On 17 March last, the introduction of confinement gave the impression that France was at a standstill. However, the mobility needs in a number of key sectors. " At the height of the crisis, we supported the industries that were still operating, with many e-commerce companies asking us to help them set up their logistics centres, due to the rise in online sales, but also in IT, security to prevent potential theft, and of course hospitals and nursing homes. "reminds Franck MonsauretDirector ofUber for Business France. In addition to the "classic" offers proposed by the VTC platform - and alongside the launch of Uber Medics dedicated to healthcare workers -, two new products have come to meet the specific needs of a confined France, while anticipating the needs of the "world after". So, since May, Uber Commute covers journeys between home and the office, where public transport is still sometimes a sensitive issue. Companies can set up and personalise a travel programme to organise the comings and goings of employees between their home to their office. The VTC platform thus intends to fit into the budget allocated to the gradual return to the office or the development of teleworking, in the same way as investment in IT equipment. Above all, Uber Commute should enable the company to supervise and manage its employees. budget for these tripsAs with all 'Business' flights. In particular, the company can define a number of journeys per day or per week, a departure and arrival location, a time slot, or the amount or percentage covered. " It is therefore possible to arrange for a group of employees to be present only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for example, in order to set up a rota and respect barrier procedures and the limits of people in an office. "explains Timothée Gallot, Account Manager at Uber for Business. This ensures that not all arrivals take place at the same time, and that not everyone is in the lift at the same time, for example. "he adds.
Maintaining a link between employees and their company, while limiting their exposure to risks: this is also the approach taken by the other product launched in the spring: Uber Eats for Business. This professional version of the meal delivery service targets two types of employee, and two types of demand. The aim is to meet the needs of employees returning to the office, at a time when many canteens and other cafeterias are still closed, but also to provide a catering service for those who are still teleworking, with a view to motivating their teams. Like Uber Commute, Eats for Business is based on a fully customisable platform, with the ability to define ceilings, delivery days and times, and so on.
In just a few weeks, these two new offers have attracted some 300 companies at European level. But what will happen once the situation returns to normal? For the management of Uber for Business France, there is nothing to indicate that the relevance of these services will disappear with the threat of Covid-19. The Commute offer could, for example, respond to the specific problems of sectors such as the catering and hotel industries, whose collective agreements may provide for the use of VTCs for late returns home. If there is to be the disappearance of a "brick", it will rather concern the health functions developed by the platform. The application incorporates a "selfie" check to ensure that the driver is wearing a mask, which is compulsory for both drivers and customers. A form of artificial intelligence that tomorrow's journeys should be able to do without.
