Overview: The Minnesota Ride Share Co-Op, was designed to create a more equitable and  community-focused alternative to traditional ride-sharing services. The project involved  developing a comprehensive mobile application for both Android and iOS platforms, along with  a robust admin panel for desktop management. The primary aim was to empower both riders and  drivers by offering a platform that prioritized transparency, fair wages, and cooperative  ownership. 

Project Goals: 

• Develop a Mobile Application: The project focused on creating an intuitive and user friendly mobile application for both Android and iOS users. The application would allow  customers to book rides, while drivers could accept ride requests, bid for rides, and  manage their schedules.
  
  
• Admin Panel Creation: A desktop-based admin panel was developed to manage the  operations, including driver verification, customer management, payment processing, and  overall system oversight.
  
  
• User Empowerment: The app aimed to ensure that drivers received fair wages by  allowing them to bid for rides and offering a transparent system of commission payments.
  
  

Cooperative Model: Unlike traditional ride-sharing platforms, the Minnesota Ride Share  Co-Op emphasized cooperative ownership, giving both drivers and customers a stake in  the platform’s success. 

Development Process: 

• Technology Stack:
  
  
  • Mobile App: Developed using Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. The app  was compatible with multiple versions of iOS and Android to ensure broad  accessibility.
    
    
  • Backend: The backend was built using Laravel (PHP) with a MySQL database,  ensuring a secure and scalable system.
     
  • Third-Party APIs: Integration of payment gateways, SMS APIs for OTP  verification, and Google Maps for location services was critical to the functionality of the application. 

• Key Features:
  
  
  • Ride Booking: Customers could request immediate rides or schedule rides for  future dates. The app allowed for multiple stops during a single ride. 
  • Bid System: Drivers received ride requests within their radius and could bid on  them, enabling a competitive yet fair system for ride allocation. 
  • Driver and Customer Management: Admins could manage and verify driver  credentials, oversee customer accounts, and handle disputes or queries. 
  • Payment Management: The admin panel included tools to manage driver  payments, set commission rates, and track earnings, ensuring transparency and  fair compensation.

Challenges and Solutions: 

• User Adoption: Encouraging drivers and customers to switch to a new platform posed a  challenge. The cooperative model, which offered better pay for drivers and fair prices for  riders, was emphasized in marketing efforts to drive adoption. 
  
  
• Technical Integration: Integrating multiple third-party APIs (e.g., payment gateways,  SMS services) required careful management to ensure seamless functionality. Rigorous  testing and iterative feedback helped mitigate integration issues. 

Outcome: The Minnesota Ride Share Co-Op successfully launched with a mobile application  that was well-received by both drivers and customers. The cooperative model fostered a sense of  ownership and community, which was reflected in the high levels of satisfaction reported by  users. The platform’s emphasis on transparency, fair wages, and equitable treatment has set it  apart from traditional ride-sharing services, making it a sustainable and community-driven  alternative. 

Conclusion: The Minnesota Ride Share Co-Op project highlights the potential for technology to  empower communities through cooperative ownership models. By focusing on fairness and  transparency, the platform not only meets the needs of its users but also promotes a more  equitable economy.