What Stages Does Car Rental App Development Include?

Car rental is a concept that dates back to 1904. Minneapolis had a bicycle shop that offered car rental services. Sixt, a German company, began with three cars. The market proliferated, and by 1950, there were several well-known names in the car rental market in different parts, such as Avis and the Saunders System. The vehicle rental industry is nearly a century old, judging by the current situation. It is safe to say that the industry has undergone a remarkable evolution.

This industry has not lost its glory, and it continues to grow. We now have cloud-based car rental software for online reservations that allow passengers to book a ride at their convenience. It's easy to download the app, create an account, and book a ride. The app takes care of everything else. It is important to remember that the market has expanded, and the competition has increased.

Working Models for Car Rental Booking Software

First, choose a suitable model. Each car reservation system has a particular model. Uber allows users to book rides and pay for the fare, while Zipcar lets customers rent the car by the hour or the day. Choosing a business model that appeals to your business operations is essential. Below are the most popular models for car rental businesses.

LOCAL CAR RENT

This is the most popular model. This model allows passengers to book or hire cabs at any time. This app model's booking process is mainly like a local taxi service. You only get the travel details, driver details, and payment information before you book. This model is used by some day-use vehicle reservation apps that offer booking, usually a day or two days before the trip. Many local car rental software provides a rating and review system that allows drivers and passengers to rate each other. Uber and Lyft are two of the most popular local car rental apps.

SELF DRIVEN MODEL

The next most popular model for car reservation management is self-drive. This is where people rent cars from rental companies according to their needs. This is an excellent option for people who enjoy driving but don't want to deal with the hassle and expense of maintaining a car. It is also beneficial for those with a driver's license but who don't own a car. This is an excellent option for temporary car owners without a vehicle. This model is most prevalent at Europcar and Rentalcars.

PEER_TO_PEER CAR SHARE

The car rental model described above is very similar, except that people rent cars directly from private vehicle owners instead of renting them from rental agents or rental firms. Peer-to-peer car sharing apps allow people to pick any car from a limited number of vehicles from a vibrant local community. Customers select their destination, choose a host, and like a car. Once they have agreed to the terms and conditions and booking confirmations, the vehicle is delivered. Customers get the luxury and comfort of well-maintained cars. At the same time, hosts make extra money. Turo is an excellent example of peer-to-peer sharing.

OUTSTATION RENTAL

Outstation car rental handles car bookings for passengers on intercity and intrastate trips. Customers can use this model to rent cars for travel across states or cities and pay the fare according to their journey duration. People who travel often find the outstation car rental model a comprehensive solution as it saves them fuel, maintenance, and additional expenses. InDriver is an excellent example of an outstation vehicle rental business model.

CORPORATE RENTAL RESERVATION

As enterprises embrace the concept of car rental apps, corporate rental models are growing in popularity. Employees are given rides to use for official purposes in a corporate rental model. Organizations can hire rental vehicles for pick-ups or drops. Employees visiting the area for a meeting can also be assigned private cabs. The ride can be hired for one or more days, and the company will pay the fare. Gett is an excellent example of a corporate rental model.

The Key Features to Consider When Developing a Car Rental Reservation Software

We have seen the working models of car rental booking software. However, there is more to developing and managing a car rental app than meets the eye. Every organization and individual that wants to enter this market must consider additional features. These are the most important.

Car rental apps are growing in popularity in app stores. It doesn't matter where you are located; your app will face stiff competition from established apps. Trust is a key component of this industry. This is why many people are afraid to try new things. You need to offer special features, programs, or offers that entice customers or make them want to try your services.

Customer Safety

Customers are our top priority. A single incident can cause severe damage to your app's reputation. You must conduct a background check on your drivers. You should also check the condition of the vehicles and how they are maintained. App owners must ensure that cars are in perfect condition.

Data Security

While utilizing online rental software, drivers and customers must give their personal information. App owners must ensure that the customer database is secure and can only be accessed by authorized personnel. It should be protected to prevent data misuse, particularly customer information.

Insurance and Paperwork

There is a variety of policies that are associated with cars. These policies include insurance policies, pollution papers, authorization letters, purchase details, and so on. App owners must ensure that all paperwork is current and legal, regardless of whether the car rental is commission-based or a fleet management service model.

Speed Limit

Keeping the speed limit in check is an important safety measure for customers and drivers. It should be a priority to include this advanced feature in vehicle management so that managers can also check the speed of their cars.

Accident Policy

Business owners must have a clear, detailed, and thorough policy for damage and accidents. The driver and the owner of the vehicle should share the responsibility for any accident. They must also pay for any damage or injury done to customers.

What are the Fundamental Phases of App Development for Car Rental Management Software

The development of rental car software is a complex process that involves many phases. The four main steps involved in the development of a vehicle rental software solutions are:

• Planning and analysis of requirements
• Design
• Testing and development
• Maintenance and deployment

Each industry has its own set of phases. The car rental industry is no different. The development of a car rental application includes several steps beyond the four primary stages. These are listed below.

TECHNICAL AUDIT

Your rental brand will likely be in a sector with a lot of struggle. The more facts and numbers you have, the easier it will be to create a strategy. It is better to conduct a detailed technical audit before you move on to the requirements analysis phase. You can find out about the location of car rental apps in your area, the number of users, their revenue, and their problems.

KNOW THE TRADITIONAL STACK

Building a performant car rental app using more than one technology is possible. It combines fundamental and advanced technologies such as geolocation services, CMS databases, UI/UX frames, scalable backend technology, and analytical mechanisms such as Machine Learning. You will better understand the technology stack to identify the problem and where to look.

TEAM UP WITH A RELATED DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

This is a critical phase, especially for those who are not technical. It takes both experience and expertise to create a good app. That's why it is crucial to choose a trusted development partner. You can do more research to find out about the established mobile app development companies.

These companies provide comprehensive app development services with flexible engagement models. You can hire iOS or Android app developers at your company if you want to develop a native app.

Car Rental App Basic Tech Stack and Team Structure

You want to develop robust and scalable vehicle rental software. Your team must be skilled and knowledgeable of all the latest technologies.

Tech Stack

To have an app that stands out from the rest, it is vital to use the most up-to-date technology stack during app development.

• Backend Development: Ruby, JavaScript, and AngularJS. Python
• Front-end development: CSS. Java. Swift. Bootstrap
• Database: HBase, MongoDB, Postgres, Cassandra, MySQL
• Real-time Analytics: Google Analytics, Flurry
• Cloud: Google cloud serves Amazon data servers
• GPS: Apple Maps, Google Maps
• Push Notifications: Twilio, push.io
• Voice, SMS, & Phone Verification: Nexmo, Twilio

Team Structure

You should partner with the top vehicle rental software development company to have a capable mobile app. To keep the overall budget in check, limit your development team.

• Project Manager
• Designers of UI/UX
• Front-end developers
• Android & iOS Developers
• QA Professionals

The Key Takeaways

There is an increase in demand for an online rental solution for the growing car rental market. A car rental mobile app is a great way to reach potential customers and make money. Many big players on the market have found effective ways to increase their customer base. To stand out, your app must be feature-rich and robust.