If we would want to answer this question in short, we would probably say that ride sharing indeed does a bit of help, a bit of hindering and most certainly a lot of revolutionizing of jobs related to the market.
In this article, we go into detail and visit each area of the change brought on by the appearance of ride sharing.
How ride sharing helps the jobs in related markets?
In the old days, people either took public transport, drover their own car or took a taxi. Taxis were standardized, relatively expensive, and being a taxi driver meant a full-time job as a profession. With the appearance of modern mobility services, how people commute from one place to another has dramatically changed. Ride-sharing disrupted the taxi industry, and steady jobs were quickly replaced by gig work. People saw an opportunity in ride sharing as a part time job, a supplementation of income, and better use of free time and resources. Many people were able to quickly qualify as drivers while they would not be able to work as full-time taxi drivers.
Ride sharing as a service took off because travelers found convenience, speed, and comfort in booking their own car via an app, seeing reviews from other passengers, and picking the car and driver they wanted to travel with. In addition, it is cashless and enables a seamless and easy transaction between passenger and driver, and of course, this guarantees ease of mind for the driver. These were all new features that were not possible before with taxi services.
How ride sharing hinders jobs in related markets?
The taxi industry was substantially affected negatively by the appearance of ride sharing services. Many taxi companies could not compete with the pricing, safety, flexibility of modern booking platforms. Oppose to the “surge pricing” of ride sharing, and taxis operated on an even pricing which made them an unattractive option outside of rush hours. The traditional taxi vehicles were often old and, even if well-maintained, not entirely up to the expectations of today’s passengers. Opposing to taxis, people can pick the quality of cars they desire with an adjusted budget when using ride sharing services. Elite vehicles cost more but the travel experience also much higher quality than traveling in an average car.
How ride sharing revolutionizes jobs in related markets?
Ride sharing has created a lot of new job opportunities in the transportation market. While the old system required cars, drivers and a dispatch center and some back-office services, ride sharing enables an entirely new ecosystem. Technology and people work hand in hand to provide a different travel experience. With the introduction of booking platforms, there was a new need for data collection and processing, sensors, cameras and tracking devices on the roads, app developers, I.T. specialists and maintenance workers, to name a few. While potentially some taxi drivers lost their job opportunities, many could transfer over to a new system where they get to learn and adjust to the ride sharing offer.