Uber is in the process of crafting a novel addition called ‘Uber Flex,’ aimed at granting Indian users the ability to tailor their ride fares in alignment with their preferences. This upcoming feature is presently undergoing trials across multiple cities in India and is poised to tackle worries surrounding surging ride prices.
Worried about the rising costs of Uber rides? The renowned ride-hailing service is exploring a remedy for this concern. As per a TechCrunch article, Uber is in the process of creating ‘Uber Flex,’ an innovative feature that empowers users to determine their ride fare based on their preferences. This concept isn’t entirely unfamiliar to Indian users, as InDrive, a California-based company operational in several Indian cities, already permits users to set their desired fare. Notably, InDrive’s pricing is reputedly 10 to 15 percent more economical than other prominent ride-hailing services in India, such as Uber and Ola.
When a rider opts for a particular fare among the nine available choices, this selected fare is then communicated to nearby drivers. Essentially, riders have the flexibility to choose a fare that suits their budget for their ride.
Once the driver receives the proposed fare, they have the liberty to either accept or decline the ride based on the fare chosen by the rider. If the driver agrees to the proposed fare, they will confirm the ride and provide the service at that specified price. However, if the fare doesn’t meet the driver’s expectations, they can opt to decline the ride.
This system essentially empowers riders to have more influence over the price they’re willing to pay for their ride, while giving drivers the freedom to accept or reject based on the fare offered by the rider.
Uber primarily offers this service for more affordable trips using Uber Go within or between cities in specific areas. Occasionally, this flexibility in pricing is also available for premium Premier rides and auto-rickshaw trips.
Payments for these rides can be made using either cash or various digital payment methods. However, it’s important to note that not all types of rides in every city feature this flexible pricing from Uber.
Uber is currently testing the Flex feature in other countries like Lebanon, Kenya, and Latin America. As per TechCrunch, Uber intends to experiment with this new operational approach in major Indian cities such as Delhi and Mumbai in the very near future.