Paper short abstract:

The aim of this paper is to analyze the reasons for the failure of attempts at professionalization by the public authorities, as well as the current process of digitalization of motorcycle taxi transport companies, based on the example of two companies, Gozem and Olé Togo

Paper long abstract:

Urban transport in the city of Lomé in Togo is now largely provided by informal motobike taxi operators. Despite the existence of unions and an interministerial decree regulating them, road insecurity and disorder are frequent in this sector. Their professionalization has recently become a priority for the public authorities, who laid the groundwork for their reorganization in 2014. Thus, the Delegation for the Organization of the Informal Sector (DOSI) undertook a professionalization program that was ultimately unsuccessful. This contribution aims to analyze the reasons for the failure of this professionalization attempt, and to analyze the current process of digitalization of motorcycle cab companies. We will use the case of two companies, "Gozem" and "Olé Togo", which are pioneers in the field of digital platforms that use the internet, smartphones and social networks as interactive communication tools between the driver and the user. How are these companies trying to adapt to the digitalization of passenger transport in order to professionalize their motorcycle cab services? It seems to us that the rise of this type of digital enterprise, which opens up new economic perspectives for informal motorcycle cab services, is part of the emerging forms of urban economy in Africa that deserve the attention of researchers.