Midrive has just launched the new Midrive Instructor app, and the company is buzzing with the potential they believe it offers. Billed as the ‘smart assistant for smart instructors’, in just a few weeks it claims over 2,000 ADIs are already using it.
The company was founded in 2013 with the goal of bringing modern tools to the learner driver industry. Their free theory and learner apps is said to have helped over 300,000 young people to pass their test. But Midrive didn’t want to stop there and have now turned their attention to modernising the admin processes for ADIs.

Looking for Solutions

The company asked over 100 ADIs what frustrated them about running their own business. Nearly every instructor mentioned admin, and that they spend an average of 30 minutes to an hour on admin every day – time they felt could be better spent
on the road. Another common complaint was late pupil cancellations. Most faced at least one or  two of these a week. This survey and its results fuelled the drive for an app to solve such issues.

“What if there was a solution to reduce admin and earn on cancellations?” asks Asher Ismail, CEO of MiDrive. “Earlier this year, Midrive raised £2.5 million of investment, and part of it went straight into building new products to do just that. Over 700 investors took part in the round, including 100 driving instructors who had experienced the company’s early products first-hand.”

An ‘Appy’ Customer

The result is the Midrive Instructor app, and while the aspiration certainly appeals to ADI, another is the fact that it’s free. “It has everything to keep an ADI’s business all in one place and, unlike other apps, it works for both independents and franchisees.” The app includes a ‘smart’ diary. It sends out automated lesson reminders to learners and alerts them when there’s a last-minute cancellation to fill. Along with a 7-day calendar view, in-app chat, and a dashboard of the latest ADI industry news, there’s also a marketplace of money-saving instructor and learner offers. It is this commercial part of the platform that keeps the app free for users. Reg Theodotou is just one ADI who downloaded the app: “I used a paper diary to run my business in North London for over 12 years. It was simple to use, but I always had to scribble out cancellations and it would get a bit messy. It wasn’t backed-up anywhere, which really wasn’t convenient or secure. I have now completely stopped using my paper diary. I spend a lot less time chasing learners and it’s much easier to make changes to lessons or set up a repeated weekly booking. I’d recommend the Midrive app to everyone!”

Going Forward

Midrive is already looking to bring in new features, including basic earnings summaries and the ability to accept card payments in advance of lessons.

Find out more: midrive.com/instructor-app