Two months ago Uber allowed the use of cash and mobile money in Kenya. The company has gone further and redesigned its Partner app to give its drivers more information on how to make more money while delivering a better ride experience to their passengers. The update has an Uber Heat Map that shows Uber drivers where they are most likely to get their next customer. The App has different colors that indicate change in demand.
“From choosing when and where to drive, to tracking progress toward goals — our driver-partners make choices at every turn,” Uber said in statement. “Through feedback sessions, research and testing, we collaborated with drivers to understand how our team of engineers, designers, and data scientists could build features that would best meet their needs.”
Uber has a number of competitors who provide better services. A good example is Lyf. The company is not different from Uber since they have similar tools. Although, Uber is the world’s highest-valued startup, with a valuation of more than $50 billion. The company is in 295 cities and 55 countries. People prefer the hailing service because it’s reliable.
However, Uber has in-house challenges. People started questioning Uber’s safety measures after reports of sexual assaults, crimes and schemes emerged from different countries across the globe. A leading case is when an Uber driver stopped the car in a city tunnel and molested the customer.
In addition, most countries like UK, the Netherlands, Australia and Brazil have compact regulations that can not accommodate Uber. In Netherlands, uber offices were raided three times this year. Uber Technologies Inc.’s offices in Amsterdam were raided by Dutch authorities. The authorities were carrying out criminal investigations into the company’s UberPop ride-sharing service. “They are suspected of offering taxi services without a permit in an organized way,” Marieke van der Molen, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor said.
Sometimes back Uber drivers staged protests claiming Uber raises fees it charges its drivers in some cities and maintaining price cuts in others. Cnet reports Uber is also fighting a class-action lawsuit filed by drivers for classifying them as independent contractors rather than employees. However, the Uber Heat Map aims to help drivers increase their earnings, it also includes a section with interactive charts that let drivers track their up-to-date earnings.
The App has a ratings section that expands beyond drivers’ average ratings to include rider feedback on what they liked or disliked about their experiences. Some drivers are already enjoying the App and it will be available globally in the coming weeks.
