To soon launch Uber Pool and Uber Commute.
By Dileep Thekkethil
Uber, the app-based cab hiring service, on Wednesday said that it is considering an innate wallet-based payment option for Indian customers as it find’s RBI two-factor authentication cumbersome for riders who make payment through credit and debit cards.
The President of Uber India, Amit Jain, also added that the US-based app may soon introduce Uber Pool and Uber Commute to more metros and cites in India during this year.
“In the US, the majority of our transactions or all the transactions are through credit cards and debit cards. In India, we have a much wider options than any other country.
“So, we continue to evaluate options and whether our own wallet is the right choice, but, do we have any plans on launching in future, is to be determined. We are evaluating options. We have to come to a conclusion,” Jain told PTI in an exclusive interview.
Currently, Uber offer wallet payment using Airtel Money and PayTm, in addition to this the users also have an option to pay the driver cash on reaching the destination.
When asked whether the US-based company has approached the Reserve Bank of India requesting for the approval of its own wallet, Jain said “”We are not denying it.”.
He also added that the company will definitely consider having its own wallet once it reach seamless experience from commuters.
“We all know that 2FA (two-factor authentication) is in India today. 2FA is there because it is for the security of the consumers…that is RBI’s thinking.
“It has certain benefits but also has disadvantages because the consumer experience in entering multiple digits after a ride is cumbersome. That doesn’t exist in the US. So, we will continue to evaluate options until we have seamless payment experience from the consumer which does not exist in India today,” he explained.
As of now Uber is operating in 26 Indian cities and has partnered with over 2.5 lakh drivers. The company had earlier launched the UberPool and UberCommute services in Bangalore and Delhi.
Jain added the services will be expanded to many tier 1 cities. He said “UberCommute is another version of UberPool. If you got a commuter who is going from home to work, work to home, how does (it work) that particular commuter pick up another passenger who is going in the same direction. That is the focus for this year. These are the trends that we expect to see this year.â€
In the meanwhile, Jain refused to provide a definite answer to whether Uber has achieved the breakeven. Jain said that the company has earlier committed $1 billion for Indian market and is in the investment phase.