UBER EVERYTHING: THE NEW REALITIES IN MEETING CUSTOMER NEEDS
Uber has become the most recognized brand from a range of new “sharing economy” companies which includes Airbnb, TaskRabbit, and HealthTap, showcasing the emergence of the “on-demand economy”, where service providers become platforms that leverage technical innovations to deliver goods and services to customers. While the platforms and customers benefit from increased flexibility and more efficient delivery of products and services, there are voices which claim that these innovations will lead to social disruption, a lack of job security, and loss of control by the state. What other innovations in the “sharing economy” could arrive on the market in the near future? How will these new platforms change the way we live, work, and socialize? What might the tradeoffs in social and economic benefits be, and what are the potential risks and disruptions?