Discover the story behind the development of the Chauffeur Taxi Booking System plugin, how it evolved and what awaits us in the future.

Market Research

In 2015, we released our Car Wash Booking System plugin on the CodeCanyon platform. This plugin filled a niche in the automotive industry, as it was the first of its kind, suitable for managing car wash services. It became a success, motivating us to further explore the market and identify other untapped opportunities in niche products.

We discovered a high demand for a booking system dedicated to transportation services, such as limousine rentals, airport transfers, and taxi bookings. At that time, we identified only one similar product on the market. After the success of our Car Wash Booking plugin, we decided to take on the ambitious challenge of creating a chauffeur and transportation booking system.

The development process wasn’t easy. While there were few WordPress plugins serving this industry, several commercial solutions already existed, though they were complex and costly. We recognized two key advantages that set us apart: first, our plugin was designed for WordPress, a free, widely accessible platform. This meant anyone with a WordPress site could purchase and immediately set up a booking system without the need for technical expertise. Second, our plugin was affordable. Unlike subscription-based or high-cost commercial software, which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars annually, our product was a cost-effective alternative. Additionally, our plugin offered complete flexibility with no limits—whether it be the number of vehicles, bookings, or routes.

Initial Success

Despite the significant workload and initial challenges, we succeeded in developing a product we were proud of. Version 1.0 was officially launched on December, 2017. The first few days were exciting, with a considerable number of users showing interest. We received plenty of support, as well as suggestions for improvement, which continue to drive our development to this day. Just days after the inaugural release, we rolled out our first update, introducing new features.

Key Updates Over Time

From its initial release, the Chauffeur Taxi Booking System has seen numerous enhancements, evolving into a comprehensive tool for managing taxi bookings. Below is a look at some of the most significant updates through the versions:

v1.6:

• Introduced country-specific route limitation, allowing you to limit pickup and drop-off locations to specific countries.
• Added wire transfer to the payment methods and support for miles.
• Added the ability to set vehicle availability within specific date ranges and introduced a deposit option for bookings.

v1.9:

• Major customization capabilities were added, such as the ability to create custom tabs and fields in the booking form and define multiple agreements that the customer needs to confirm.
• Pricing flexibility became a key feature, allowing users to set different prices and fees for each vehicle, including fixed prices, round-trip prices, delivery fees, distance and time-based prices, and more.

v2.2:

• Integration with WooCommerce was introduced, allowing bookings and payments to be managed through WooCommerce.

v3.0:

• This update introduced a Drivers Module, enabling users to assign drivers to specific bookings, with automated notifications for both drivers and customers.

v4.0:

• Introduced multi-currency support with possibility to import exchange rates from Fixer.io, and many changes in the Pricing Rules, Tax Rates, Booking Extras modules, including the addition of the Minimum Order Value option.
• Booking by the number of passengers (adults and children) was also introduced.

v4.8:

• Introduced Geofence module, which lets users create zones on the map and apply specific pricing rules based on geographical areas.

v6.5:

• Introduced several user-friendly enhancements, including support for Google reCAPTCHA, improved pricing rule capabilities, and new ways to calculate prices based on distance ranges.

v6.8:

• This version has brought many smaller changes that improve the plugin’s performance. This is where we have built professional documentation – which we are expanding systematically.

v7.7:

• Support for add-ons was introduced, including two important add-ons: the Invoices and the Import/Export Add-On.
  • The Invoices Add-On enables users to effortlessly generate and send invoices directly from the booking dashboard, automatically tied to booking statuses.
  • The Import/Export Add-On simplifies data transfer between WordPress installations, ensuring easy migration of booking data across multiple sites.

v7.8:

• This update focused on usability improvements, such as passenger details in the WooCommerce product description and enhanced options for auto-complete in the Routes field.

Why Our Plugin Stands Out and What the Future Holds

We believe our plugin stands out because it meets the needs of the market effectively. As of this writing, our plugin has been purchased by over 5,000 customers. Many of our users have provided valuable feedback, showing us what needs improvement and what’s missing. We have always taken these insights seriously and continue to do so, as many of our users are experienced fleet operators who understand the industry well.

Additionally, despite the extensive range of options available in our plugin, we ensure our customers are never left unsupported. Our forum is always open, and we typically respond to queries within 24-48 hours.

Moreover, purchasing a single license means you receive all future updates at no additional cost. Many of our early adopters have been with us since version 1.0 and are now enjoying version 7.8.

Our journey since version 1.0 has been incredible, but it doesn’t end here. In fact, we have a lot of exciting things planned and we’re excited to see what the future holds. If you haven’t tried the Chauffeur Taxi Booking System yet, now is the perfect time. Experience firsthand how our plugin can transform your booking process.

Try It Out for Yourself

We invite you to experience the Chauffeur Booking System for yourself. Visit our product page to learn more, purchase, and see how it can transform your booking process. Join the community of satisfied users who have discovered the power and flexibility of our plugin.