Waymo Launches Business Traveler Service
▼ Summary
– Waymo is launching a new corporate service called “Waymo for Business” aimed at companies wanting to manage employee transportation.
– The service allows employers to manage corporate accounts, customize promo codes, track budgets, and monitor ride activity.
– This move mirrors the traditional ride-hailing industry, where companies like Uber and Lyft have long offered similar business travel programs.
– Waymo has been testing the service with employers, universities, and event organizers in its operating cities and reports positive feedback.
– Waymo for Business rides will cost the same as regular trips, with no discounts, but companies can choose to subsidize the cost for employees.
For companies seeking to streamline employee transportation, Waymo has officially launched a dedicated corporate service. The autonomous vehicle company is introducing Waymo for Business, a platform designed specifically for employers who wish to set up and manage company-wide ride accounts. This strategic move allows businesses to handle corporate accounts in bulk, generate customized promotional codes for major events, closely monitor transportation budgets, and keep track of all ride activity through a centralized dashboard.
This development represents a significant step for Waymo as it adopts a proven model from the conventional ride-hailing sector. For many years, services like Uber and Lyft have provided specialized tools that help employers organize and pay for staff and client travel. Waymo is now implementing a similar strategy, positioning its self-driving taxi fleet as the next-generation solution for corporate mobility needs.
The company reports that it has already been piloting the new service with a selection of employers, universities, and event organizers located in its operational cities. Initial responses have been overwhelmingly positive. A representative from Carvana highlighted that Waymo’s offering is a natural and effective fit for managing business travel logistics.
A key part of Waymo’s appeal to the corporate world lies in its commitment to safety and its use of electric vehicles, two factors that often rank high on a company’s priority list when selecting transportation partners. While Waymo for Business will not feature special discounted rates, meaning rides will cost the same as standard consumer trips, the program provides companies with the flexibility to fully or partially subsidize their employees’ travel expenses according to their own policies.
(Source: The Verge)
