Bolt, a popular ride-hailing company, has added a new speech-to-text feature to the chat function in its driver app. This new update is designed to help drivers and riders communicate more easily while using the Bolt platform.
With this upgrade, drivers no longer need to type out their messages. Instead, they can simply speak into the app, and the app will convert their speech into text, which will then be sent to the rider as a regular chat message. Bolt explained that this new feature is aimed at making communication between drivers and riders quicker and more efficient.
The speech-to-text feature is initially being rolled out on Android devices. To use it, drivers need to tap the microphone icon in the chat section of the app. When they do this for the first time, a prompt will appear asking for permission to use the phone’s microphone. Once permission is granted, the driver can speak their message, review and edit the transcribed text if necessary, and then send it to the rider.
Bolt has introduced this speech-to-text feature as part of its broader effort to improve communication on its platform. The company already provides several ways for drivers and riders to interact, including in-app calls, chat messages, and language programs designed to help overcome language barriers.
Yahaya Mohammed, Bolt’s Manager in Nigeria, emphasized the importance of effective communication between drivers and riders.
“At Bolt, we know how important it is to have quick and effective communication between driver partners and riders. With this upgrade, we enable driver-partners in Nigeria to communicate more easily and swiftly with our riders. It’s one of a number of ways we support a high-quality platform through quick and easy communication between driver-partners and riders, including in-app calls, chat messages, and language programmes aimed at helping bridge language barriers.”
However, the introduction of this new feature comes at a time when many Nigerians are protesting nationwide due to widespread hunger and other basic needs. Because of the difficult economic situation, some drivers have expressed dissatisfaction with this update. They question how the speech-to-text feature will help them increase their earnings, which has been a major concern for many drivers who feel that a pay raise would be more beneficial than an app upgrade.
On the other hand, some drivers see the new feature as useful, believing it could improve their ability to focus on driving by making communication easier. They think that by reducing the need to type messages, the speech-to-text function could help enhance safety and efficiency while on the road.
