Technology
Throughout its history, Addison Lee has consistently re-invested profits into technological advancements. The company currently spends £2m on IT a year and employs 24 computer programmers including a team of 12 based in Russia. Google search technology has been integrated into all the internal IT systems, allowing the closest car to be automatically allocated to the job, dramatically reducing dead mileage. If two drivers are in the same location, the technology will calculate who has been waiting the longest, and will allocate the job accordingly. There’s also a “Going Home” button, which drivers can press when they’ve finished their shift. Instead of driving back in empty cabs, the system will find them passengers to pick up on their homeward journeys. The company has reduced dead mileage by 18,000 miles per day, saving 5.3 tonnes of CO2. More on Addison Lee technology:
Global Positioning System (GPS)
GPS consists of more than two dozen satellites that orbit around the earth. All Addison Lee vehicles are fitted with GPS systems, allowing information to be sent automatically to every one of our drivers. We receive an update from each vehicle every 30 seconds. This enables us to match the nearest car to the customer's pick up address. GPS ensures that your Addison Lee minicab will be with you as soon as possible (within 15 minutes throughout central London) and our clients can also track the progress of their vehicle via this website.
Addison Lee's minicab drivers have all passed a London knowledge-style test. However, all of our vehicles are also equipped with satellite navigation to enable drivers to find any difficult addresses.
Text Alerts
Addison Lee's text messaging service makes London travel simple. When a minicab is allocated, the client automatically receives a text informing them their vehicle is on its way. The make, model and registration details of the car are provided. If you are travelling alone, for example, you are secure in the knowledge that you are getting into the right car - plus the driver's mobile number is also provided, should you wish to contact him for any reason.
ASAP Service
A new ASAP service introduced in 2009 allows Call Centre operators to tell you more accurately how long your car will be when you book quoting ‘ASAP’. This is a first within the private hire industry.
Call Centre
The nucleus of Addison Lee's network, our call centre, is one of the most technologically advanced in Europe.
We have more than 300 call centre agents working from our headquarters in central London. Each agent spends two weeks in our dedicated on-site training centre learning how to operate our state-of-the-art computerised booking system. They then undertake an induction test, and if successful, spend a further week shadowing an experienced agent before going live on the phones.
All bookings made by telephone are recorded and monitored on a daily basis. Performance-related pay, based on a unique grading system, acts as an incentive to promote consistently quality customer service. The Call Centre answers approximately 150,000 calls a week, with an average answer time of 4 seconds for account bookings..
Vehicle Safety
To protect our customers and our drivers, all vehicles are equipped with the latest safety technology.
Safe and reliable, the Volkswagen Sharan is equipped with three-point seat belts, an airbag system consisting of electronic control and monitoring unit, two front airbags, side airbags and an airbag warning lamp, integrated child seat and head restraints.
Our Mercedes Benz fleet boasts front passenger airbags, sidebags and windowbags, Brake Assist System (for emergency braking) and three-point seat belts. In the event of a collision, vehicles will respond with an automatic fuel cut-off, automatic activation of the hazard warning lights and automatic door unlocking to enable occupants to get out of the car more quickly.
