In a very short period of time, Uber outclassed typical cab services and became a leader in the ride-sharing market, leaving the competition speechless and wondering how it achieved such a fast and outstanding success.
In a very short period of time, the company outclassed typical cab services and became a leader in the ride-sharing market, leaving the competition speechless and wondering how it achieved such a fast and outstanding success.
There are multiple reasons behind it. The investigation of all those causes, along with a wider understanding of the markets and their demands, can allow many other startups to get inspired and understand the mechanics of operating a successful business in modern times.
Uber made it convenient
One of the main reasons why Uber became so popular was its focus on people’s convenience. First of all, Uber made it easy for clients to order a ride since it operates on the internet – all they need is the Uber app.
Moreover, it also made it convenient for potential employees to start working for the company, as all they really need is a car, a driving license, and the will to work. The car doesn’t even have to belong to them – they can simply click here.
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The lesson to take from this point is to think about what people care about the most: In this case, it was the convenience of services and saving valuable time.
Uber found the answer to existing problems
Uber did an outstanding job identifying the existing need in society for fast, on-demand transportation services operated through the internet. The founders realised the problems with public transportation in big cities, as well as the typically poor service of cab companies and their high prices, and decided to create a service that will be new, fresh, and deprived of those issues.
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Understanding the popularity of Uber through the lens of finding a demand for the product can help many startups make their first steps in any field.
Uber was the first of its kind
Uber became so popular because it was something new. As the first ride-sharing company, the firm established a strong brand presence and recognition for the years to come.
Similarly, a good startup should not try to follow other companies’ example, but instead, they should find a new path allowing them to carve out their own share of the market and create a unique imperium.
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The three advantages above might explain why Uber became so popular in a very short period of time. Now, the question is: will this success last?
Uber growth problem
For a while now, Uber has been facing a lot of criticism due to its aggressive growth strategy.
As we all have read in the press, Uber uses questionable tactics to acquire new drivers and clients and to convert clients into regular users. The company has a history of fighting with individual governments that want to impose their own rules on Uber’s ride-sharing services.
Needless to say, these actions did not please everyone, and many regulators around the world decided to sanction Uber for its violations of local laws.
Cease-and-desist letter from the California Public Utilities Commission
For instance, in December 2015, the California Public Utilities Commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to Travis Kalanick, the CEO of Uber, and ordered him to halt the company’s operations in California. The specific reason for that was the fact that Uber was using its drivers in California without having a proper license required for ride-sharing companies.
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What’s even more striking about this matter is that Kalanick responded by saying that it would be impossible to comply with such a request from the regulator. In other words, Uber refused to obey the cease-and-desist order and managed to continue operating normally.
How Uber creates favouritism
Uber further angered its critics when it revealed its “Greyball” program, which makes it possible to create unique fingerprinting tools designed to identify local regulators who are working on stopping Uber’s illegal operations around the world. Moreover, Uber has been accused of using these identifying tools to block these regulators from booking cars via its app.
What’s even more concerning is that apparently, the company keeps this operation secret and intentionally hides its existence from both drivers and clients. This lack of transparency has made many people suspicious about what else is hidden behind the walls of this company that we are not privy to know.
#DeleteUber
One of the most recent negative things that happened to Uber was a promotional campaign titled #DeleteUber, which urged clients and potential clients to unsubscribe from the app due to the unfair treatment taken against users who criticized Trump’s refugee ban as well as the immigration ban on people coming to the US from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Essentially, after many celebrities expressed their discontentment with Trump’s decision through Twitter, taxi drivers in New York decided to support them by staying away from JFK Airport in a protest against the ban.
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Uber took advantage of the protest and turned off surge pricing, thereby reducing the cost of its service to a level lower than that offered by cab companies and other ride-sharing services operating in New York that were not taking part in the strike. Uber later apologised for this action, however, this is just one example of how the company has been treating its clients in general.
The Bottom Line
The truth is that regardless of the dubious business practices used by Uber in the past, it is still the best ride-sharing company in the world, and there simply aren’t that many great alternatives to dethrone it.
Sure, in some regions of the world Lyft or Bolt may have a chance of becoming as popular as Uber, or even be considered to be better, but on the global scale, Uber is dominant, and it looks like it’s going to stay that way for the foreseeable future.
This is because it was the first company of its kind, which allowed it to amass capital much earlier than its competitors. Thanks to its early arrival, most people now associate ride-sharing with Uber — the word has even become a verb synonymous with hailing a ride other than a yellow cab!
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Rúben Amorim outlines the three key things Manchester United need to work on
Danny Jones
Rúben Amorim has conducted his first full press conference as Manchester United manager and has outlined the three key things he wants to address when it comes to his new team.
Amorim officially joined Man United on Monday, 11 November after being given a ‘now or never’ which meant he had to leave his former club Sporting CP in the middle of the season.
Replacing Erik ten Hag, who was sacked less than 24 hours after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham and had overseen a run of bad results, the contract extension he was given in the summer ultimately proved obsolete and now the Portuguese head coach must lift his new side from a measly 13th in the table.
That being said, speaking to the media in his first full pre-match presser ahead of his maiden Premier League outing against Ipswich Town this weekend, Amorim has already highlighted three key areas in which he wants United to improve as a matter of priority.
"I truly believe that I'm the right guy in the right moment" 👊
Ruben Amorim says he does not think managing Manchester United is the impossible job.#MUFC#bbcfootball 🇵🇹
What did Amorim say in his first full Man United press conference?
Although the 39-year-old coach – who is only three years older than resurgent centre-back Johnny Evans – started off by assuring that his main focus at its core is to win the next match (and the one after that, as the football cliché goes), he boiled the current squad issues down to a troublesome trio.
In his eyes, a lot of it just comes down to pure physical effort.
Improve possession
First and foremost, Amorim was quick to point out that United “lose the ball too often” and simply have to retain it more throughout the 90 minutes.
Although they have enjoyed spells of greater control in games, their average possessions stats in the Premier League not only under ten Hag but Ole Gunnar Solskjær and even short-lived interim boss Ralf Rangnick never flirted too far above 50-53%.
While that might sound like the signs of nothing more than a well-contested game, the club need to be looking at much higher numbers if they want to start being a dominant force again.
Track back more
The second area he said that the team desperately needs to improve in is the distances covered per match, especially when it comes to running back towards their own goal and tracking back during defensive phases.
Addressing it in a rather matter-of-fact manner, he told reporters: “We have to be better at running back, I think that is clear for everybody [to see].” He told Gary Neville something very similar in his other recent interview with Sky Sports.
"This is my place" ❤️
The smile on both Gary Neville and Ruben Amorim's face when the Manchester United head coach said this ☺ pic.twitter.com/dpKnnE69Nm
He said it with a smile on his face but it’s clear that he knows there is a narrative surrounding United in recent years that they just don’t work hard enough, both on and off the ball. Having played mainly in the middle of the park for Belenenses, Benfica and SC Braga, running is a non-negotiable.
Focus on the ‘details’ first
Lastly, Amorim said he believes one of the big things he can do for these players is to help them fine-tune the small things. He added that although there is a feeling that fans want there to be “a lot of change” and pressure to make “big” decisions, he reiterated that “it’s the small things.”
The former utility player knows a thing or two about playing in lots of positions and going back to the opening point of his press conference in which he discussed getting the team to believe in “one thing”, he believes that the minute differences can contribute to changing how they approach the game.
There is understandably lots of talk surrounding his trademark 3-4-3 formation and whether these details refer to tactical tweaks, we will see, but he insists that so long as they put in the effort and pay attention to the little stuff, those on the pitch will start to play in the same way that he wants them to.
You can watch his press conference ahead of the Ipswich away this Sunday in full down below:
Amorim was also happy to casually call out those who ‘don’t believe in’ his new players in his first press conference as Man United coach.
Featured Images — BeanymanSports (via YouTube screenshot)
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Posters around Manchester city centre spark serious rumours Charli XCX is set to headline Parklife 2025
Danny Jones
Some pretty big, green posters are popping up around town and, not to get ahead of ourselves, but it looks like they’re hinting at Charli XCX headlining Parklife 2025…
Feel free to lose your bratting minds.
A number of tall, let’s call it ‘apple’ green posters have been sighted in various places across Manchester city centre this Friday, 22 November and the last time we saw this slightly low-resolution, plain black Arial font and colour combo we got a reworked version of Charli XCX’s brat album.
Listen, all we can tell you is that this is almost exactly the same marketing and the letters on the poster simply read, “PL25”. Come on… you do the math(s).
Spotting at least two of the posters for ourselves around both Newton and Thomas Street in and around the Northern Quarter, plenty of people have been double-taking at the simple but bold and undeniably eye-catching portrait posters.
Trust us, we weren’t the only ones stopping to take a picture and frantically send them to half of our phonebook either.
Charli herself hasn’t given us any other clues on social media thus far – to be fair, this one feels fairly obvious to us – but it’s well worth keeping your eyes peeled on her stories as she did plenty of teasing before dropping Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat.
Still can’t get over that actually being the title, by the way.
It’s also worth noting that Parklife themselves recently confirmed that festival fans can expect to find out their headliners and the full 2025 lineup very soon. Check out that colour…
Oh, who are we kidding? That’s not apple green it’s straight-up BRAT green, b*tch. We’re fully getting carried away and you’ll just have to deal with it.
Even if it somehow turns out she’s not headlining it’s certainly looking like she’s going to be there and it wouldn’t be the first time.
Better yet, fans of the pop sensation won’t have to wait too long to see her right here in Greater Manchester because Charli is bringing her already smash-hit tour to Co-op Live next Wednesday, 27 November and in case you couldn’t tell by all the shouting in capitals, we’re very excited.
Roll on ‘PL25’. Other than Charli XCX, who else would you like to see as your Parklife headliners next summer?
The Manc -
16th February 2021 
