Uber’s recent update removes the cumbersome texting back and forth to get an address from someone to visit and then having to copy and paste into the app. Users now only have to type in a friend’s name and their address will automatically appear and share location updates.

Friends and family
The ride-sharing app was born and saw success because it saw a consumer need and filled that need. While others also had the same idea, Uber was able to dominate as it continues to innovate in reflection of user behavior.

Passengers who are hoping to catch a ride to a friend’s location, without knowing their address, will now see a much more convenient experience. Uber became aware that many individuals often text back and forth to retrieve address information, as it is no longer customary to have the information at the ready and sought to fix this.

It can be cumbersome to have to wait for a response and then copy and paste, or remember the address to enter into the app. Uber’s update means that users only need to type in a friends name to quickly get their address and immediately catch a ride over.

Users sync the app with their contacts and type a name in the destination bar, which will send a request to the recipient. If they accept and the app will automatically send a ping to where they are located.

The user located at the destination can receive updates and track the trip for an added convenience. This removes the need for extra messaging during a busy travel moment.

Interacting with location and app data, the integration lets users choose between filters that share personal information with friends such as their ETA, ride information and mystery option.

Uber innovations
Rare is it to hear a company admit its app has “become complicated and harder to navigate.” But, then again, Uber is not your average company.

In turn, the ride-sourcing company recently unveiled a major redesign of its famed app, one that overhauls the user interface to deliver a faster and more consumer-centric mobile experience. The pared-down redesign is built around the central question for every one of Uber’s users: Where to? (see more).

This is one of the many updates and tweaks that Uber has implemented to keep its place as a leader in the mobile app space.

But staying a leader in such a competitive space means taking risks. With another update to its mobile app earlier this month, Uber now tracks consumers for an extra five minutes after the ride is over.

Uber is claiming the update is to increase to rider safety but it could potentially worry customers who are weary about how much of their data companies can access.

In a climate where consumers are increasingly worried about data breaches and weary of intrusive advertising, Uber is taking a risky move by extending the amount of time its app can track customers by an extra five minutes. Uber claims this extra time will help encourage rider safety as well as improving the customer experience (see more).