Uber has introduced a digital wallet along with bKash. How will it help riders and drivers?
During challenging times like the Covid-19 pandemic, we want to be part of the solution. We wanted to follow government guidelines and support the government to contain the spread of the virus. Now that cities have opened up and people are resuming travel in the new normal, we want to do everything we can to provide reliable, safe and affordable transport options.
Our long awaited partnership with bKash aims to enhance rider experience and safety by making the payment process contactless, convenient, and secure as riders resume travel after the lengthy lockdown.
It will give Bangladeshi riders without credit cards the convenience of booking a cashless and seamless Uber ride, without the inconvenience of carrying cash or worrying about exact change.
The digital payment option of bKash will take care of all transactions without any manual instruction if the bKash wallet is added as a payment method on the Uber app.
Millions of users of bKash already transfer money and pay for utilities and other services with its wallet, and they will now have instant access to Uber and safe, reliable rides at the touch of a button.
What are the safety measures taken to tackle Covid-19 to provide a seamless ride experience?
Our safety and tech teams have been working overtime to provide safety supplies to all our drivers and build a new product experience to help protect everyone, every time you use Uber.
We are distributing safety kits consisting of masks, hand sanitisers, bar soaps, and tissue paper to our drivers.
In addition, all Uber driver partners are being given special training on the correct usage of PPE and sanitising SOPs for their vehicles through a driver video. We are also placing rider safety placards in all cars to create rider awareness.
We have launched in-app safety features and comprehensive set of safety measures such as a mandatory mask policy for both riders and drivers, pre-trip mask verification selfies for drivers, driver education around Covid-19 related safety protocols,vehicle sanitization, and a two-way feedback process to ensure all safety and hygiene guidelines are followed by both drivers and riders. Violating those can lead to account suspension. We will also limit the number of passengers per vehicle to enforce social distancing.
What challenges are you facing amid the pandemic and what are your plans for recovery?
In the initial phases of the pandemic, we wanted to stand in solidarity with the government to contain the spread of the virus and suspended our services in the country. As normalcy resumes, we believe we have a role to play in helping our cities and communities move safely.
Emerging from a global pandemic, we understand our responsibility towards keeping everyone who uses the Uber Platform safe and have doubled down on accountability encouraging both riders and drivers to be responsible for each others’ safety, and additionally, we have developed safety best practices to help cities move again in the new normal.
During Covid-19, many have lost their jobs. Do you think Uber can help circulate the economic growth of Bangladesh by providing employment opportunities?
The pandemic has hit the global economy in several ways and it is up to us collectively to rebuild and accelerate economic revival. Since we started operations in 2016 in Bangladesh, Uber has provided flexible entrepreneurial and earning opportunities to hundreds of thousands of drivers in the country.
During the Covid-19 outbreak, we have worked hard to create livelihood opportunities for drivers during the general holidays through our increased platform opportunities like launching Uber Connect, our package delivery service. In the months and years ahead, we will continue to expand economic opportunities for drivers who join our platform by leveraging our technology to fit the changing needs of society.
By enabling digital transactions for our driver base we want to encourage digital and financial literacy amongst our driver cohort, propelling digitization of payments in the future. Additionally, we align with the government's digital agenda to build a smart, connected nation that will only further knowledge creation and technology adoption in the country.