Uber has rolled out a new feature to the Kenyan market that will make parcel delivery a little bit easier for everyone.
On the Uber app, I noticed that they have included the Uber Connect option which says it allows you to send parcels to friends and family.
Uber Connect? That's new pic.twitter.com/i2RVOZoEqK
— 𝚔𝚒𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚒 (@kiruti) July 17, 2020
This feature was announced in the US last month and it is quite simple. It allows you to send items whether it is a care package or a gift or an important document to the target recipient. The driver will transport the package on your behalf to the target location.
From the marketing, Uber seems to be targeting the postal service. They claim that there is no “postage required” (obviously) and there is no need to wait hours or days for it to arrive.
There are obviously some restrictions on what you can transport via Uber Connect. According to Uber’s terms and conditions, prohibited items include:
- People
- Illegal items
- Firearms, weapons, ammunition, and their parts
- Alcohol
- Highly perishable food or beverages
- Pharmaceutical products, over the counter medications, vitamins or supplements
- Recreational drugs, drug paraphernalia or tobacco products
- Money, gift cards, lottery tickets, or transferrable securities
- Dangerous or hazardous items including explosives, items that are not poisonous or flammable
- Stolen goods
- Fragile items
- Sexual aids, obscene or pornographic material
- Livestock, regulated species or animal parts, blood or fluids
- Any items for which you do not have permission to send.
In the US, the also have a package restriction, where it shouldn’t be greater than 30 pounds (13.6kg), must fit comfortably in the truck of a mid-size motor vehicle, and may not have a total value greater than $100 (Kshs >10,000). We are not sure whether these restrictions also apply for the Kenyan market, but we will update as soon as we get more information.
The fare breakdown for the Connect service in Kenya is also pretty interesting. The base fare is Kshs 55, per minute charge is Kshs 1 and the per kilometer charge is Kshs 4. The minimum fare is Kshs 60.
This new feature will compete with the services being offered in the country by companies like Sendy or by government parastatals like the Post Office.
