Recommendations on Uber Ride Customization
Many Uber riders have reported cases of harassment. Therefore, the company should adopt ride customization practices, which match the customer needs and specifications. In the current set up, for instance, the nearest Uber driver will drop the client at the requested destination without taking into consideration the customer specifications. Many people have ended their trips prematurely or negatively rated the services provided to them for not meeting their demands. As a result, the Uber Company should allow customers to reach out to the nearest Uber riders based on their specifications. For instance, a client could be specific on the gender of the driver or choose to have a silent ride.
Women find it insecure about taking males under drivers at times. Such clients ought to have the freedom to choose female drivers. Bringing the option of customizing the gender of the driver will improve the safety of the riders and provide an environment that calms their tension. Women using Uber at night have felt insecure and exposed to danger. In the past, cases of rape, murder, and robbery have arisen with female riders complaining of collusion or direct involvement of the male Uber drivers. Introducing the feature of customizing the gender of the driver guarantees them safety (Suhaimi et al. 98). The feature will attract more users while restoring confidence in the existing regular users.
The new feature of customizing driver’s gender aims at improving safety for all riders while instilling convenience for all. The option targets all customers, but the female counterparts will have more to like on the offer as compared to the rest. Women have faced various security breaches in the past that have left them injured, traumatized, or murdered.
The Uber application should also have mute or silent driver options. Customers, at times, want a quiet ride for various reasons but end up having drivers who continuously engage them in unnecessary conversations. Introducing the silent or mute option will benefit all customers, depending on their moods (Guo et al. 18). Customers should be allowed to decide to talk when they feel comfortable with it and opt to mute the driver at the press of an option in the Uber application.
These two customization features should have no additional charges as they aim at making the customer experience on the service better and help the company gain a competitive edge over its competitors. Uber’s major competitors, such as Tesla and Lyft, for instance, lack such features (Guo et al. 18). Also, since the customization comes without any additional charges, the company should expect an improvement in its marketing portfolio.
Uber drives have a high preference due to their convenience and low prices. However, security has remained a burdensome task as regulators often find the company guilty for various security breaches on customers. Some customers have opted for other ride providers based on the assumption that the Uber Company has failed to guarantee customer safety, primarily through the customization of the rider’s gender. Through the introduction and implementation of the two Uber applications, the brand is likely to gain a larger market share. In essence, Uber stands to benefit financially and in brand value following the customization of the rides.