Big changes at Uber
An operating system supporting everyday life
Uber is changing before our eyes. The company's CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, wants Uber to become something akin to an operating system that supports our everyday lives. It is meant to be the go-to platform for people moving around the city, letting them order any means of transport or pay for public transport tickets.
Now Uber is introducing further important changes to its flagship product, strengthening safety features, raising the comfort of users and drivers, and helping to improve traffic in cities and urban mobility in general, thanks to large data sets.
Uber has evolved: from a ride-hailing app, it is gradually becoming a multimodal platform offering access to many services - from food delivery to electric bikes and scooters.
A new generation of the app
A new generation of the app
Uber is introducing a new-generation app. The user will get access to all of Uber's services at their fingertips, from a single platform. Every user will see options side by side in the Uber app: Rides (ordering a ride), Eats (food delivery), and others. The new changes are currently being tested in dozens of cities in the US and around the world.
The company is aware that the app has already become an integral part of life for many people, which comes with great responsibility. For this reason, Uber has also announced a range of innovative features and new partnerships.
Uber is introducing the following technological changes to its app, which are meant to continue raising the bar on safety and setting standards in the ride-sharing market:
Verify Your Ride. To make sure the user is getting into the right car, from today they can receive a unique 4-digit PIN code, which they should verbally give to the driver. The driver will only be able to start the trip in the app after entering the correct PIN code. Uber is also working on a new solution using ultrasonic waves to automatically verify whether a given user is in the right car, without the need to provide a PIN code.
On-Trip Reporting. The user will no longer have to wait until they get out of the car to report a problem to Uber. Soon, a new option will appear in the app in the safety toolkit under the name "Report Safety Incident". It will be marked with a blue shield icon and will allow users to report a safety issue during a trip. Uber's safety team will contact the user after the trip ends.
Text 112.
Text 112
Last year, Uber added a safety button in its app so that in the event of an emergency it could connect users and drivers directly to 112. Uber is now adding the option to send an SMS to that number in cities where the app operates, automatically preparing a text message containing trip details such as the make, model and registration number of the car and the location, so that 112 operators can react quickly.
Improved Real-Time ID Check. In 2016, Uber announced the rollout of the Real-Time ID Check feature, helping verify whether the driver's appearance behind the wheel matches the one in the app and Uber's system.
Uber started with basic "selfies". Today's improvement encourages drivers to perform a random series of basic movements, such as blinking, smiling or turning their head. This is an additional form of security in the context of driver verification.
Bike lane alerts.
Notifications for cyclists
By the end of October, users in more than 200 cities around the world will receive a notification in the app when their trip is ending near a bike lane. Uber hopes this option will help increase everyone's safety and draw special attention from users ending trips to cyclists before they open the door.
Uber has also announced a range of new products and features intended to make every app user feel like a VIP:
A monthly subscription providing savings thanks to, for example, a price-lock guarantee or free delivery on Uber Eats orders. The service is available in 10 cities, and is now additionally complemented by Ride Pass, available in 40 cities. Today Uber is also announcing the launch of the pass service in 18 cities for Uber Eats users who frequently use the app and order delivered meals. However, no date was given for introducing these changes in the UK.
Filtering dishes with food allergies in mind in the Uber Eats app.
This new feature will make it easier for millions of people with various food allergies and intolerances to order dishes from Uber Eats. When choosing a dish, the user will be able to easily provide all information about their food allergies via the app. If the restaurant cannot fulfil the order, it will send the user a message and allow them to order a different dish that matches their preferences.
Uber also announced several new features aimed at drivers and couriers:
An earnings estimator tool that will help drivers better determine their earning potential. Uber hopes this option will give drivers more information so they can better understand what earnings they can expect - even before their first trip.
A demand heatmap. Uber had been receiving signals from drivers about demand, regarding where and when the best places and times are for completing trips. As a result, Uber decided to introduce new tools, including a new map informing drivers about demand for trips.
It sometimes happens that drivers travel to places from which they return without passengers. To avoid empty trips, in November Uber will introduce the Back to Busy Area option. If a driver finishes a trip in a less busy area, they can turn on this feature to search only for trips heading back in a chosen direction.
Uber is also constantly working on rewarding drivers. The Uber Pro program includes rewards such as 100% coverage of tuition fees at Arizona State University Online and discounts on vehicle-related expenses. Currently, 2 million drivers belong to the Uber Pro program. Uber is well on its way to having 3.5 million users in the program by the end of the year.
Uber has also taken steps toward even better partnerships with cities and regions:
The introduction of the Uber Transit option in San Francisco, Mexico City and Paris, as well as 7 more cities (on every continent!) by the end of the year. As a result, the public transport systems of the largest cities will be integrated."
The trend of ordering food delivery has grown significantly in popularity, and Uber Eats recently completed its billionth delivery. The company is taking a responsible approach to reducing plastic waste and food waste. Starting next month, all users who want to use straws, cutlery and other extra items will have to indicate this when placing an order in the app. Restaurants will not add them by default.
Thanks to a new partnership with the organisation Feeding America, Uber is working to address the problem of hunger, which affects more than 37 million Americans. Uber will use its network and technology to work with restaurants that donate surplus food. The company will also use Uber Freight to transfer food between Feeding America's US network of 200 food banks and 60,000 pantries that collect free food.
Next steps…
Next steps…
Uber is aware that good ideas can be born in every corner of the world. Therefore, it wants to open its global Uber Incubator platform, which will be accessible to 100 million active users and more than 4 million drivers and partners. Uber Incubator is an opportunity for both individual contractors and startups to use the Uber platform to take their ideas to an even higher level...
Summary
Uber is transforming from a ride-hailing app into a multimodal platform, introducing new safety features such as PIN code verification, on-trip incident reporting and improved driver identification. New options for drivers are also being tested, including earnings estimation tools and the Back to Busy Area feature, while the Uber Pro program is set to cover 3.5 million users.
Uber is also expanding cooperation with cities: the Uber Transit service will debut in 7 more metropolitan areas, and thanks to its partnership with Feeding America it plans to donate surplus food to food banks. The company is also opening the Uber Incubator program for startups.
