Uber rebuilds app from the ground up, makes it smarter & more personalized
The new Uber app
Global app-based cab aggregator Uber on Thursday launched a new version of their mobile app, which makes the booking process faster, smarter and personalized for users across the 70+ countries it operates in.
“We designed the new Uber app around you and our core beliefs that time is a luxury and that the information you need should always be at your fingertips,” said Uber’s Senior Product Manager Yuhki Yamashita in a statement.
Keeping in mind the changing needs of commuters around the world, the new Uber app learns from their routines.
As a result, frequent users will now see ‘shortcuts’ that predict where one could be headed, meaning riders can get moving with just one tap.
Since commuters use Uber to get somewhere or to someone and by starting with the rider destination, we can tailor the journey better, the company said.
Soon, users will also be able to connect their calendar with the new Uber app, which the company claims to have rebuilt completely from the ground up.
Once connected, their meetings and appointments will automatically appear as ‘shortcuts’, saving them the hassle of digging through another app to find the right address.
The company will also introduce a new feature that enables riders to set their destination to a person instead of a place.
Users simply need to sync their contacts with the app, type their name into the search bar and once they have shared their location, the commuter can get moving.
The company will also be making it easier to compare the fare of a different car services that it offers – UberGo, UberX and Uber Pool.
Another big addition to the app is is the ‘Uber Feed’, which will display relevant information like bus or train timings and social media updates during the ride.
For the feed, Uber partnered with Yelp, Foursquare, Snapchat and Pandora, and plans to announce more partners soon.
The Uber Feed feature’s success in India, like any other market, will depend on who, and how soon, it partners with.
The new app is rolling out globally on iOS and Android over the next several weeks starting Thursday.
