Uber is making its app easier to use and more tailored to your needs

Uber has announced new features on its mobile app to make it more effortless for users to set up rides and also track progress. The ride-hailing service said this is the “first in a series of updates,” which means drivers as well as riders are to expect more updates “in the coming months.”

Uber says the updated app has three major improvements: a new home screen, a more personalised ride booking experience, and support for iPhone features like Live Activities and Dynamic Island. 

Beginning with the app’s new home screen, Uber claims to provide a more streamlined experience that makes booking rides and ordering Uber Eats deliveries quicker and easier with fewer taps.

A new ‘Services’ menu item has been introduced by the company, enabling users to quickly and easily access information about all of the accessible transportation and delivery services in their area.

In addition, the new ‘Activity Hub’ consolidates the user’s ride history and Uber Eats orders in one convenient location. A separate Uber Eats app is no longer required.

Fourthly, Uber is allowing iPhones users with iOS 16 or later take advantage of the new Uber app’s Live Activities features, which let them monitor their rides and get updates on the status of their trips, including information about the vehicle, the estimated time of arrival, and other relevant details, right from the lock screen. As an added bonus, the Dynamic island on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max now displays all pertinent information, allowing users to keep tabs on their rides even while using other apps.

However, the most significant update is that, when a user attempts to book a cab, the app will now provide personalised recommendations based on the user’s destination. The user’s ‘Saved Places’ will be displayed when they select the ‘Where to’ button on the home screen, and the app will recommend “a list of personalised destinations and ride types based on your preferences, past trips, and most likely destinations.” If you use Uber a lot in a given city, the app will give you tips on how to save money by using Uber, based on your past trips.

This month also saw the addition of Apple’s CarPlay support to the iPhone, giving drivers the ability to control the app directly from the vehicle’s dashboard display. With the latest update to the Uber Driver app, drivers do not need to switch their phone screens or apps to be able to view and accept trips, and navigate and add rides to the queue.

Uber is hoping to maintain its dominant position in the ride-hailing market by continuously innovating new features. The new trend among service providers is to provide their subscribers with individualised offerings in an effort to win their loyalty without resorting to price wars. Uber is banking that its new features will attract and convert users from rival service Lyft in the coming weeks and months.