Dubai: The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the launch of a ‘Click and Drive’ initiative for reengineering customers’ journeys to obtaining driver licences.
RTA is the first government entity in the world to offer an integrated digital experience for obtaining a driver’s license.
Making the announcement today, Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, also revealed an array of initiatives in support of the digitisation of vehicle registration services, including a first-of-a-kind mobile eyesight testing service in the region.
While meeting the Licensing Agency team, Al Tayer stressed RTA’s standing commitment to enhancing vehicle and driver licensing services and supporting the migration to digital and smart platforms. “These efforts aim to realise the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council, to transform Dubai into the world’s smartest city. Achieving this goal warrants delivering services at levels that exceed customers’ expectations, which will pave the way for bringing more happiness to residents and visitors of Dubai,” said Al Tayer.
Click and Drive
“Click and Drive initiative helped in achieving 92 per cent of the digital transformation and reduced the average service delivery time by 75 per cent (from 20 to five minutes). It also saved customers’ time and effort by slashing the service procedures from 12 to seven steps, resulting in a 53 per cent drop in customer visits to driving institutes. The initiative achieved high-performance indicators such as increasing customer satisfaction from 93 to 97 per cent, improving the service delivery period from 87 to 97 per cent, easing the use of service from 88 to 94 per cent, and enhancing the accessibility of service from 90 to 94 per cent,” explained Al Tayer.
“The digitisation of vehicle licensing services entails revamping the existing processes and designs of all licensing services and delivering them in smart packages that ensure streamlined customer procedures. Moreover, transforming all services into paperless services via smart channels serves the goal of digital adoption. RTA has reengineered more than 50 per cent of vehicle licensing services and will complete the process in the fourth quarter of 2022. The first stage of the project yielded significant results, including the transfer of vehicle ownership without visiting the service centres, thereby facilitating the service delivery and accelerating the processing time,” he added.
Smart contracts
“The Transportation Activities Rental System (TARS) is a first-of-its-kind system that uses blockchain technology to issue smart car rental contracts in Dubai. The system improved the standards of governance in the car rental business, facilitated the monitoring of operational processes, and raised the efficiency of inspection and controlled operations by automating tasks, which saved the time and effort of RTA’s inspectors. It has also integrated data by linking RTA’s system to the systems of other relevant government entities and provided added services to the car rental market,” elaborated Al Tayer.
“From the launch date in September 2021 to June 2022, TARS achieved high performance indicators. The total number of rental contracts exceeded 840,000 contracts and the number of processed transactions went over 520,000 transactions. In addition, the system added about 118,000 vehicles, registered 1451 companies, and completed 2518 inspections,” explained Al Tayer.
Eyesight testing vehicle
Al Tayer also unveiled the region’s first mobile eyesight testing service, currently run by Al Jaber Optical, and the scope of the service will be expanded to include other accredited service providers. The mobile eyesight test is operated in a vehicle at a time and place selected by the customer against an additional fee, enabling the instant renewal of the driver’s license.
Offering this optional mobile service contributes to RTA’s pioneering role and excellence in service delivery. The service is accessible through prior booking via the support centre of Al Jaber Optical enabling the payment of fees and selecting of appointment dates. After the test, the customer can download the test result, renew the license, and receive an electronic or printed copy of the new license.