Let’s build together: the story behind the new Driver app

Nobody knows the ins and outs of driving with Uber better than you. So when we set out to build a better app experience, we asked for your help.

Over the last year, more than 400 drivers and delivery partners in 7 cities around the world have been participating in a unique Beta programme to help our team design and test a new Driver app. They’ve been collaborating with Uber designers and engineers to provide new ideas, share feedback and help report bugs.

“A typical Beta wasn’t going to cut it for us. We had to step it up a notch. We truly had to understand how the app performed in various cities and in different circumstances for different drivers and delivery partners. We wanted to know when it worked and met expectations and when it fell short. So we came up with a few ways to listen and learn.”

– Haider, Uber engineer

For Beta participant Eva, it was the opportunity to provide direct feedback that she found most rewarding about the experience.

“Just the fact that I was heard and my opinion mattered was huge. I was able to express what I thought needed to be fixed and also what I thought worked well that we could use more of… I was happy to be a part of the process.”

– Eva, partner-driver

Steph, who participated in the Beta programme in Los Angeles, enjoyed connecting with Uber employees and fellow drivers.

“It gave me a chance to interact with other drivers and the people who work for Uber. I was able to put a face to a few people. Going to the first Beta event was especially cool.”

– Steph, partner-driver

Our driver and delivery partners were a huge help spotting glitches and areas for improvement. Over the course of 16 weeks, they reported over 2600 bugs by sharing screenshots with Uber employees through various channels, including social apps. “Working with [the Uber team] through WhatsApp was very cool” says Steph. “I was texting and taking photos of whatever the bugs were in the app.”

“One of the things I brought up during beta testing had to do with the colour overlays on the map that indicate surge and Boost. You saw either big grids, no grid or very little detail. Now you can see at a moment’s glance that there’s a hotspot. Before, you would have seen a little bit of colour and then would have had to zoom in tremendously to figure out what it was.”

– Mike, partner-driver

Employees also joined drivers and delivery partners as they took trips and made deliveries using the new app.

“I liked the fact that Uber was reaching out to actual drivers. They could have done a survey, but I feel like having it on a personal level and having them in the vehicle with me meant they could see first hand how things are done and how we have to handle stuff. It’s good that I was able to speak to them right then and there, instead of writing an email and waiting for them to write back.”

– Glory, delivery partner

Thank you to all the drivers and delivery partners who helped build the new Driver app. As we continue improving your Uber experience, we look forward to creating more opportunities to work together.

Over the next few months, the new Driver app will be rolled out gradually to drivers and delivery partners around the world. You will receive an email and in-app message from us as it becomes available for you to download.