Uber Technology Inc.
Introduction
Uber Technology Inc. Is majorly a Transport Company which depends on networking while doing its operations. The firm’s headquarter is located in Santiago Francisco, California. The company mainly integrates software applications which can work in both iPhones and androids. Independent drivers who operate as taxis are embedded into the software where all the people having the software can access them and get their services. The Uber application is made in a way that it can detect the vehicles within the vicinity. After locating the car, the customer can initiate a communication with the driver and the client can easily choose the time when the driver can pick them after an agreed price. The payment for the services is made by the client using a credit card or any other available payment method. The cost of the services of the vehicles is mainly calculated based on the rate per distance set and the total distance to be covered. As brought out by Waite (2015), the Uber do not view themselves as a car services company but on the contrary, a company for financial services. Perhaps because they do not have asserts. The company mainly make connections independent drivers and the clients, which means that they tend to value the accountability of the services offered by the Uber drivers. Most of the customers of Uber has provided a positive review of the services of the company. To be at a position to receive that approval from the customers, the company must have had both insight and strategic plans towards its operations. Therefore, herein several trends in different sections are considered. The segments include demographic, business, technology and societal trends. Concerning the social life of the people, Uber has played essential roles, but also it has shown different negativity in its services. One of its positive impact on the community is that it has led to the increase in the level of employment in the community, which thus has led to an increased living standard of the drivers and their families. The service also saves time since customers only need open the Uber application and locate the nearest Uber car, after which the vehicle comes to the location of the client, and the client is given a ride to his or her place of destination.
This paper is mainly meant to answer three main questions. The first question is the ethical challenges that Uber faces in using app-based peer-to-peer sharing technology. The second question is Since Uber is using a disruptive business model and marketing strategy, what are the risks that the company will have to overcome to be successful? The last question is to answer whether there should be regulation to develop compliance with standards to protect competitors and consumers?
The ethical challenges that Uber faces in using app-based peer-to-peer sharing technology
According to the case study Uber Hits a Bump in the Road, uber has been very successful for a short time. Nowadays people like to spend their time online using applications and other digital services while seeking some essential services such as hotel booking, paying online, ordering for meals and also requesting for transport services. The case study brings it out clearly that nowadays, people like to network and share services, which make it easy for online service delivering agencies such as Uber do well in the industry. Uber also has its negativity too. One of the disadvantages is the sharing itself since the company does not cater to the maintenance of cars and fuels hence making the sharing economy ridiculous and ironical.
Another identical ethical problem in the case study is that the safety of the clients of the company is always at risk. To make it clear, the example provided in the case study of an alleged rape case in India by an Uber driver. Unfortunately, they do not compensate for most of these cases. The example which has been provided in the case study might not be obvious to convince one, but it is also important to note that the company does not offer insurance to its drivers and the clients, thus contributing to the burning of the services of the company in countries such as India and Germany. This, therefore, means that both the drivers and the clients of the company are not protected in any way by the company, which therefore means that whenever one is injured or negatively affected during the service cannot be compensated since that is not provided in the working conducts of the company.
According to the case study, Uber always makes their own rules which do not go in line with the government rules in the countries where they operate. In a country like the United States, the federal government set rules which must be followed by a business to be on the right track. Businesses which does not follow these rules must always face hefty fines and penalties. Companies which therefore fail to make their policies and rules to be in line with the government’s rules always face heavy penalties which include even total closure of the business One of the complaints is the scrutiny of the drivers used by the Uber. The taxi company claims that the drivers do not undergo thorough vetting; hence, they doubt the safety of the clients. If laws are placed to guide the entire programs of the Uber Technology Inc. strictly, then the company may face problems. And if they do not find ways of solving such challenges, their mode operation may be interfered with. This may lead to a decline in selling the services of the company.
Another significant problem to consider ethically is on gender-based problems. Most of the people have a feeling that the feminine can easily be abused ride-sharing industry, which is supported by the case of a girl who was raped in India by a Taxi driver. Such cases might be challenging to women, and this might make them be against the sharing services. The company has been able to receive a negative income due to the presence of the negative trends in its services, which have led to the company being banned in some cities and countries such as Germany and India.