With all of Uber's problems, Lyft didn't take advantage of the CEO's demise and continue to plow on as usual. However, when Uber introduced the 180 days fo change program, Lyft had to respond since this was a direct hit on corporate service value. We review in this article some changes that Lyft responded with as a direct result of the 180 days of the change program.
Ride Guides
Clever mapping or intelligent mapping is an AI future being incorporated into many GPS map systems. This comes from the many years that GPS maps have now been around and all the historical data that has been in circulation but not used.
Lyft has now incorporated a machine learning app into their mapping system, this unit takes historical data and superimposes it under immediate incoming data, which will give the machine the data needed to extrapolate possibilities for projection a reliable heat map. Heatmaps are a way to color a map showing where hot spots and surges might appear before they do. The driver can then drive towards the area, and if the information is correct, input a confirmation and the system will be able to update its projection algorithm accordingly.
The new system had already reduced surges and hot sport by pre-distributing the necessary amount of drivers to an area before it became a surge. Third-party apps such as FarePilot and Ryder also provide this service, and it will be interesting to see how they compare in this new mapping battle.
Destination Mode
Lyfts destination mode (Uber's destination filter) has been upgraded, and it now offers six uses with an expanded 30-minute time-out. Lyft has also updated their algorithm so that the destination mode feature will increase the chances of getting a ride when operated. Destination mode is a great tool when starting a shift and ending one, and also when returning from a long distance ride. The update to their algorithm is long-awaited, and drivers do hope that the upgrade will provide better results. The fact that is is now available for 30 minutes rather than 15 and that there are six times and not two proves that Lyft learns and adapts.
Last Ride Option
One of the frustrating things that drivers had to deal with was finding how to stop the app from stacking up rides without stopping the app for the last ride. Now Lyft has placed a Last Ride option in the Overflow Menu. Drivers that want to end their shift can now press this button, and the system will not take on any more requests as well as shut the system when the last ride is finished. We are just wondering how this will work out with destination mode, or if drivers will use destination mode when driving home now that this feature is available.
Earnings Screen and Bonuses
The original earning screen is out, a new version, much improved now provides more information that includes such features as power driver bonus, power zones as well as average hourly and weekly guaranteed earnings. This improvement is great since it now enables drivers to follow up on all the different income factors that were not included in one screen. Another outcome is that many drivers didn't follow up on all their bonuses, and now they can see and work-out how bonuses affect their income.
Promo Requirement Transparency
This interesting feature generates a screen that shows maps and schedules of all the promotions that are relevant. One of its features includes notifying drivers of Power hours, which enables drivers to prepare their weekly schedules ahead of time concisely.
Peak Rides
One of Lyfts major problems is the peak ride requirement screen which is not included in the app.In fact, to reach it a driver has to navigate through a miniature icon resembling a lightning bolt that directs the user to a facebook based Lyft page. Ubers system is so much simpler, and Lyft should copy them.
Scheduled Rides
Lyft has introduced a new scheduled ride feature that allows passengers to request a scheduled ride for a particular day and then enabling drivers to accept the ride. This enables drivers to plan scheduled rides into their workday. Th only drawback is the pricing, the schedule ride feature charges passengers based on the time they make the schedule, so if the actual ride occurs in a prime time or surge area, the driver will only get the rate that the ride was preset for. Another great byproduct of this feature is the rural driving. Drivers knowing that there is a rural drive, which is usually lucrative, can guarantee a pickup, which for the passenger is a big bonus. If a passenger knows that a driver will come to collect them out in the boondocks, then their anxiety will go down, and their perception of Lyfts services go up. Since Uber doesn't schedule the same way, they only release scheduled requests a few minutes or hours before the actual ride takes place (time dependant on driving to the pick-up point) this leaves Lyt with a monopoly on schedule ride assurances.
Other updates
There is a lot of rumor about latest updates, and we all know that Uber and Lyft copy from each other. We expect that a lot of new features and app upgrades will be shooting out of Lyft and we also expect that Lyft will now go into full battle mode ever since Uber changed its CEO. Complacnasy is now being replaced with fighter instinct, and Lyft CEO Zimmer has to deal with Ubers new CEO, who has a lot of experience from Expedia.