The ride-sharing industry is continually growing as people prefer relying on ride-sharing services to bear the expenses of owning a vehicle. Also, it saves riders the trouble of driving through traffic and finding a parking spot, which, as we know, can be challenging. Low carbon footprint and easy carbon footprint are some of the other benefits. Many ride-hailing service providers like Uber, Lyft, and Bolt have managed to carve a niche with their best services. In this blog, we discuss the Lyft business model in detail.
Lyft Overview and Key Stats
Founders: Logan Green and John Zimmer
Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
Year of Foundation: 2012
Industry: Rideshare
Countries where Lyft is available: US and Canada
Current Market Share: 32% share of the US rideshare market
Lyft serves as a platform that connects riders and drivers, helping riders access vehicles of many types. Founded in 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer, Lyft has become a fierce competitor of Uber. It is becoming a fast-growing rideshare company and is accessible to about 95% of the people in the US.
Lyft initially provided only carpooling services for long distances. Engagement with the app was not as expected, and it was not long before the founders felt the need to offer shorter rides within the city. Although similar in offerings to Uber, Lyft followed a user-friendly approach.
Within two years of its launch, Lyft expanded to over 60 cities. Lyft gradually entered many more markets and has become a competitor of Uber. Lyft is the second largest ride-hailing company, with a global market share of 8%. Five years in the rideshare market, Lyft crossed the one billion mark in revenue generation. In 2023, this number went up to a whopping $4.4 billion.
Lyft Business Model
The Lyft business model works by connecting riders with drivers. Let us look at how the Lyft app works for riders and drivers.
How Lyft Works for Riders?
With a few taps, the riders can get rides at their doorsteps within minutes of booking. Let us look at the steps the Lyft business model involves:
Step 1: As the first step, riders download the Lyft app from the Play Store and App Store. They then create accounts by giving details like names, contact numbers, and addresses.
Step 2: Riders can then request rides and choose the ride type based on their requirements. Economy, Premium, and Lyft XL are some of the types Lyft offers.
Step 3: After entering the current and destination locations, riders can confirm their rides.
Step 4: The Lyft app matches the rider with the nearest driver who receives the ride request notification. A confirmation from the driver’s end sends a message to the rider app with details of the driver and the vehicle.
Step 5: The rider can track the driver with the help of the navigation tools, and they also see when the driver will arrive at their location.
Step 6: Riders can pay for the trip once the trip ends. Lyft enables riders to pay via credit and debit cards, Google Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Lyft Cash, etc. Riders can choose what suits them. The Lyft app also lets them rate their drivers depending on the service quality.
How Lyft Works for Drivers?
Lyft makes it easy for people who do not own a car but want to drive with Lyft by helping them rent cars. Also, it ensures the safety of riders by conducting various screening tests for drivers. After this, they can start driving with Lyft.
Let us look at the steps the Lyft business model involves for the drivers.
Step 1: Drivers can download apps and create accounts. They can set up their profiles by adding the necessary details, including their names, contact numbers, email IDs, vehicle numbers, licenses, and other critical documents.
Step 2: The Lyft app matches a rider with the nearest driver, and the concerned driver receives notifications with the rider’s pick-up location.
Step 3: Drivers can accept or decline the ride requests after checking the pick-up and drop-off locations.
Step 4: After completing a ride, the app processes the payment, and drivers receive feedback based on the rider’s experience. Lyft pays drivers through Express Pay within a few hours or days.
Customer Segments
The Lyft business model has two customer segments- riders and drivers.
Riders: Riders can sign in to the app and request rides from the Lyft rider app. They can be people who require taxi services. Their needs may range from daily commutes to social outings or trips.
Drivers: Drivers partner with the Lyft company to provide rides through the platform. They receive ride requests from riders after registering with the Lyft app. Drivers can enjoy flexible working hours and accept or reject requests based on availability.
Value Propositions
Lyft’s share of the US rideshare market was 7% in 2015 and rose to 32% in the next six years. The consistent growth is due to the unique value propositions that Lyft offers its users. Lyft addresses the pain points of its user groups and aims to provide a seamless user experience.
Convenience
Lyft offers convenience to riders as it enables them to book rides from the comfort of where they are instead of resorting to traditional booking methods. Also, they do not have to wait long as they get rides within minutes of booking.
Affordability
The Lyft business model aims to offer rides at reasonable prices compared to traditional taxi-hailing and transportation ways.
Safety
Lyft does background checks for drivers when they register with the Lyft app. Therefore, riders can enjoy safe rides. Also, the many safety features on the app, including the in-app navigation and sharing the ride details with friends, ensure safety.
Accessibility
Riders can choose from the various ride options that Lyft provides. They can ride alone, ride with other riders, or book large or small vehicles, depending on their needs. The Lyft business model focuses on making rides accessible for every type of rider.
Environment Friendly
Lyft does its part to reduce the effect of vehicle emissions by enabling riders to book electric and hybrid vehicles.
Flexibility
In addition to helping drivers earn income, the Lyft business model also lets them work at the hours of their choice.
Lyft Revenue Model
In 2023, Lyft generated a revenue of $4.4 billion, and the average revenue per rider was $54.66. The revenue model enables revenue generation through multiple streams.
Commission Fee
The Lyft revenue model charges the driver a percentage of the total fare charges as commission charges for each ride they accept and complete through the platform.
Booking Fee
Riders pay booking fees when they book rides on the platform. It contributes to a significant increase in Lyft revenue generation.
Surge Pricing
Lyft implements surge pricing, like Uber. Heat maps show the high-demand areas. The app charges high costs for these areas. Heat maps display locations with high demand, specific to time. It is one of the ways that helps Lyft see high income.
In-app Advertising
The Lyft revenue model includes income from in-app advertising. It helps Lyft boost its income, where it collaborates with brands to display ads. Companies pay Lyft for promotions and advertising.
In Summary,
As we saw, Lyft, one of the top rideshare service providers, will always remain a top choice for riders looking to book a ride. If we are to list the reasons behind the app’s popularity and continual growth, they are the user-friendly experience that users can enjoy and the range of ride types available for riders. The business model focuses on offering a seamless experience to its user group.
We hope this blog covered all the necessary elements to help you launch a rideshare app like Lyft. Understanding the Lyft business model helps build a successfully connected community of riders and drivers. By mimicking the Lyft revenue model, you can diversify your income streams and boost the income of your rideshare business.
Want to Launch an App like Lyft?
Want to launch an app like Lyft and get into the rideshare market but are worried about choosing the best taxi-booking app to help you remain successful in the competitive industry? Our taxi-booking app, incorporated with all the necessary features, will help you provide your users with a hassle-free experience.
Stay ahead of your competitors and boost the growth of your taxi business with our taxi booking app, RebuStar.
To Connect With Us and learn more about our product:
Email ID: [email protected]
WhatsApp No: +91 9222 47 9222
Skype ID: Abservetech
Telegram: Abservetech
