Cargo CEO on Uber Partnership: We Want to Reinvent the Experience
*By Max Godnick*
Uber redefined the ride-hailing industry for driversーnow it's adding another level of convenience to the passenger seat.
Last week, the company launched an exclusive global partnership with Cargo, the in-car commerce platform that allows drivers to sell daily essentials to riders. The service was already live in seven U.S. cities and has expanded to Los Angeles and San Francisco as part of the new deal.
The announcement marks the next phase of growth for Cargo, which has close to 8,000 drivers and has seen its fleet expand by 35 percent month over month since its rollout in 2017.
"The fastest way for us to really scale our platform and get Cargo into the hands of as many drivers as possible is to do it through Uber themselves," said Cargo founder & CEO Jeff Cripe in an interview with Cheddar on Monday. "We were united by wanting to provide the best in-car experience possible."
Uber drivers in Los Angeles and San Francisco can now collect Cargo boxes at driver support locations called Greenlight Centers. The boxes are filled with snacks, electronics, and cosmetics that customers can purchase. Cripe noted that many Uber drivers already offer these products but must pay out of pocket to do so.
Now, they can provide the same serviceーbut make money, instead of losing it.
"What \[drivers\] recognized in us was a partner that could streamline that and put that money back in their pockets as opposed to taking it out," Cripe said.
Cripe says drivers have, combined, made more than $1 million and sold over a million products to date. He added that those behind the wheel also tend to see their passenger ratings rise once they start using Cargo.
But will passengers be willing to spend on food and other items if fares surge?
Last week, Uber sent emails to its New York customer base, notifying them that its services may grow "more expensive and less reliable" if the city approves [new regulations](https://cheddar.com/videos/new-york-could-pump-the-brakes-on-ride-hailing-apps) for ride-sharing companies.
While New York is currently Cargo's largest market, Cripe says he's not concerned.
"I don't necessarily think any fare increases or decreases will have much of an effect on us."
As for the future, Cripe says the company is paying close attention to Uber's plans for self-driving taxis. He explained that autonomous fleets would require a system for unattended merchandisingーbut he revealed it's a reality he's preparing for. He also sees more opportunities for entertainment, gaming, and connectivity.
"We want to establish ourselves as the leading provider of in-car service for ride sharing," Cripe said. "So, when autonomy does roll around, we're the best logistics provider in the market."
For full interview, [click here] (https://cms.cheddar.com/videos/VmlkZW8tMjEzMTg=).
Recent internal documents obtained by the New York Times reveal how exactly TikTok's algorithm works. The report highlights how the app is mainly focused on retaining two metrics which are retention and time spent. In addition, the document titled, "TikTok Algo 101" details how the algorithm understands human nature from when we get bored to our sensitivity and culture ques. It means the app monitors will kind of videos you like. Professor of Computer Science at the University of California in San Diego Julian McCauley, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Carlo and Baker discuss the sweeping new vaccine mandate in NYC that will target all private businesses. Plus, Trump's media venture gets its CEO and more.
The UK-based augmented reality startup, Dent Reality, raised the equivalent of $3.4 million USD in its most recent funding round. Dent Reality has created an AR app for smartphones that helps shoppers navigate retail locations by providing a layout of a store's aisles, while showing where to find specific items. The company works mainly with grocery stores but aims to integrate its tech with all types of physical spaces. Dent Reality CEO Andrew Hart joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The world is amidst a skyscraper boom. In 2018, 146 buildings over 650 feet were constructed. That’s more than the total amount of skyscrapers constructed between 1979 and 1999. And all this construction is transforming our cities.
It’s no secret that America’s infrastructure is aging. The average American bridge is 43 years old. 49% of our streets and highways are in poor condition. That’s why rebuilding our roads is near the top of President Biden’s to-do list. But repaving is just surface level, some suggest we need to rethink the structures themselves.
Throughout history, humans have tried their best to predict what the future will look like. Today, it’s fun to look back and laugh at some of the wacky conceptual drawings of “cities of the future”. While the majority of these ideas look silly today, some concepts almost became our reality, if not for a few key shortcoming.
The streaming wars could be peaking as platforms vie for a shrinking pool of new subscribers and services like Disney+ recalibrate their outlooks as the rate of new memberships slows. Jana Arbanas, the U.S. telecom, media, and technology sector leader at Deloitte, joined Cheddar to discuss the 2022 outlook for streaming platforms, expecting more than 150 million people to cancel subscriptions adding to the global churn trend. "People are signing up for a service for a very specific piece of original, compelling content, watching that, perhaps, season of content, dropping that service, and then re-upping the service again when the next season comes out," Arbanas noted.
