Waymo Opens Up Special Service For Businesses

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It’s funny — when we think about robotaxis, we think about them operating in the same way as taxis — just going and picking up passengers as needed in the cities or regions where they operate. Perhaps we consider special deals with airports to set up shop and operate from a high-business hub. But as Waymo’s latest news points out, robotaxis can also be contracted by businesses if they can provide a useful, predictable service.

The company just launched Waymo for Business in order to try to bring the benefits of robotaxis to more places (and bring in more revenue and eventual profits, of course). “After conducting successful pilots with a variety of organizations, we’re ready to partner with more employers, universities, and event organizers to help streamline their transportation needs,” the company writes.

Here’s Waymo’s pitch for why businesses, or organizations more broadly, should start using its robotaxi services:

“Partnering with Waymo for Business can help you:

• • Provide a Premium Experience: Offer your employees, students, or guests a consistent and reliable way to get around. Waymo’s fully autonomous rides allow people to reclaim their time, whether they need to catch up on emails, relax, or make a private call.
  • Meet Sustainability Goals: Waymo’s fully electric fleet helps organizations advance their sustainability targets.
  • Lead With Innovation: Embrace cutting-edge technology to expand mobility access, particularly for those in your community who can’t drive or don’t have access to a vehicle.

“We’ve already partnered with some of the most innovative employers, universities, and event organizers in our service areas to pilot Waymo for Business.”

Sort of vague claims — but those really are the clear benefits of robotaxis today.

One company already engaging Waymo’s services is, as it turns out, a car marketplace company. “We are proud to provide Waymo rides for both employees and guests of our hosted events. We’re committed to safety and sustainability, which makes Waymo a natural fit for business travel. When we host events, attendees love the premium and personal experience of an autonomous ride,” Andrea Appiagyei, Strategic Partnerships at Carvana, said.

Getting down to business, Waymo also shares the following:

“Manage Your Transportation Program

“Waymo’s enterprise-grade tools make it easy to manage your transportation program:

• • Business Portal: Easily set program parameters and manage users
  • Customizable Promo Codes: Seamlessly manage rides for events
  • Reporting Tools: Track your budget and monitor ride activity”

It does seem like a useful suite of services for many businesses or organizations. Waymo says it’s happy to work with differently sized businesses or organizations to provide these services.

And … much more is to come down the line. “While we’re still in the early stages, we’re committed to evolving our business offerings to better meet the needs of a wide range of business over time.” We’ll see what that means in coming months and years. In the meantime, these early partner companies will presumably get a bit of benefit from hooking up to smart electric vehicles and smarter and smarter grid technology.