To meet the evolving needs of corporate travelers
post-pandemic, Uber is launching a new ride type – Uber Business Comfort – that
includes priority pickup over non-business travelers.
In a statement announcing the new service, Uber said, “In
the aftermath of the pandemic, we have seen business travelers expect more
flexibility, greater convenience and an elevated experience - benefits they
have grown accustomed to when they travel for leisure. Meanwhile, employers are
increasingly intentional with business travel policies and need to justify a
return on their travel investment, while meeting greater compliance levels. To
meet these evolving business needs, the business travel experience must be
redesigned across the entire journey.”
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Uber Business Comfort gives
riders access to newer cars, more legroom, custom ride preferences like a quiet
car, 24/7 support and more time – 10 minutes – to meet their ride before a
cancellation fee is charged.
Uber said it is also
experimenting with additional benefits such as Uber One membership promotions
and the ability to earn Uber Cash to reward employees for business travel.
Initially launched in
2014, Uber said its Uber for Business unit saw 40% growth year over year in Q1
this year. The platform is integrated with partners including SAP Concur, Zeno
by Serko, Coupa and more, to streamline travel expense management.
Uber has also been expanding its services beyond rideshare.
Last month the company announced boat
bookings on the Greek island of Mykonos and flight booking
capabilities in the United Kingdom, powered by Hopper. In the last year the company has been testing other transportation options in its app in the U.K., including train and bus bookings.