Beijing-based Didi Chuxing announced on Wednesday that it had signed a strategic partnership agreement with nearly 50 taxi companies from more than 10 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, to explore ways to help upgrade the taxi industry.

Didi said it will explore measures, such as big data and other internet technologies, to match the right online transportation requests with the right drivers, in order to boost the earnings of taxi drivers and improve operational efficiency.

Cheng Wei, chief executive officer of Didi, said that Didi builds its business empire on taxi business. Tens of millions people use taxis across the nation.