Uber has been expanding its services beyond ride-hailing and delivery, introducing hotel bookings powered by Expedia, boat rentals in Europe, and a 'shop for me' concierge feature that allows users to access products from local stores not available on Uber Eats. These additions are part of a broader strategy to position Uber as a travel and lifestyle platform. The company has also launched a new business unit called AV Labs, which is developing a fleet of sensor-equipped vehicles to collect driving data. This initiative is intended to strengthen Uber's relationships with autonomous vehicle partners, several of which it also holds equity in. Uber's Chief Product Officer, Sachin Kansal, explained that the company is not trying to be everything to everyone, but rather focusing on enhancing the value it provides to users. The company has also introduced Uber One, a membership program with 51 million members, which accounts for roughly half of all bookings. Source: techcrunch

Uber is exploring financial services for drivers and couriers, offering products like the Uber Pro card, which functions as a debit card for earnings. The company is also experimenting with similar offerings for merchants in certain regions. For consumers, Uber currently uses a credit-based system tied to its membership program, where members receive cashback on hotel bookings that can be used on rides and eats. Uber has not yet announced plans to offer its own buy now, pay later product, instead partnering with existing providers in the industry. The company's strategy emphasizes focusing on core services while selectively integrating new features through partnerships or by building its own solutions. Source: techcrunch

Uber Eats has become a profitable business for the company, generating significant revenue independently. The company has also faced competition from other ride-hailing and delivery services, including Lyft, Didi, and DoorDash. Uber's recent decision to scale back its Waymo pilot in Phoenix reflects its focus on maintaining a coherent user experience while balancing partnerships and competition. Uber's AV Labs initiative is aimed at providing autonomy partners with valuable data and operational insights, such as handling lost items and managing pickups and drop-offs. Source: techcrunch