DeNA and Kanagawa taxi group launch improved ride-hailing app to counter industry labor shortage

YOKOHAMA – DeNA Co. and the Kanagawa Taxi Association jointly launched a ride-hailing app Thursday to efficiently match customers with taxies through an improved platform and an artificial-intelligence-based system amid a serious labor shortage. Taxi Bell, which can only be used in Kanagawa Prefecture, has solved some of the problems plaguing existing ride-hailing apps, including complicated operations, long wait times, matching failures and cash payment issues, they said. Potential demand has been estimated at 40 percent, and the companies hope the new app can help meet some of that demand by ironing out such problems. The platforms of existing ride-hailing apps are based on a system where taxis are called by phone and matched through operators. Taxi Bell has improved services by connecting passengers and drivers directly, DeNA said.