Little now apologises to customers after six-hour server crash

What you need to know:

  • The Safaricom-backed firm says that at around 5pm, when the rains started, its systems recorded over 40,000 sustained ride requests, causing it to crash.
  • Customers attempting to book rides were unable to do so until just before midnight when Little says it “upgraded its system” and came back online.
  • Taxi hailing companies make brisk business on weekday evenings as people head home from work.

Online taxi-hailing firm Little has apologised to its customers after a system overload on Wednesday evening that crashed its servers for over six hours, leaving many stranded.

The Safaricom-backed firm says that at around 5pm, when the rains started, its systems recorded over 40,000 sustained ride requests, causing it to crash. Customers attempting to book rides were unable to do so until just before midnight when Little says it “upgraded its system” and came back online.

The firm, developed by local financial technology firm Craft Silicon, is now offering customers Sh100 off one trip booked via the platform on October 15 as an apology.

“We have taken appropriate steps to ensure that we do not create such inconveniences to you again,” Kamal Budhabhatti, Craft Silicon’s CEO, said in an email to subscribers.

Taxi hailing companies make brisk business on weekday evenings as people head home from work.

Earnings pick up on days when it rains as people endeavor to keep dry, pushing them to request rides from the several e-hailing cab companies.