Uber has a wide range of products and offerings that range from ride-hailing and micro-mobility to logistics and autonomous vehicles. UberX lies on the ride-hailing front of the company whereas Uber Connect is part of Uber’s delivery offerings. Let us briefly look at what both these services are and what is Uber Connect vs UberX.
What is UberX?
In the company’s ride-hailing segment, UberX is a private, on-demand ride option that offers economical fares. It is Uber’s standard low-cost trip alternative. And, a party of up to 4 passengers can take the ride at one time.
This ride-sharing service is most customers’ go-to service for work commutes or running errands. This is because the fares for the trip in terms of affordability, on usual days, are only second to UberPOOL. It is a carpooling ride offered by the company.
What is Uber Connect?
As part of the company’s delivery solutions portfolio, Uber Connect enables the user to send packages on the same day. It also involves no-contact deliveries.
The items that can be delivered — anything from a birthday gift for a friend to a care package for a dear one. Small businesses can make use of the service to parcel an item that they sold online within a day.
In addition, you can even request a package (as a recipient) from a specific sender on the application.
What different purposes do these services serve?
UberX is a standardized option that allows Uber users to take trips at affordable charges. On the other hand, Uber Connect moves items and not people.
The company launched this delivery service in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic as an attempt to put its fleet of drivers to work. The CEO at Uber Technologies calls the move to roll out Uber Connect a means to “swiftly align its technology offerings to meet the evolving community needs.”
How can I book an UberX ride and an Uber Connect delivery?
As UberX is a regular ride-sharing service, you simply have to visit the application to book your trip. Follow the steps given below to request your ride:
- Go to the application
- Select “Ride”
- Enter your pickup location and destination
- Confirm the addresses and from the list of rides, select “UberX”
- Once confirmed, you can add or select your payment method on the screen at this time
You can book Uber Connect by following the same procedure as above. However, when you land on the app, select “Package”. Once you confirm the pickup and drop-off location for the items, you will receive vehicle and driver details. Then, you can track your package as it makes its way to the recipient.
Are the vehicles employed for Uber Connect and UberX different?
When you request an UberX trip, you will likely be picked up in a four-door sedan, say a Honda Accord. As for Uber Connect, the vehicle type will, most certainly, not be a four-wheeler. According to the company’s service guidelines, your items should weigh less than 5 kgs and must be deliverable on a two-wheeler.
You can read in-depth about both these services by Uber by visiting Uber Guide.