‘Lyft’ Introduces Multi-Stop Feature, Could Be Too Late To Save Company

“Lyft” has just introduced a new feature that allows riders to set two or more destinations whenever they hail a ride. This allows both the drivers and the passengers to settle on the matter of price, thus removing the confusion of negotiation out of the equation. However, with “Uber” more determined than ever to dominate the cab hailing market in the U.S., the question of whether or not “Lyft” even has a future in the market has been brought to the forefront.

As Business Insider put it, trying to set multiple destinations the old way with either “Uber” or “Lyft” is usually a frustrating exercise of math and diplomacy. By implementing the multi-stop feature as a built-in service, this is no longer a problem.

Riders will basically just need to set the destinations that they want to go, so the “Lyft” driver already knows and won’t need to haggle with the riders about price. This is a service that no other cab hailing company is currently offering, which makes it yet another notch on the innovative features that “Lyft” introduced to the market.

Those who have been following along with developments in the ride-hailing industry, “Lyft” was the first to implement several innovations which “Uber” promptly copied, including scheduled rides and the “Lyft Line.” Unfortunately, it would seem that innovative ideas alone are not enough to save the smaller provider.

The San Francisco Chronical asked the question of whether or not “Lyft” has a future in a world where “Uber” is fast becoming king. Reports of the ride-hailing company partnering with “Qatalyst Partners” in order to find buyers have practically sealed the fate of the smaller “Uber” rival.

China’s own giant cab hailing company “Didi” previously teamed up with “Lyft” and other smaller companies in order to beat the tidal wave that is “Uber.” Now, “Didi” has a $1 billion stake at “Uber,” effectively stabbing its partners in the back. With the anti-Uber coalition in shambles, it would seem that nothing can stand in the cab hailing behemoth’s way, which only makes “Lyft’s” apparent decision to sell and surrender a reasonable one.