After the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the rideshare industry’s steady growth in 2020 (leading to lower bookings across the board), it seems the rideshare industry is back on track for even stronger growth in the post-COVID era. Major rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft reported strong numbers in 2021, and Uber expects to see an even larger spike in growth by the end of 2022. However, as rideshare becomes even more popular, growing concerns about the safety of the practice have some riders and drivers feeling unsure about returning. Stories of thefts, physical assaults, kidnappings, sexual assaults, and even murders have emerged in recent years as major companies have disclosed their crime statistics. Union Share Inc., a leader in smart tech innovation specializing in the rideshare space, is aiming to make the industry safer with advancements in smart verification technology.

Union Share Inc. named its newest patent product, Sami Signage, after a woman named Sami who was kidnapped and killed by someone posing as an Uber driver. This type of preventable tragedy has sparked many changes in the rideshare industry and even a notable piece of legislation: Sami’s Law, a bill intended to raise verification standards for rideshare apps. Though great steps are being made to curb this issue, Sami Signage hopes to save even more lives by taking visual verification to the next level.

Gaining Riders’ Trust with Sami Signage

Sami Signage was designed to give riders complete confidence that they’re getting into the right car before they open the doors by allowing riders to upload custom codes, names, and even images to an exterior screen. For visually impaired riders, Sami Signage is equipped with an audio function to guide them to the correct ride. Once riders are in the car, the sign has an additional safety function; if at any time the rider or the driver feels unsafe, they can discretely switch the sign to a help signal that can alert police and passersby to the situation and help them to identify the car.

Union Share hopes that the widespread adoption of Sami Signage could eliminate kidnappings and other crimes in the rideshare industry almost entirely, with many senseless crimes prevented from ever happening in the first place with the instant, clear verification of Sami Signage.

New Avenues of Prosperity for Rideshare

Not only does Sami Signage have the potential to increase the range of profitability for the rideshare industry. After fulfilling its primary rider/driver verification function, the display can switch over to a logo or ad for a business, turning rideshare into mobile advertising. According to Union Share, this would be a win-win for the driver, the rideshare company, and the advertised business. With the potential for greater profit and increased safety standards, Sami Signage is raising the bar across the rideshare industry.

Building a Safer Future for the Rideshare Industry

Abu Elreish’s vision of the future is a bright one, full of benefits for everyone involved in the rideshare industry – with a particular focus on the happiness that his advancements will bring. “I see my riders in San Francisco getting wherever they’re going and back home safely,” he says. “I see the innovative media opportunity becoming a great place for businesses to join in on the benefits. I see drivers and investors are happy. I see myself guiding the industry out of darkness and towards a place of happiness and hope.”

The first prototype of Sami Signage is ready to hit the roads and start saving lives. In the meantime, Union Share Inc. is in the process of filing patents for several other exciting innovations. The team believes that, once these are ready for the market, it will become the standard trade dress for the rideshare industry, replacing the Uber and Lyft logos we commonly see in windshields. Not only that, but it will set a new standard in rideshare safety and begin to restore riders’ and drivers’ trust in the industry.

Ahmad Abu Elreish is the founder and CEO of Union Share Inc. Learn more about his work on LinkedIn. Contact Union Share at [email protected]

Source:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/21/tech/lyft-safety-transparency-report-sexual-assault/index.html