City's initial AI-driven taxi dispatch system launched by local taxi fleet and HKU
The partnership between the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and SynCab has significantly modernised the taxi industry in Hong Kong with the launch of the "Smart Dispatch Decision System," an AI-powered cab dispatch system. This innovative technology is designed to improve efficiency, service quality, and order acceptance rates.
The system, which is currently being used by SynCab's entire fleet of vehicles, processes real-time data including road traffic status, weather, and battery levels of electric taxis to assign orders intelligently. This minimises passenger wait times and idle taxi time.
Key impacts of the AI system include:
- Efficiency: The system enhances taxi utilisation by assigning rides to the closest and most suitable drivers based on multiple dynamic factors, including traffic and energy usage estimates for electric taxis. This reduces idle time and improves overall operational efficiency.
- Service Quality: Passengers experience shorter wait times; during a test by South China Morning Post, SynCab confirmed bookings within an average of 11 minutes, considerably faster than previous dispatch methods and the only fleet successful within a 30-minute window.
- Order Acceptance Rates: Drivers are required to accept all AI-generated ride assignments, which raises acceptance rates and reduces gaps in service coverage, contributing to smoother operations and better passenger experiences.
- Scalability and Learning: The AI system continues to improve through machine learning as more data is collected from increasing numbers of drivers and passengers, promising further efficiency gains and service improvements.
SynCab, which initially deployed the system on 160 taxis, plans to expand its use to 425 taxis, indicating confidence in the system’s positive impact on urban mobility in Hong Kong.
Sonia Cheng Man-yee, the founder and executive director of SynCab, emphasised the importance of drivers learning to trust the system for the best orders. She did not, however, reveal a timeline for this expansion.
The AI system is developed in collaboration with SynCab and the Smart Mobility Lab of the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Engineering. The launch of this AI-powered cab dispatch system marks a significant step towards modernising the taxi industry in Hong Kong, setting a new benchmark for taxi fleet operation by boosting driver order acceptance, reducing passenger wait times, and enhancing the overall dispatch efficiency and service quality.
- The partnership between the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Engineering and SynCab, through the development of the AI-powered cab dispatch system, has not only modernized the taxi industry in Hong Kong but also extended its influence in the finance and business sectors, as evidenced by SynCab's plans to invest in expanding the system to 425 taxis.
- The integration of artificial-intelligence technology in the taxi industry by SynCab, such as the Smart Dispatch Decision System, signifies a crucial step in the advancement of technology within the business and finance industry, as this innovation is set to revolutionize urban mobility in Hong Kong, thereby improving service quality, reducing passenger wait times, and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
