I’ll admit it, I was slow on the uptake with the sharing economy. Eventually, I found Uber and started using the transportation network for work. This expanded into my travels, and suddenly I no longer needed transfers, I had my Uber.
It’s the shared vehicle economy that will have the biggest impact in travel. Let me explain how, now and into the future:
Now
Ben is a mechanical engineer with a family Uber’ing a little between jobs. In our 40 minutes together, I learnt a lot about living in Iran, political instability, his experience of arriving and living in Melbourne. It was all about long term prospects for his kids when he moved here in 2008. Shapur as I was leaving Sydney, also from Iran, had similar experiences.
Twenty hours a week when he wants, broken up sporadically here and there, money on the side. His mentality is relaxed compared to a cab driver. Like a mate. An experience.
A cab is now about $85 to the airport. The Uber $67. Whilst I still pay, I do so by giving Ben 5 stars. Better than a transfer? Probably. Than a taxi? Hands down. Another agent out of a loop.
Future
But as always, this technology can evolve. So what service can Ben offer you when you land? A global Uber account, multi currency, chuck in your flight details, make sure you have data available on your phone when you land. Confirm when you have got your bags and wander out to look out for “Ben, 4.7, Honda Civic Hybrid” in that foreign country.
Through your global Uber account you “upgrade” to a good driver who can give you some basic tourist info on the city, how to change cash, hotels to stay at, the local political story. A tour guide on demand. The Uber app is throwing all manner of local “eat here” and “visit there” deals based on your location. Hell, they may subsidize your data whilst in the car.
Uber just put tour guides out of action
Uber revolutions
Agents won’t be booking transfers in 10 years. In 15 years, people wont be driving the cars. The internet of things and smarter vehicles will change the dynamics and fabric of our world (looking great for the Aussie dream BTW).
You, and maybe your family, share a car. It will cost A LOT and not everyone will have one at first. Might be $200k. Home is 80km from the city, which you don’t mind as you never drive there and the $550k you saved on the house made it easy to afford the “self driver” parked in the drive way.
Think a Mercedes van that seats 8 in captains chairs . On board wifi, automated driving. 90 minute trip? No stress, its either family time or work time. The car becomes the new kitchen table. The family hops in and it drops you all in sequence to work, friends and school.
During the day and waits at a high rise charging station which hooks back to your home electricity account. Then you rented the car to Uber. Depending on how much charge is left in the battery, it accepts jobs whilst you work. Its handy income on the side as that investment is earning cash whilst you work.
Its got a nice screen interface and you can even chat with people in the car to check everything is ok, they use their Uber account to buy WiFi from you. If the battery senses a range issue, it wont accept jobs but will head off to charge itself before getting the kids off to soccer training. “Jonny” from Total Recall is a reality.
Now for the Steak Knives
The new large capacity battery can also get you from Melbourne to Sydney. 4 of you can actually sleep in the car overnight in lie flat. It’s just annoying you need to stop for the toilet. Or you and that special someone might have the car to yourself, dim the windows, reconfigure the seating and enjoy a romantic interlude on the way to Byron.
Why fly?
