I am a cab driver and have been since March 2020 when covid-19 was declared a national pandemic in Kenya and the dusk to dawn curfew implemented. I had just lost my job and chances of getting another one got slim each day, as more and more businesses in the country got affected, resulting to either shutting down or laying off some of their employees.
At home, with a young family, we were staring at serious financial strain. I had a Toyota vitz by then, that I had acquired on hire purchase. We couldn’t make our monthly payment towards clearing the loan too and each day, I was scared they might come to reposes the car.
It’s at this point that I decided to join the online hailing taxi companies and little cab was charging the least commission and making my returns better that any other platform. Companies too had advised their employees to avoid public service vehicles with many passengers, as the risk of contracting covid-19 was higher than in a cab. This gave us more business. That is where my journey with LITTLE CAB begun.
I have used this app ever since and it’s been a beautiful journey. They have gradually been making necessary steps in making this app the best in the Kenyan market and succeeded at that. If you engage most cab drivers, they will only speak more of its positivity as compared to the other companies that are accused of dishonesty. From overcharging clients to underpaying drivers among most complains made by drivers.
They were the first in the market to introduce a channel where you can do a card trip and by the end of the trip, you can withdraw the money, purchase airtime or buy fuel from the app immediately. Your funds as a driver were easily accessible for a small fee when you need it.
This is why, I wasn’t surprised when I heard of the great stride made by little cab after they joined forces with Absa Bank Kenya PLC and Visa, a world leader in digital payments, to unveil an innovative Near Field Communication (NFC) payment feature.
This collaborative effort aims to streamline and expedite the payment process on Little App taxis by allowing drivers to accept card-based payments using an Android smartphone, offering enhanced efficiency for both customers and drivers.
I remember, one time I had a client on a trip and his phone hang and wasn’t able to make an m-pesa payment and didn’t have cash. He however had a visa card and was willing to make payment but I didn’t have a POS machine. I was left with no option but to trust they would make pay the following day. With the introduction of NFC, drivers won’t have to risk any longer in such a situation.
“The NFC payment feature reinforces our commitment to revolutionize convenience and efficiency within the ride-hailing industry. By incorporating Visa’s renowned expertise and Absa’s local insights, we are confident that this partnership will greatly enhance our users’ payment experience.” Mr. Kamal Budhabatti, CEO at little App.
The NFC payment feature simplifies the transaction process for card holders, ensuring a swift and hassle-free experience. To utilize this feature, customers can follow these straightforward steps:
1. Driver will enter the transaction amount.
2. Place your contactless card directly under the driver’s phone, holding it briefly for a successful connection.
3. Once you have completed the payment, wait for the confirmation, which will be displayed on your Little App.
4. Confirm the successful payment with the driver. Absa Bank Kenya PLC Business Banking Director, Elizabeth Wasunna-Ochwa has hailed the new payment feature as yet another market-first solution that
