Online Taxi Lyft to Test New Algorithm That Makes It Easy for Drivers to Choose Incoming Orders

Lyft Inc, testing its earning algorithm. (photo; twitter lyft)

JAKARTA - Online taxi company Lyft Inc announced last week that it is testing a revenue algorithm that will allow drivers in 18 US cities to view destination and payment details before accepting requests.

The test follows a similar move by bigger rival Uber Technologies Inc. They also underlined how companies are trying harder to fix driver shortages to take advantage of the surge in demand caused by the return of employees to the office and the surge in travel since the pandemic ended.

Lyft drivers will have access to details such as drop off location, estimated distance and time, and fare details before accepting a ride. The company plans to expand this service to more cities through 2022.

They are also investing in testing filters that allow drivers to set their desired driving radius and give them the option to choose their ride.

Drivers for online transport companies have struggled with higher fuel and maintenance costs and have long demanded access to those details.

"We will also design the Prepayment from time to time to include bonuses and incentives," Lyft President John Zimmer told Reuters.

When it launched its "no restrictions" prepayment, Lyft said a survey of more than 1,000 drivers showed more than 70% prefer the prepayment model to the previous payment model.