Cab Branding vs. Traditional Hoardings: Which Offers Better ROI for Brands?
Outdoor advertising has long been a cornerstone of brand visibility. For decades, static hoardings ruled city skylines — big, bold, and impossible to miss. But with India’s urban landscape evolving and consumers becoming increasingly mobile, cab branding has emerged as a dynamic alternative that offers flexibility, mobility, and measurable returns.
So, when it comes to ROI — does mobility outperform static impact? Let’s find out.
1. Reach and Visibility: Static vs. Mobile Exposure
Traditional hoardings are location-specific — they dominate one fixed point, like a high-traffic junction or highway. Their reach depends entirely on footfall and traffic in that specific area.
Cab branding, on the other hand, is mobile visibility at scale. Each branded cab moves across multiple prime zones daily — covering residential neighborhoods, business hubs, malls, airports, and metro corridors.
Verdict:
Hoardings win on instant attention, but cab branding wins on geographical reach and repetition. For citywide awareness, mobile branding offers broader and more dynamic exposure.
2. Cost Efficiency and ROI
Renting a single premium hoarding in cities like Mumbai or Delhi can cost several lakhs per month. Once installed, it delivers impressions — but the cost per view remains static.
Cab branding, by contrast, allows advertisers to deploy hundreds of moving billboards at a lower aggregate cost. Because these vehicles travel through multiple high-footfall zones daily, the cost per impression is significantly lower.
Verdict:
Cab branding delivers higher ROI, especially for startups, SMEs, and city-specific campaigns seeking visibility without massive ad spends.
3. Audience Engagement and Recall
Static hoardings rely on a few seconds of attention as commuters pass by. Once out of sight, the message is gone.
Cab branding, however, benefits from repeated exposure and eye-level visibility. When people see branded taxis multiple times on different routes, it builds subconscious familiarity — a key trigger for brand recall.
Verdict:
Cab branding scores higher on memory retention due to frequency, repetition, and relatable mobility.
4. Flexibility and Targeting
A hoarding is fixed — changing its message or location involves cost and logistics.
Cab branding is fluid and customizable. Campaigns can target specific city zones (IT parks, airports, residential areas), and the fleet can be scaled up or down easily. Brands can even track routes via GPS, ensuring their message reaches intended audiences.
Verdict:
Cab branding offers unmatched flexibility and real-time adaptability — ideal for short-term activations or location-based campaigns.
5. Technology Integration
Traditional hoardings still rely largely on estimated impressions rather than real metrics.
Modern cab branding integrates GPS tracking and route analytics, allowing advertisers to measure reach, frequency, and coverage area. Some agencies even add QR codes or digital extensions on car wraps to drive online engagement.
Verdict:
Cab branding is measurable, data-backed, and digital-friendly, unlike static hoardings that remain largely analog.
6. Brand Image and Innovation
Hoardings are a tried-and-tested format — but also perceived as traditional. In contrast, cab branding projects an image of mobility, modernity, and accessibility.
With electric and hybrid taxi fleets becoming common, brands can even align with sustainability and green mobility initiatives, enhancing their corporate image.
Verdict:
For brands seeking to appear modern, active, and connected to the urban pulse, cab branding is the clear winner.
Mobility Delivers Measurable Returns
Both hoardings and cab branding have their place in the media mix — but when it comes to ROI, adaptability, and data-backed reach, cab branding leads the race.
By turning everyday commutes into moving ad journeys, brands can ensure wider exposure, deeper recall, and smarter spending — everything a future-ready OOH campaign should deliver.