Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Organizations that depend on ride-hailing applications are under increasing pressure to modernize, and Edge Computing has emerged as one of the more promising avenues for doing so, given its demonstrated impact in related domains.

In practice, however, adoption of edge computing within ride-hailing applications has been uneven, and its actual impact on system scalability is not yet well understood in a rigorous, evaluable way — a gap this study is positioned to address.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Existing approaches to system scalability within ride-hailing applications remain largely reactive and fragmented, with little systematic use of edge computing despite its demonstrated value elsewhere. This study addresses the resulting gap by designing and evaluating a solution built specifically around edge computing.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To design and implement a edge computing-based approach to improving system scalability in ride-hailing applications.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of Edge Computing in enhancing system scalability within ride-hailing applications.
3. To identify the key requirements and constraints relevant to deploying edge computing in this context.
4. To assess user and stakeholder perception of the resulting system.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How can edge computing be applied to improve system scalability in ride-hailing applications?
2. How effective is Edge Computing at enhancing system scalability within ride-hailing applications?
3. What requirements and constraints are relevant to deploying edge computing in this context?
4. How do users and stakeholders perceive the resulting system?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to software developers and system architects seeking practical guidance on applying Edge Computing within ride-hailing applications. It is equally relevant to organizations that rely on these systems, offering a reference point for evaluating whether such an investment is justified, and it adds to the growing body of work on edge computing applications in software technology / IT.

1.6 Scope of the Study

As a BSc-level study, its scope is confined to designing and evaluating a edge computing-based solution for ride-hailing applications, focused specifically on system scalability; broader deployment considerations fall outside this scope.