Uber has announced the launch of several new products and features in South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria. The launch, which took place in multiple locations across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), also featured Audio Recording, the latest addition to its suite of safety features.
Kagiso Khaole, General Manager for Uber SSA, said at the event that the company is excited to expand into eight more cities in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana during September.
“As we prepare to celebrate our tenth anniversary next year, we are excited about expanding into more cities, allowing people to go anywhere and get anything.” Our commitment to raising the bar on safety remains unwavering, and we are working hard to expand the over 3 million earning opportunities we have created so far.”
There are now eight new cities and counting.
Uber will now be available in Nigeria’s Owerri and Akure, Kenya’s Eldoret, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Naivasha, and Ghana’s Tamale and Sunyani. These expansions demonstrate Uber’s commitment to the region and signal more opportunities for more drivers to earn, while riders benefit from convenient and dependable travel options at the touch of a button. Uber brings a diverse product mix to these expansions, allowing it to best serve the needs of city residents.
Riders will have more affordable options.
Uber is launching UberX Share in Ghana and Nigeria, as well as Uber ChapChap Share in Kenya, to help riders save money and increase demand for drivers. When matched with a co-rider heading in the same direction, Uber’s shared rides offering allows riders to save up to 30% of the trip fare, and when a match is not possible, they can still save 5% on their ride.
“With the launch of UberX Share, we can proudly demonstrate the power of our platform, understanding the ability to match rider destinations while providing convenience and affordability.” “We are a global company that builds locally, and in Ghana, we tapped into the local culture of carpooling when moving around, which makes this product a great fit for the market,” Khaole says.
With the launch of UberXL in Nairobi, Kenya, traveling across the city with an entire crew has never been easier. This option seats up to six people and is ideal for airport and business trips where extra luggage space is required. In South Africa, riders can now reserve their group travel 30 days in advance with UberXL Reserve and Uber Van Reserve.
Uber Comfort will now be available in Ghana, in addition to South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire. This bespoke offering is intended for riders looking for a more comfortable upgrade to their everyday ride. Uber Comfort drivers are known for providing excellent service while displaying friendliness, courtesy, and professionalism.
Uber Connect, one of the app’s most popular products available in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ghana; will soon be available in two additional cities in Nigeria. Uber Connect is an on-demand delivery solution that allows users to send and receive packages with speed. The feature comes built-in with a PIN verification providing users peace of mind that their package is being delivered to the right person.
Taking a stand for safety
“Safety is at the core of how we do business and we are proud to announce three new safety features to help improve the experience of users”, says Khaole.
- Audio Recording pilot in South Africa: Uber will now allow riders and drivers to use the app to record and share audio of their trip as evidence in the case of a safety incident – something that drivers have been asking for based on their feedback from roundtable sessions. This new opt-in audio recording feature, which is being piloted in Pretoria and Johannesburg, has been successful in the US and Latin American regions where Uber has a presence.
- In-app emergency service in Nigeria: Uber is working with Sety in Nigeria, to provide on-demand security and medical response for riders and drivers while on a trip. This collaboration will also provide access to a private security response unit closest to their location, using a connected device.
- Safety Check-Up across SSA: This feature encourages riders to complete their safety profile by turning on and utilizing the available features such as Trusted Contacts, PIN verification, and RideCheck. This is available in all the countries within SSA where Uber operates.
Delivery innovations
At the launch, Uber Eats reinforced its aspiration of building an app of the future by creating a virtual mall experience that goes beyond just food. “Other categories we have ventured into include convenience stores, pharmacy outlets, alcohol, and retail and this shows us that the possibilities are endless,” says Cikida Gcali-Mabusela, Head of New Verticals for Uber Eats Sub-Saharan Africa.
Uber Eats continues to push beyond boundaries with the adoption of the growing trend of dark stores, which gives non-traditional merchants opportunities to tap into unchartered markets that they wouldn’t have easily accessed.
Uber Eats currently operates in South Africa and Kenya. Kui Mbugua, General Manager for Uber Eats Kenya says, ‘With a 67% year-on-year growth of subscriptions on Eats, we are humbled and encouraged by the expansion that we have seen in the South Africa and Kenya markets.
“The future of logistics and technology in emerging markets looks promising. Our overall vision continues to be to build locally using global experience and become a one-stop shop for delivery needs. Not only is Uber Eats creating unique earning opportunities, but our operations also have a positive knock-on effect on restaurants, merchants, and delivery people. Looking ahead, we are committed to leading the category by investing in product and access, while leveraging the power of the platform,” concludes Kui.
