Uber Beacon: Lighting The Way Towards Seamless Pickups (Photo : YouTube/ Uber)
Uber offers Beacon to consumers for easy access of their chosen ride in a busy and car-filled area. This new project the company's answer to the growing demands of fixing mix-ups during pick-up.
Uber Technologies Inc. finally made a relevant update not on their Uber app, most specifically on their method of servicing clients. For almost a decade of operation, the transportation network company have seen a great expansion and addition to their services. As a result of the massive usage and support of the populace, instances of a ride getting mixed-up became more rampant. Thus, Uber finally decided to adapt Beacon to their system.
Uber Beacon is not something really new for the company, it is actually derived from a product pilot launched by Uber in Seattle known as Spot. In an effort to decrease instances of frustrating and time-consuming vehicle mix-ups, Uber improved and adapted the concept of Spot.
"Knowing that Spot was well-received in Seattle, we set out to design new and improved hardware. We knew we had to design this to be seen at night, being very sensitive to the installation process, etc. Really the goal was to develop something that we could scale," The Verge quoted Uber senior design lead John Badalamenti as saying.
With the help of Uber Beacon, it would be easier for consumers to identify their ride, especially if there are similar car models parked or running along the street or settling in a parking space. This is made possible through a glowing, plastic Uber logo that a driver may attach inside of their windshield. This plastic will serve as a beacon to help consumers easily identify their ride among the rest of the vehicles, for it glows depending the color you have chosen in your app. This would be very helpful for customer having eyesight issues.
Although such device is quite helpful, especially during rush hours, the Uber Beacon is not necessary for all customers to seek. According to Mashable, Uber already lets customers see the driver's car make and license plate in the app.
