Uber fixing host of safety measures of its own as it waits to motor riders again
With technologies and protective measures to support the novel coronavirus, Uber is confident about providing safe travel to passengers as the most notable global ridesharing platform looks to resume operations in Bangladesh.
Safety is the top priority of the business, said Ratul Ghosh, head of East India and Bangladesh at Uber, adding: "We can not wait to go live again in Bangladesh. It's an extremely exciting market for us."
Bangladesh has reopened its economy on a restricted scale allowing transport services such as buses, minibuses, trains and domestic airlines to resume businesses after a lull of two months.
However, all ridesharing services have been asked to stay off the roads until further notice.
"It isn't clear why we can not resume services when the buses, trains, CNG-run vehicles and minibuses are permitted to ply the roads," Ghosh told The Daily Star within an interview over the telephone last week from Kolkata.
The ridesharing industry should seek a dialogue with the government.
"If we are able to understand the problem, we are able to propose a remedy, which we've done in the rest of the world."
Uber can track the whole journey and is with the capacity of delivering safer transit than other modes of transport.
"When we resume in Bangladesh, we should come up with this own safety standards and operating procedures," he said, adding that the company's tech and safety teams have been working to create a new product experience that will assist protect users.
Before a driver can go online, they'll be asked to confirm through its new 'Go Online Checklist' that they've taken certain safety measures and are wearing masks.
And it'll be verified by asking to have a selfie and the passengers would be notified about the verification.
A similar checklist may also be introduced for riders, and before every trip, riders must concur that they have taken precautions like wearing a face cover and washing or sanitising hands.
For Bangladesh, Uber has spearheaded the forming of a transport safety alliance, in partnership with DBL Pharma, Zantrik, Dettol (Reckitt Benckiser) and Fresh Tissue to raise safety awareness among consumers and equip drivers with health insurance and safety supplies to make sure safer rides.
Uber and its own allies will distribute key safety supplies such as for example masks, soaps, tissues and hand sanitisers to its drivers.
"I simply feel, as a common person, from my knowledge, these kinds of measures are not possible to take in many other modes of mass transports."
On whether resuming the procedures of motorbike services would pose any health risk, he said, according to information from the drivers and riders all over the world, it is safer than other method of transports.
"There will vary opinions and some persons feel that when you are in the open air you are actually safer."
He said helmets will be disinfected between trips and the platform encourages passengers to bring their own helmets.
"With the proper safety precautions, which a big player like Uber may bring in, bikes could be safer."
For an electronic platform like Uber that assesses every trip using technology, there exists a strong reason to believe it will be able to deliver on its promise, the official said.
The San Francisco-based multinational ride-hailing company that happened in 2010 2010 debuted in Bangladesh in 2016 by giving services in Dhaka city initially.
Uber extended its businesses to resort town Cox's Bazar in January this year, so that it is the fourth Bangladeshi city after Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet.
In 2019, riders from 76 countries had used Uber while visiting Bangladesh.
About Bangladesh, he said it really is one of their 'star markets', where they are witnessing considerable growth and investing continuously, Ghosh said, adding that the country's motorbike market is among the largest on the planet and so the entire Uber world sees the forex market with respect.
He said they are in talks with the federal government to forge partnerships in a number of areas as Bangladesh is among the fastest-growing economies on earth.
About Uber's plans for expansion in Bangladesh, he said they consistently evaluate cities before taking decisions in this regard. However the overall scenario has made them cautious for now.
"We must balance a couple of things: one may be the present reality of the contagious disease and the other may be the economic reality. So, the market will change a whole lot. Once the crisis has ended, we are back with a very aggressive plan for the marketplace."
Ghosh said he includes a strong reference to Bangladesh as the first assignment of his career was to determine the Tata Tetley business in the country in 2002.
"I recall being very excited and amazed by the immense potential of the market and its hardworking people."
Asked about the privileges that drivers get from Uber, he said the business is providing insurance coverage in case of a major accident while on the trip using the Uber app.
Uber in its current insurance coverage for drivers and riders in Bangladesh commits Tk 2 lakh in case of accidental death, up to Tk 2 lakh for permanent disability, and up to Tk 1 lakh in the event of hospitalisation.
In response to drivers' criticism about a staggering 25 per cent commission that they need to share with Uber, he said commission or service payment in Bangladesh is consistent with their global business practices.
"Almost all the service cost we accumulate is reinvested back in the marketplace in the form of incentives for drivers and riders. In addition, it enables us to keep our app and services live, continue steadily to spend money on marketing and user growth and bring in new technology."
