Uber India has launched “Uber Pro,” a comprehensive rewards program for its driver partners across 12 cities in India. The initiative, designed to support and inspire drivers in achieving their goals both on and off the road, offers a range of benefits and aims to improve the overall experience for both riders and drivers.
Program Structure and Benefits
- Tier System: Uber Pro is structured around four tiers: Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond, with Diamond being the highest. Drivers start at the Blue tier and can progress to higher tiers by earning points from completed trips and meeting specific performance criteria, such as maintaining high app ratings and minimizing trip cancellations.
- Points and Evaluation: The points system resets every three months, determining the drivers’ tier status on a rolling period basis. This approach encourages continuous performance improvement.
- Rewards and Perks: As drivers advance in tiers, they gain access to exclusive perks and rewards. These include discounted vehicle maintenance, motor insurance, and microcredit offerings from third-party providers. Diamond and Platinum tier drivers enjoy additional benefits like area preference for trip pickups, priority support at Uber greenlight centers, and eligibility for ‘Premier’ trips on the Uber app.
- Enhanced Support and Flexibility: The program provides drivers with increased support and flexibility. For instance, for two hours every day, drivers can choose to get trips from an area of their preference. This allows them to drive in areas they are comfortable with. In case of needing support, these drivers can skip the queue at Uber greenlight centers and receive special attention from top support agents on priority.
Additional Incentives
- Uber Pro Diamond Challenge: To celebrate the launch, Uber conducted the ‘Uber Pro Diamond Challenge.’ Drivers maintaining the top ‘Diamond’ rating for two full quarters had the chance to win a Maruti WagonR (TourH3) through a lucky draw. Additionally, approximately 300 drivers received shopping vouchers worth up to INR 1 lakh.
- Insurance and Credit Benefits: All tiers in Uber Pro are eligible for enhanced microcredit limits and discounted premiums for Life, Health, and Motor insurance.
Objective and Impact
- Reducing Trip Cancellations: One of the key objectives of Uber Pro is to reduce trip cancellations by incentivizing drivers with rewards for maintaining high app ratings and low trip cancellations. This initiative is part of Uber’s broader strategy to enhance its backend technology, including introducing upfront pricing and location details to drivers.
- Improving Platform Experience: By rewarding top-performing drivers, Uber aims to elevate the overall platform experience, making every trip enjoyable for both riders and drivers. The program is intended to promote the adaptation and continued use of the Uber platform by top-rated drivers.
Geographical Reach and Expansion Plans
The program is currently live in 12 cities: Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, and Jaipur. Uber has plans to expand this program to more cities in the near future.
Conclusion
Uber Pro represents a significant step in Uber India’s efforts to improve driver welfare and service quality. By offering a structured rewards system and additional benefits, the program not only incentivizes high performance but also aims to address some of the operational challenges like trip cancellations, enhancing the ride experience for both drivers and passengers.