Bogotá, 8 million people and only 132 public ambulances. First 5 minutes after an accident are crucial when saving lives. A private initiative associated with an NGO such as the Colombian Red Cross joint forces in order to save as many lives as possible and fasted response system in Bogota.

Healthcare regulatory bodies

This initiative was validated with the Bogotá Health Department and the secretariat of mobility, which handles all transit related issues in the city. The government made many attempts to train taxi drivers in any number of local institutions and most of them failed.

We turned a usefulness of an App initially designed to provide a transport service, by enhancing it into a lifesaving tool that would unify taxi drivers and their passengers in a different way.

“EasyTaxi” created an alliance with the Colombian Red Cross in efforts to resolve a problem that afflicting the city. By using the app´s information, heat maps were generated with documented accidents occurring all around the city at a certain point time, to be later compared with the geolocation distribution of our taxi fleet.

Using the Red Cross know-how, drivers enlisted with “EasyTaxi” were given virtual and face-to-face lessons. As our first group of graduates finished their courses, we designed a campaign in social media that told the stories of our new heroes. We eventually extended the invitation for more taxi drivers to apply and get their certifications.

The training process began in August until October same year. The campaign started broadcasting in November and every day new drivers are being recruited. The program aired on YouTube, Facebook and twitter. Initially 300 taxi drivers were trained, impacting over 2 million citizens.

$108.276.612 COP in PR. Impacting Almost 2.457.000 People

40% of the drivers increased their average number of rides while using the app.

29% of the drivers increased their rate to 5 starts great service review.

100% of the trained drivers became exemplary taxi drivers in the company.

Eassyassitance, is a way to unite taxi drivers and citizens in a common space: The Streets. By creating this experience, we improve taxi driver’s reputations and at the same time we elevated the odds of victims being assisted after they had been in an accident. Thanks to the support from the Colombian Red Cross, the high quality of the training was guaranteed and a positive reputation was generated for both institutions.

We used the application to unite several components by creating solutions to some collective problems. We changed the taxi driver’s negative reputation while increasing their job opportunities and their incomes. With a first aid training strategy, we allowed them to improve their client services towards users and also help the community at the same time .

The strategy was aimed at 2 different targets. People between 20-45 age rage; heavy users who request at least 4 transport services a week and “EasyTaxi” drivers, interested in helping the community. This campaign pursued the unification of both, by transforming our drivers into solutions and our app users into positive advocates.

Bogotá has some of the worst traffic in the world, with 8 million people and only 132 public ambulances available. Traffic moves at an average pace of 17 km per hour, generally ambulances struggle to reach the 600 accidents happening daily all over the city. On the other hand, taxi services have been downgraded due to isolated cases of crime and poor service. The campaign was intended to create a holistic experience that helps improve taxi driver´s image and allows them to become positive protagonists all over the city, even by saving lives.