Taxi Business Challenges in Kazakhstan and How Cloud Software Solves Them
Hello! Opening and running a taxi service in a small town, district center or village in Kazakhstan is a real and profitable business, but it is not without its pitfalls. This is especially true for services with a fleet of up to 40–70 drivers, where dozens of tasks have to be handled manually every day. In this article, we will look at the main taxi business challenges in Kazakhstan as of the end of 2025: strict regulations, competition with aggregators, driver turnover and the dispatcher's routine. Most importantly, we will show how cloud-based taxi software such as Tonotel helps small regional services overcome these problems quickly and affordably.
1. Strict 2025 Regulations: Registration and Oversight
Since 2025, the taxi market in Kazakhstan has been heavily regulated:
- Mandatory registration of the carrier in the register via eGov.kz or the akimat.
- A ban on right-hand-drive cars.
- Drivers must work officially (as sole proprietors or self-employed).
- Aggregators pass orders only to registered vehicles.
- Police inspections and passenger complaints about missing documents.
For a small regional service, this creates an additional burden: you need to keep track of every driver's documents, the vehicles and the reporting.
The Tonotel solution:
Automatic verification of driver and vehicle registration status before orders are dispatched. Convenient reports for the akimat and the tax authorities. You will not miss a single deadline and will avoid fines.
2. Competition with Large Aggregators
Yandex Go, inDrive and DiDi are active even in the regions. They take a share of the orders, and drivers often move to them because of the higher volume of rides and convenient apps.
For a local service, this means:
- Fewer direct orders from customers.
- Difficulty retaining drivers.
- The need to compete on price and pickup speed.
The Tonotel solution:
A free order exchange* between all services running on our software: you get extra rides from partners in neighboring districts with no commission.
* Ready-made integrations with aggregators: your drivers receive orders both from Yandex/inDrive and from your dispatch center.
* A branded customer app (Android + iOS): passengers order directly from you and earn bonuses.
As a result, even a small service fully covers its area and does not lose orders.
3. Driver Turnover and Unstable Earnings
In the regions, drivers leave if there are few orders or if payouts are complicated. Manually tracking bonuses, top-ups for short rides and ratings takes time and causes disputes.
The Tonotel solution:
* An automatic rating and rewards system: the best drivers get priority and bonuses.
* Top-ups for unprofitable orders are set up in one click.
* A transparent balance in the driver app (Android): the driver sees their earnings in real time.
* Thanks to the order exchange and integrations: more orders and a stable income.
Drivers stay because they earn more and get paid without delays.
4. Manual Dispatcher Work and Accounting
In a small service, everything often rests on one or two dispatchers and the owner: taking calls, dispatching orders, payouts, reports. As the fleet grows to 50–70 cars, this turns into chaos.
The Tonotel solution:
* Full automation: orders are dispatched automatically based on the driver's rating, location and status.
* Order intake via the customer app, website or telephony.
* Automatic reports for the tax authorities and driver payouts.
* Scalability: the system easily handles fleet growth without buying new equipment.
Everything runs in the browser: no servers, powerful computers or system administrators are needed.
5. Weak Marketing and Customer Churn
In the regions, customers get used to aggregators because of their convenience and bonuses. Local services often lose their regular passengers.
The Tonotel solution:
* A built-in loyalty program and referral system: set up "every 10th ride free" or bonuses for referring a friend.
* Push notifications and SMS about promotions.
* A branded app for your service: customers come back for the bonuses.
Conclusion: Cloud Software Is a Lifeline for a Small Taxi Service
Taxi business challenges in Kazakhstan in 2025–2026 are real, but they are easy to overcome if you choose the right tools from the very start. For services in small towns and villages, cloud software is not a luxury but a necessity.
Tonotel is built precisely for you: - Automation of routine tasks - A free order exchange - Integrations with aggregators - Easy setup of bonuses and marketing - A low monthly fee and a fast launch
With Tonotel, your service will become modern, profitable and resilient to competition, even with a fleet of 40–70 cars.
Ready to solve all these challenges with a single solution? Sign up at tonotel.com: we will show you a free demo and help you configure the system for your region within just a few days.