Uberisation
Uberisation is a word coming from the company Uber, which stands for a direct exchange between customers and professionals in an almost instantaneous way, through new technologies. [1]
Definition and origins
To understand the concept, it is relevant to refer to Uber's model. Uber is a platform on which professional drivers can find customers. Users will have to use an application to find drivers around them. The technological means to use it are high speed internet, mobile data and geolocalisation. This economical model allow professionals to mutualize the infrastructures and management, thus why their external costs diminish. In a larger scheme, uberisation is a part of the collaborative economy.
Uberised domains
Since this is an expanding concept, this is not an exhaustive list but only a few examples. The transport domain and hostellery are the mostly touched, respectively with BlaBlaCar or AirBnb.
Ethical concerns
The phenomenon of uberisation has been criticised for its role in facilitating the decline of labour-intensive industries, and hence for threatening jobs.