Uber is huge. We all know it and are all probably aware on the impacts and disruptions its having in the cabbing world (Is that a term?.. it is now).
Whilst researching Conversational Commerce, and the rise of how bots are linking with commercial entities. An example used in Chris Messina’s article was Facebook messenger now allowing users to directly book an Uber within their app. Amazing right? Yeah Kind of.
The thing is, there’s a continuously trend when researching this topic. Uber is everywhere. It’s developers programme has huge backers, and also huge incentives. The $16 Billion powerhouse has backing from the biggest and greatest in Tech products such as Facebook, City-Mapper, Pebble and Microsoft. By offering all first referrals $5, it’s a win-win for everyone. Especially the user.
Travis Kalanick and the team at Uber understand the important of Conversation Commerce and the power it can bring to their business, and even setup a Hackathon to explore new ways of ordering with Uber. Their excellent examples and uses of conversational commerce and beyond that are sure worth a mention.
Here goes:
Uber x Facebook
Uber’s collaboration with Facebook Messenger, their extremely popular (1b+ users) messaging app, allows for users to speak with friends and order a cab when discussing about meeting up etc.
Better still, you can use the Uber bot to chat directly with Uber to order a cab. How easy. Uber changed the game by ordering a taxi using your mobile phone via an app, it’s revolutionising this process by allowing you to text for a cab. This aspect of conversational commerce is seamless and feels natural, as-if you were speaking directly with a taxi operator. Which thanks to Uber’s clever infrastructure and algorithms, mean that no Operator is needed anymore.
Uber x Pebble
Less conversational commerce, more freaking cool. Uber has partnered with popular smart watch manufacturer pebble to allow users to easy call a cab by tapping their watch.
This simplistic approach and stripping down the process and making it very bare and minimal allows for a seamless and easy process.
Uber x Microsoft
Another great example of how Uber has used conversation commerce to it’s advantage is with Microsoft. Microsoft isn’t great with it’s phones, we all know this. But at least they have the right idea.
Microsoft’s assistant Cortana, enemy of the infamous Siri, now allows for users with a Microsoft Phone to order a cab simply by speaking. “Hey Cortana, can you get me an uberX?” Cortana doesn’t just keep you in the loop with what’s going on in the world — it also helps you manage your everyday life. By syncing with Microsoft Outlook Calendar, it identifies events and then orders cabs to your location to make your day flow seamlessly.
Uber x Citymapper
Citymapper saves my life on a daily basis. It tells me where to go, how to get there and how long it takes for me to use public transport. Well it did. Now I can order an Uber in the app directly with an estimated fare already calculated.
I’m guessing it’s great business for them both too. With Citymapper’s audience using the app strictly to get somewhere, and Uber’s solution saving time for those late goers, I’m guessing a fair few people have ordered via Citymapper.
Uber x Alipay+
We all know that Asia is a goldmine. With the largest population of any countries and continent, the most innovation in technology and the fastest growing economy, it’s a goldmine ready to be explored… by Uber.
For Uber to really disrupt the world, it needs to crack China specifically. Alipay+ is a online payment system with zero transaction fees. More over, it’s also a product of the Alibaba group, the asian $160b+ powerhouse.
With a collaboration of two of the biggest tech products in the world in an emerging market, it’s exciting to see Uber potential if it cracks Asia.
I’m excited to see the future of conversation commerce and how it can create seamless connections between products popular with users of the same app. The growth and exploration of how bots can fit into our everyday lives fascinates me and the industry.
I’d love to know your opinions on conversation commerce and the steps Uber is taking to dominate everywhere you see, do and use online.
