Ola rolls out two new features, 'Just in Time' and 'Rich Notifications'

Ola launches two brand new tech features to facilitate cabbooking on the app. The 'Just in Time' feature sends real-time smartnotifications to users, at the instant when a cab becomes available or whenpeak pricing for user's desired cab category ends. Ola has also rolled out'Rich Notifications' on its app, which help users track their booked ridethrough real-time Push Notifications.

Ankit Bhati, Co-Founder and CTO, Ola, said, "Ola hasalways focused on ensuring adequate supply to match growing demand, but thereare occasions when demand completely outstrips supply. To enable customers todo more while they wait to book or board a cab, Ola has developed 'Just inTime' and 'Rich Notifications', to provide real time cab updates. Thesefeatures work on predictive analysis of data to provide smart real-time pushnotifications to its customers."

He further added, "An average Indian customer stores upto 32 apps, and spends over 169 minutes on their device, every day. It cansometimes get overwhelming to manage and shuffle between multiple apps on thephone at the same time. These two features are set to transform the cab bookingand boarding experience for our customers, as they multitask between work andentertainment. We are confident of scaling it up to solve for other unique needsof local markets and make our customers commute experience even morecomprehensive, as we advance on our mission of building mobility for a billionIndians."

ALSO READ: Diwali Sale: Flipkart, Amazon and Snapdeal ready for third round

HoW 'Just In Time' works:

Based on real-time stream processing, the feature analysesuser's cab preference and in case the user experiences non-availability ofcabs, a push notification is sent on cab availability as soon as a cab getsavailable, even when the user has moved away from the Ola app.

The user thenjust needs to tap on the push notification, which will lead him to the Ola app,and complete the booking within seconds. Another variation of the 'Just inTime' feature informs users about peak pricing coming to end within 15 minutesof the user moving away from the booking confirmation screen on experiencingpeak pricing.

'Rich Notifications' and how it works:

Ola has also rolled out 'Rich Notifications' on its app,which help users track their booked ride through real-time Push Notifications.

Immediately after a customer books a cab from the Ola app,he/she will receive a push notification, with the driver photo, contact detailsalong with car model and number

The notification window will be constantly updated withdriver's ETA and customer's boarding status, without having to open the apprepeatedly

As soon as the customer boards the cab, Ola's Emergency SOSbutton is also displayed as part of the notification. The SOS feature sends analert to the verified emergency contact with the customer's CRN, user details(name, email id and contact number), location where the alert was raised, caband driver details.

Ola recently launched Auto-connect WiFi, allowing users toautomatically connect to WiFi across categories on the platform without havingto enter credentials every time.

ALSO READ: Smartphone batteries emit over 100 toxic gases: Study