A meter (taxi meter) converts time and distance measurements into the cost of a service. To do this, it requires a reliable calculation, rate parameters, and a device designed to operate daily within a vehicle. Jonatan López explains this combination in chapter 39 of “Toque de Ingenio,” where he explores the evolution of Taxitronic, from electronic equipment to apps and connected services.
Guest: Jonatan López, who was introduced in the episode as the CEO of Taxitronic.
Interview published: February 25, 2025. Episode: 39. Duration: 1 h 15 min.
In this episode:
- How does Jonatan explain the relationship between time, distance, and fare parameters?
- Why robustness, calculation protection, and availability are integral parts of the equipment’s design.
- How Taxitronic adapted its product to the arrival of smartphones and cloud-based software.
The conversation begins with an object familiar to passengers and drivers, but one whose operation is often overlooked. Jonatan places it within a family of instruments that convert measurements into money. The references to prices, markets, and products relate to February 2025; the episode is not a current price guide for a specific city.
Time and distance: what does the taxi meter calculate?
Jonatan explains how it works by relating it to two parameters: price per distance and price per time. In the calculation method he describes, the system uses one or the other depending on the speed of the journey. This allows for considering both traffic and waiting situations.
The example of a stopped vehicle helps to understand the logic. Even if it’s not moving, time is still being used. When it’s moving at a sufficient speed, the distance becomes the determining factor for that part of the cost. The guest’s explanation refers to the system they are demonstrating during the episode.
Jonatan summarizes it as a calculation that preserves:
“that double counter”.
Jonatan López 8:13.
The full price may include additional elements, such as an initial amount or supplements. When developing the product, it’s useful to distinguish the calculation mechanism of the parameters received. This separation allows us to understand that a change in pricing doesn’t necessarily require a complete redesign of the software.
Configuration and trust in a measuring instrument.
The interview covers how the parameters are updated and how the equipment is protected. Jonatan links the meter to metrological requirements and controlled intervention processes. The aim is to maintain confidence in an instrument whose results have a direct economic consequence.
Protecting the calculation is an integral part of the product from its initial design. Simply presenting a figure isn’t enough; the system must operate consistently and maintain the intended functionality under the conditions it will encounter. The integrity of the measurement and its availability become central requirements.
Jonatan also explains that different cities organize their pricing in different ways. The product needs to be able to handle various configurations without losing clarity on what is being calculated. This diversity requires an architecture that allows for the orderly management of local variations.
For a team of electronic development, The case demonstrates the value of separating stable functions and variable parameters. The core of the system can remain constant while application data changes. This decision facilitates evolution, maintenance, and testing, all while remaining within the specific requirements of the product.
Robustness: when a breakdown interrupts the client’s work.
Jonatan describes tests related to temperature, vibration, humidity, and electrical feed. These are examples of conditions the device needs to withstand in an automotive environment. The difficulty of the design isn’t apparent simply by looking at its display.
The availability of a meter also has an immediate consequence for the professional who uses it. A malfunctioning meter can prevent the service from continuing smoothly. This reliance makes users particularly sensitive to interruptions and repair times.
The conversation links product longevity and brand reputation. Jonatan explains that he values a piece of older equipment continuing to function when it’s reconnected. Longevity is seen as part of the relationship with the customer and as a reflection of trust in the manufacturer.
This reasoning applies to other industrial teams. Robustness should be defined based on what an incident means within the operation. A test prototype It can help to verify specific conditions before finalizing the design and deploying numerous units.
From mechanics to electronics: a company adapting to its sector.
Taxitronic’s story begins in an interview with a family who dedicates itself to repairing taxi meters, and then transitioned to using digital equipment. Jonatan recalls generations of products and professionals who were involved in the development of both the hardware and the firmware.
The focus of this journey is to observe how technology evolves while a need for service remains. Measuring and managing a route remains relevant, but the available tools enable new functions and ways of interaction. The company needs to decide what to maintain and what to transform.
During the conversation, there were taximeters equipped with communication capabilities and connected to a central system. This integration allowed the driver to access pick-up information and participate in a system for assignment and execution of services. The device began to handle tasks that went beyond simply calculating the amount due.
The evolution demonstrates both an opportunity and a risk associated with product development. Adding features can increase the value of the product, but it also ties it to evolving technologies. The architecture and business model must be adaptable and reviewed as the market shifts to a new way of working.
The arrival of the smartphone changed the strategy.
Jonatan explains that Taxitronic had developed increasingly comprehensive terminals, with screens and communication features. The expansion of smartphones revealed another customer preference: to use a device that already offered a familiar experience and a wide range of applications.
The observation that guided that decision was that:
“Our clients preferred to work with a smartphone”.
Jonatan López 31:44.
According to their account, the company then launched a phase focusing on applications for both drivers and passengers, as well as cloud-based solutions. This wasn’t simply about changing a display; it involved a complete overhaul of how functions were distributed across different teams, and the integration of software communications and services.
The episode also highlights that a technological transition needs to be accompanied by those who are already using the system. Migrating from previous solutions requires a process that maintains operations. The new technical element needs to coexist with the continuity of the client’s work.
For the Interface design and user experience., This section of the interview demonstrates why it’s important to observe actual habits. User preferences can change the most effective way to offer a feature, even when the previous version is still technically capable of performing it.
Choosing when to adopt the next technology
The conversation turns to autonomous vehicles and potential future changes in the sector. Jonatan presents his forecasts as opinions and explains the limitations of a small business (pyme) in developing certain technologies on its own. The company needs to monitor the evolution of the sector and decide where it can add value.
The prevailing approach is continuous adaptation. Maintaining a presence in a technology market for years requires regularly reviewing products and services, without losing existing customers. Each stage presents a different combination of investment, internal capacity, and commercial opportunity.
The interview proves to be valuable because it links that vision with decisions that Taxitronic had already made. The history of communications and the smartphone provides concrete examples of architectural changes and of strategy. The future is analyzed based on this experience, without assuming it is already determined.
What can another development team learn?
- Distinguish the core functionality of the product from the parameters that vary depending on the application.
- Define robustness and availability based on their impact on the client’s work.
- Observe when a new platform changes user preferences.
- Plan to facilitate transitions that allow the product to evolve while maintaining the current operation.
Taxitronic demonstrates how an electronic device can sustain an activity and evolve into a connected system. If your company needs to develop or update existing equipment, i-mas can help you define requirements, integrate features, and prepare for validation. Tell us what product you’re looking to develop..
To continue reading: Neuroelectrics’ electronic product development..
Source of article: Interview with Edgar Guerrero and Jonatan López on Toque de Ingenio, published on February 25, 2025. The quotes link to their passages in the video; the key takeaways are a summarized editorial version of the conversation.
