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TECHNOLOGY Thursday 30 March 2017

Waze gets into the order-ahead business with Dunkin’ Donuts

MICHAEL LIEDTKE “It could be almost any- Drivers using Waze’s “order
AP Technology Writer thing that a driver could or- ahead” option will need
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — der ahead and have ready the Dunkin’ Donuts app as
Waze’s traffic navigation for pick up,” said Jordan well, although they won’t
app already shows ads Grossman, head of Waze’s have to open it. They’ll also
prodding drivers to swing by business partnerships in need to be registered with
fast-food joints like Dunkin’ North America. Dunkin’ Donuts customer
Donuts and Taco Bell. Now DOUGHNUTS TO GO loyalty program.
it’s adding a new item to its Waze won’t earn a com- CHARTING A COURSE INTO
menu — the ability to place mission on the Dunkin’ Do- COMMERCE
orders at some shops. nuts sales made in its app. The push into e-commerce
On Tuesday, the Google- Instead, Dunkin’ Donuts is Waze’s latest step beyond
owned app will start let- has agreed to increase the its original purpose of rec-
ting drivers purchase cof- amount it spends advertis- ommending the fastest way
fee and other items from ing on Waze. Neither Waze to drive someplace.
Dunkin’ Donuts for pickup nor Dunkin’ Donuts would Waze also offers a carpool-
along their way. It’s the first disclose the size of the in- ing feature that pays driv-
time that Waze has offered crease. ers to pick up passengers
this kind of “order ahead” Dunkin’ Donuts has its headed in the same direc-
option, but unlikely to be own app, which until now tion. It’s currently available
the last. was the only way to or- in the San Francisco Bay
If all goes well with the der ahead at the chain’s Area; Sacramento, Califor-
Dunkin’ Donuts test, Waze stores . But working with
plans to team up with other Waze made sense, said nia; and Israel.
merchants so its millions of Scott Hudler, chief digital Waze will also offer the car-
users can order pizza, re- officer for Dunkin’ Brands. pooling option in Brazil later
serve parking spaces, fill “Waze involves the ritualistic this year. While still in its in-
prescriptions and even buy behavior of driving to work fancy, that service could
groceries without having to on your daily commute, siphon passengers away In this photo taken Monday, March 27, 2017, the Waze applica-
open another app on their and we are a brand built on from ride-hailing services tion is displayed on a smartphone in San Francisco.
phones. a ritual, too,” he said. such as Uber and Lyft.q Associated Press
Uber diversity: low on women, like other tech companies

BARBARA ORTUTAY former employee, the an- respectively.
AP Technology Writer tics of its embattled CEO Uber also says 15 percent of
NEW YORK (AP) — Uber’s Travis Kalanick and ongo- its U.S. employees hold work
first report on employee di- ing criticisms of a boor- visas, and they hail from 71
versity shows low numbers ish “brogrammer” culture. countries. Other technol-
for women, especially in Management defections ogy companies have not
technical positions. In that include that of the compa- been disclosing this infor-
regard, the company is ny’s president, Jeff Jones, mation, but it’s possible
similar to other Silicon Val- after just six months on the that they will follow Uber’s
ley giants such as Google, job. Thirty-six percent of steps — especially as the
Facebook and Apple. the company’s worldwide industry continues to clash
But Uber’s report comes employees are women, heads with President Don-
as pressure mounts on the according to the report , ald Trump’s administration
company in light of sexual which does not count driv- over immigration issues.
harassment claims by a ers as employees. Google, Uber has about 12,000 em-
in comparison, has 31 per- In this Wednesday, March 15, 2017, photo, an Uber representa- ployees worldwide, about
cent women and Apple, tive helps travelers find rides with Uber at LaGuardia Airport in half in the U.S.
32 percent. When it comes New York. The San Francisco compa-
to technology jobs such as Associated Press ny has hired former U.S. At-
engineering, only 15 per- the company show a high- Asian. The report also shows torney General Eric Holder
cent are women at Uber. er percentage of women that nearly 9 percent of the to lead an investigation
At Google, it’s 19 percent — 41 percent — as well as company’s U.S. employ- into the sexual harassment
and Apple, 23 percent. more underrepresented ees are black and almost charges leveled by the for-
As with other tech compa- minorities. 6 percent are Hispanic. mer engineer, Susan Fowl-
nies , Uber is making some In the U.S., the largest eth- At Google, a much larger er. The company plans to
progress in diversifying its nic group at Uber is white company, the numbers are release the findings next
work force. The new hires at and the second largest is 2 percent and 3 percent, month.q