors for every country.
“We are trying to find predictive patterns on the road,” he said, while adding that they are trying to save at least five minutes of driving time for the motorists.
Cohen said they are using knowledge of people and algorithm to come out with a product that is both passive and active. He said any new incidents, including road closures, are updated on their system in 12 hours or less.
Cohen said they started Waze in 2009 but only started getting revenues by 2012.
“During the first three years, we built the best product without thinking on monetization,” Cohen said.
The videoconference was participated by students from the Asian Institute of Management, Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle University Manila and Dasmariñas, Far Eastern University, Mindanao University of Science and Technology, Philippine Women’s University, Technological Institute of the Philippines and University of the Philippines Diliman.
Image credits: Rodel Alzona