Anyone needing a taxi in Santa Cruz de Tenerife will be able to order one digitally much more easily from next year. The capital is working on a centralised system that will allow residents and visitors to request a taxi through a mobile application, a website or a single WhatsApp number. The first practical tests are scheduled for November 2026. If the trial period goes according to plan, the system should be fully operational by January 2027 and available every day of the year.
Clear and efficient
The new service will be free of charge for both passengers and taxi drivers. The professional associations Élite and La Gremial are working together with technology company Atlantis and Santa Cruz City Council to develop the system. The aim is to combine current requests more effectively and assign available taxis to passengers more quickly. For people who prefer not to install a separate application, the option of booking a journey through WhatsApp could be a particularly practical improvement.
Users will not only be able to request a taxi immediately, but also book a journey in advance. They will be able to specify particular requirements, such as the number of passengers, whether they are travelling with a pet or whether they need an adapted vehicle for someone with reduced mobility. This may be especially useful for older travellers, families and people who want certainty about their transport before an important appointment. The central platform should process the different requests in an organised way and make the taxi service more efficient.
Better for the drivers themselves
A great deal will also change for taxi drivers. Through the system, they will be able to see where other taxis are located, which taxi ranks are busy or full and whether colleagues are available. The application will also support the management of work shifts and professional information. By distributing journeys and available vehicles more effectively throughout the city, Santa Cruz hopes to reduce waiting times and limit unnecessary journeys without passengers.
One notable feature is the planned emergency button for drivers. In a potentially dangerous situation, it should allow them to call for help quickly. The modernisation is therefore not only about convenience, but also about safety. In addition, the software developed as part of the project will remain the property of the municipality. This means Santa Cruz will retain control over the system and will be able to modify or expand the application at a later stage.
Easy booking
The municipality previously allocated a budget of €295,320 for the development, implementation and maintenance of the system, including the Canary Islands tax IGIC. This covers eight months of development and implementation, followed by 24 months of support and maintenance.
Tourists who are unfamiliar with the city will also benefit from a clearer and simpler way to order a taxi. The main change lies in the way taxis are found, requested and booked. From January 2027, the system could put an end to the need for residents and visitors to search for different telephone numbers, providing one clear access point for Santa Cruz’s taxi services.
Photo: AI/ChatGPT
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