Google has announced that the company is supporting Uber’s next phase of growth. To do so, it will provide the company with a range of solutions, including cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data analytics and edge networking.
Thanks to an expanded and deeper partnership between the two companies, Uber will now use Google’s innovative technology to create new revenue streams and reimagine experiences for its users.
Uber embraces the power of Google Cloud
Uber has selected Google to support the modernisation of its data cloud infrastructure and reimagine the customer experience for users, drivers and merchants.
Under the partnership, Uber will migrate some of the company’s most critical infrastructure to Google Cloud. This migration will enable Uber to both modernise its infrastructure and take advantage of Google Cloud’s innovative cloud services, including data cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, machine learning, security, and microservices.
“Cloud migration is often seen as a way of achieving the scale, performance, and security necessary to enable a digital business to thrive,” said Matt Eastwood, SVP, WW Research, IDC. “What is particularly interesting with this partnership is the depth of the co-innovation spanning Google businesses and technologies which are being leveraged in order to deliver the technology innovation and customer experience improvements to further differentiate Uber in the marketplace.”
On top of this, Google and Uber will work together to transform mobility, delivery and advertising through new innovations. As part of this effort, Uber will take full advantage of Google Ads and Google Cloud services to create new and engaging experiences for users, earners and partners.
Uber and Google aim to redefine the customer experience
When announcing the partnership, Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, said that “our partnership with Google centres around a shared commitment to putting customer experience at the forefront of everything we do”.
He added that “it is our job to continually improve and reimagine the types of experiences we’re providing through the Uber platform, exceeding expectations every time someone opens the app to go somewhere or get something delivered. We’re excited to deepen our work with Google to deliver new innovations that push the boundaries of what’s possible for transportation, delivery and more.”
Both Google and Uber have traditionally placed a strong emphasis on delivering the best possible customer experience. Going forward, both companies have pledged to collaborate on future opportunities that will improve experiences even further. As part of this, Google will provide technical investments across Cloud, Google Ads and Google Maps Platform to assist Uber in efforts to reduce its cost per trip, accelerate new revenue channels and improve in-house analytics.
In addition to this, both companies have pledged to work collaboratively on future innovation opportunities on the Play and Android platforms, which will improve the performance of the Uber app.
Why does this matter?
At face value, it’s unsurprising to see Uber and Google deepen their partnership. After all, Google was an early investor in Uber services and made a significant investment in UberCab’s first fundraising round. This was followed by the firm’s largest-ever investment in 2013, when Google Ventures invested more than $250 million into Uber.
However, although it’s not unexpected, this new and deeper partnership is significant for Uber. After all, moving to the cloud will provide Uber with increased flexibility and scalability. Plus, it will ensure that the user experience around the globe is always fast, secure and efficient.
On top of this, by migrating many of its most critical infrastructure to the cloud, Uber will also be able to leverage additional Google capabilities. This means Uber will effectively be able to modernise its architecture and accelerate application development.
For users, this partnership will hopefully lead to cheaper trips, a safer and more convenient booking service and an improved experience.