Uber Kenya has announced several exciting updates, including the launch of Uber Reserve, expansions to new cities, and new incentives for drivers.
Uber Kenya has recently announced several exciting updates and expansions to its services.
One of the most notable updates is the launch of Uber Reserve, which allows users to book UberX trips up to 90 days in advance, making for hassle-free travel.
This feature is perfect for trips to the airport, meetings, and preplanned activities.
“But the other great thing about Uber Reserve is that if a driver is on the way to you and they’re stuck in traffic, the app will pick up on the fact that the driver is not going to make it on time and they will reassign your ride to a different driver,” Imran Manji, Head of East Africa, Uber, explained to Khusoko.
In addition to this, Uber has expanded its popular Uber ChapChap service to Kisumu, Eldoret, Naivasha, and Nakuru.
This expansion increases access to earning opportunities for drivers in these cities and provides an affordable and convenient ride option for city residents.
Uber package
Uber has also introduced a new peer-to-peer delivery product called Uber Package, which is available as Package Car and Package Moto.
Package Moto uses motorcycles with dedicated Carrier Boxes, ensuring that client deliveries arrive safe and dry.
Imran says the idea for this service came about when the team at Uber saw a boda driver holding a package between his legs while driving on the highway.
“This not only posed a safety risk for the driver but also meant that the package could get damaged during delivery,” says Imran.
“To address this issue, Uber Package drivers are equipped with fixed carrier boxes. This means that packages arrive safely and the driver can deliver them without worrying about controlling the motorbike at the same time.”
How it works
Sending or receiving a package with Uber Package is easy.
You can choose to have something picked up from a store and brought to you, or send a package to someone else.
The service uses a PIN code verification system to ensure that the package is delivered to the right person.
The trip is only complete when the recipient enters the PIN code into the driver’s app, which means they must have met and communicated.
Imran Manji, Head of East Africa, Uber.
Driver incentives and bonus
To engage with their drivers, Uber has connected with over 300+ drivers in the last 2 months through weekly roundtables.
These roundtables provide an opportunity for drivers to share their experiences and feedback with the company.
To combat the increased cost of living and high fuel prices, Uber has reduced the Service Fee on their Boda product from 25% to 18%.
This reduction directly translates to more earnings in drivers’ pockets.
“What we have decided to do right now is to support driver earnings from our incentives from our pockets while still keeping prices at the same level so that passengers can afford to use the services.”
Additionally, Uber has started paying out bonus payments to drivers.
Drivers on Chap Chap can now earn an extra 6,600 KES per month, while those on Uber X can earn an extra 8,000 KES.
“Right now what we felt is that these incentives can make a material impact on a driver’s earnings without also causing the services to be so expensive that passengers stopped using.”
“Ultimately, drivers on our platform make money from two things, the cost per trip and the number of trips they’re doing.”
