The e-cab Taxi Booking Manager plugin utilizes the Google Maps API to provide accurate and efficient pricing calculations for your taxi booking services. Here’s why you need the Google Maps API key for specific pricing models:
Pricing Models
- Distance-Based Pricing (Google Maps)
- Usage: This model calculates the fare based on the distance and duration between the pick-up and drop-off locations.
- Requirement: The Google Maps API key is essential to determine the exact distance and duration, ensuring precise fare calculation. The key is also needed to display the map on your site.
- Fixed Hourly Pricing
- Usage: This model charges a fixed rate based on the duration of the ride.
- Requirement: The Google Maps API key calculates the estimated travel time and distance, helping customers assume how many hours the trip will take and ensuring that the hourly rates are accurately applied according to the trip’s specifics. The key is also needed to display the map on your site.
- Manual Pricing (Fixed Location)
- Usage: This model allows you to manually set fixed prices for specific routes or locations.
- Requirement: The Google Maps API key is unnecessary for this model as the pricing is predefined and does not rely on real-time distance or duration calculations.
Benefits of Using Google Maps API Key
- Accuracy: Ensures precise distance and time calculations for accurate fare estimation.
- Reliability: Utilizes Google’s extensive mapping data to provide reliable route information.
- Efficiency: Automatically updates routes and distances in real-time, providing up-to-date information to users.
- Display Maps: The Google Maps API key is required to display maps on your site, visually representing routes and destinations.
How to Get and Use the Google Maps API Key
- Get Your API Key: Sign up for a Google Cloud account and create a new project to get your API key from the Google Maps Platform.
- Enable APIs: Enable the required APIs (e.g., Distance Matrix API, Geocoding API) within your Google Cloud project.
- Configure Your Plugin: Enter the API key in the e-cab Taxi Booking Manager plugin settings to enable the distance-based and fixed hourly pricing models.
By integrating the Google Maps API key, you ensure that your taxi booking service provides accurate, reliable, and efficient fare calculations for your users.