Business travelers are increasingly choosing ride-hailing services over traditional taxis. A recent report from travel and expense firm Certify shows a dramatic shift in corporate transportation preferences: ride-hailing usage has surged while taxi and car rental usage has declined. In the first quarter of 2014, ride-hailing accounted for only 8 percent of business transportation; by the most recent reporting period, it represented 46 percent of business travelers’ ground transportation choices.
Uber leads the market among corporate users, making up 43.4 percent of ride-hailing trips for business purposes. Lyft also holds a notable share, and together these app-based services have become the default for many professionals traveling on company business.
Several factors explain this trend. Convenience tops the list: ride-hailing apps let users request and track drivers from their smartphones, often reducing wait times and simplifying billing and receipts for expense reporting. Price is another major driver of adoption. Certify’s data indicates taxi rides average $39.68, while Uber averages $26.41 and Lyft averages $23.53, making ride-hailing a more cost-effective option for many travelers.
This growth in ride-hailing use is evident across multiple cities and regions, where traditional taxi usage has correspondingly declined. For companies and travelers focused on efficiency and cost control, the ease of app-based booking, transparent pricing, and streamlined expense documentation help explain why ride-hailing continues to gain market share among business users.