Uber is rolling out concurrent rides in India, a function that enables customers to e book as much as three rides for any of their contacts, TechCrunch has completely discovered and confirmed to the corporate.
The concurrent rides function is the newest instance of Uber growing merchandise that can enchantment to extra clients, together with these with out an app or perhaps a smartphone. In India, Uber even permits concurrent trip customers to pay drivers instantly with money or via the app.
Final 12 months, Uber quietly launched concurrent rides in a number of international markets, together with the US. An Uber spokesperson confirmed that the brand new function is now obtainable in India and will probably be rolled out within the nation in a phased method. A spokesman wouldn’t affirm particular particulars of the cities the place the service is at present obtainable.
“We perceive that folks could have to e book rides for family members whereas taking an Uber, and we launched concurrent rides globally late final 12 months. It permits riders to e book and observe as much as three rides on the similar time,” an Uber spokesperson instructed TechCrunch stated in a press release shared.
As soon as customers e book a visit for a visitor, these journey particulars will be shared through WhatsApp or SMS. The message contains the driving force’s full identify, taxi mannequin and registration quantity, an Uber contact quantity to contact the driving force, a hyperlink to trace the journey, and a four-digit PIN to start out the journey. This eliminates the necessity for visitors to make use of the Uber app.
This new function may assist Uber increase its market attain. Earlier than the replace, Uber solely allowed reserving one trip at a time, and customers needed to request one other trip after the present journey ended. It additionally places Uber forward of rivals that already provide clients the choice to e book rides concurrently.
Uber’s Indian rival Ola, whose main traders embody SoftBank, Warburg Pincus and DST International, has been permitting two simultaneous rides for a while. Nonetheless, the expertise provided by Ola is proscribed because it doesn’t enable customers to make two simultaneous bookings utilizing a single on-line cost technique. It is advisable to select between two totally different cost strategies on-line or pay by money for concurrent journeys.
