Uber signs cloud deal with Oracle, Google as it shuts its own data centers

Uber Technologies Inc. signed 7-year contracts with Oracle and Google for data cloud services. The company chose to shut down its own data centers and teamed up with the software and cloud computing firms instead after realizing the advantages of having different cloud service providers.

Oracle and Google Cloud were each given a seven-year contract which will also formally end Uber’s reliance on its own data center infrastructure. This move was said to have been triggered by the hardware supply disruptions that are affecting many tech firms today.

To put it simply, Uber decided to swap its own data centers for companies with more experience in the field. With the deal, the ride-hailing firm is planning to move its IT to Google and Oracle over the next few years. It was said that more than 95% of its IT is still in its own data centers but will gradually be transferred to its new location.

Moreover, Google Cloud and Oracle were picked for the service after spending 11 months reviewing cloud companies. It determined that having multiple providers lowers risks and allows Uber to make the most of some specific benefits provided by cloud services.

"Our partnership with Google centers around a shared commitment to putting customer experience at the forefront of everything we do," Uber’s chief executive officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, said in a press release. “We are excited to deepen our work with Google to deliver new innovations that push the boundaries of what's possible for transportation, delivery, and more."

International Data Corporation’s SVP of research, Matt Eastwood, also commented, “Cloud migration is often seen as a way of achieving the scale, performance, and security necessary to enable a digital business to thrive.”

He added, “What is particularly interesting with this partnership is the depth of the co-innovation spanning Google businesses and technologies which are being leveraged in order to deliver the technology innovation and customer experience improvements to further differentiate Uber in the marketplace."

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