Uber rolls out new colour-coded windshield pickup signal
Uber has launched a new way for riders to find their driver, with a glowing beacon on the windshield.
The ride-sharing service has just launched Uber Beacon, which is a device that goes on a driver’s windshield and uses colour-pairing technology to help drivers and riders quickly connect at night, particularly at crowded venues.
“Using Beacon, riders can personalize their pickup by selecting from an endless number of colours that glow on their driver’s windshield for an instantly recognizable connection,” reads a statement from Uber.
In cities where Beacon isn’t available, Spotlight technology lights up the rider’s phone with a specific colour and tells the driver what colour to look for.
Riders can then hold their phone in the air and make it easy for their driver to spot them.
Spotlight works for all pickups, except if the driver has Beacon, in that case, Beacon takes priority.
Currently, Toronto is the only Canadian city that has Uber Beacon.
Additionally, Uber has launched Guaranteed Scheduled Rides, which allows riders to schedule a ride in advance with a guarantee that the driver arrives on time or Uber will give the rider a $10 credit towards their next ride.
Another new update is Pickup Messages, which makes it easy for riders to let their driver know how to spot them or give a quick update on their status.
Riders can send messages to their driver within the app, and send ready-to-go messages like “be right there” with one tap. Rider messages are then read aloud to the driver while they are en route, to ensure they can stay focused on the road.
These features are part of Uber Moving Forward, a campaign focused on demonstrating the ride-sharing services continued changes and focus on product improvements that can best serve users.