Im just not sure what the company wants to be with its ever-expanding brand and platform.
One day its a platform forflying cars.
The next day its all about bikes, then it decides to lettaxisshare its platform.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
You then can earn 10% back in Uber Cash for each Reserve ride you book.
Great for weddings and work trips.
I could imagine integration with Trip Advisor or evenGet your Guidein the future to include experiences.
Vouchers for Events
Uber Vouchers is what it sounds like.
Considering the number of weddings postponed because of COVID, this could be hugely lucrative.
Ubers also on a mission to get its drivers to convert to EVs.
They can compare the cost of ownership of an EV with a non-EV using the app.
The company has also added a map of the nearest EV chargers and their charging speeds.
Verdict:This is curious considering that ride-hailing companies are struggling to get drivers.
So theyll berenting a Tesla from Hertzor similar.
Verdict:Youve been able to do this with Alexa for a while.
This just expands the offering.
Uber Eats at Stadium
If you like watching sports out in the open, youre in luck.
Ubers partnering with Postmates for in-seat food ordering at selected stadiums.
Verdict:Many smart stadiums are already offering the same service under their own apps.
This just keeps it in the Uber family.
Verdict:Delivery robots and autonomous vehicles are a logical solution to the driver shortages.
Its not necessarily offering anything you couldnt get elsewhere, but its making it all available in one place.
It wouldnt surprise me if you could book flights or enroll ina digital biometric passport programin the future.
But all of this means they get customer loyalty.
They also stop you from looking elsewhere.
Im also curious about its impact on small businesses, not on the Uber platform.
How you feel about this depends on your stance on digital privacy and whether weve lost that battle.
Ive been questioningUbers constant diversificationfor a while, and I cant help thinking this is just the beginning.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
