Uber introduces ‘Schedule a Ride’ to SL

Monday, 26 September 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Uber, the smartphone app that connects passengers with drivers at the push of a button, has launched the ‘Schedule a Ride’ feature for its customers in Colombo.

A popularly-requested service by customers around the world, especially business travellers who use Uber rides for important meetings, appointments, trips to airports and stations, etc., this new feature offers reliability and convenience. Customers can schedule an uberGO for as little as 15 minutes to as many as 30 days in advance.

Uber South and West, India and Sri Lanka General Manager Bhavik Rathod said: “Uber’s objective to offer accessible and reliable rides goes a notch further with the introduction of the ‘Schedule a Ride’ feature. Riders can use this feature to book a ride from 15 minutes to 30 days in advance. For our driver-partners, it minimises idle time and for riders it is an additional comfort of knowing your Uber will be there when it’s time to head out.”

Uber for Business (U4B), a ride management platform built for big and small companies, gives employees safe, reliable and affordable rides globally. With the launch of ‘Schedule a Ride’, Uber for Business customers now have the choice of planning every aspect of their business travel well in advance.

Given the increasing demand for this feature from Uber’s business travellers, the company said it was excited to give priority access to customers who had business profiles or were linked to their company’s Uber for Business account.

“Uber is a trusted provider of transport that ensures passengers have a timely and reliable ride. Uber for Business has helped us manage our employees’ transport back and forth to work more efficiently. Having scheduled rides as a feature would make the service even better as we can now plan in advance, which makes things much easier and reduces any hassle, if at all,” said an Uber for Business customer while describing the new feature.

Currently scheduled rides are only available on uberGO and you can pay through your credit cards, debit cards, prepaid wallets and even cash.

Uber’s standard cancellation policy applies to Scheduled Rides as well. Riders can cancel their Scheduled Ride any time without penalty before the driver is en-route to their pick up. Scheduled rides are no different for the drivers as well. The app constantly monitors the estimated time of arrival and when it’s time to request, it subsequently dispatches the closest Uber driver.