Uber Takes Unprecedented Dip In Business Travel, Says Certify

For the first time since Certify began tracking the data, Uber’s popularity with business travelers has declined, accounting for a smaller portion of corporate traveler rides in Q3 compared to Q2.

The latest data from Certify, released Tuesday (Oct. 24), accounted for 54 percent of ground rides among Certify’s business clients in the third quarter, compared to 55 percent in the second quarter. The drop follows Uber’s continued focus on adding new features for business users, including the addition of a tipping capability this quarter. However, Certify data found just 3 percent of Uber rides are completed with a tip.

Ridesharing continues to grow in popularity with business travelers, with Uber rival Lyft securing 3 percent more of business ground transportation, hitting 11 percent in Q3, Certify found. Lyft’s increase marks the greatest gain for the company since Certify began tracking the data.

Meanwhile, taxis and car rentals each lost 1 percent, hitting 7 percent and 28 percent, respectively, of ground transportation for business travelers using Certify.

Even with Uber’s slight decline, Certify noted that the ridesharing company remains significantly ahead of the competition when it came to travel spend.

“Despite overall trends indicating a slight downturn for Uber, the ride-hailing leader remains the number one vendor in business travel ground transportation and the most expensed brand of any category in the Certify system for the third quarter of 2017,” Certify said in its announcement, adding that the expensing of Uber transactions is more than double that of the runner-up brand, Starbucks.

“The latest Certify SpendSmart report shows how the business traveler is more in the driver’s seat than ever before when it comes to making purchasing decision on the road,” said Certify CEO Robert Neveu in a statement. “Whether it’s reaction to the latest headlines or the introduction of new features like tipping, the power of consumer choice has become a major factor in travel and entertainment expense spending that, in may ways, extends beyond the reach of the accounting department or corporate travel policy.”