How Uber Empowers it's Business with data
Uber, the ride-hailing giant, is a household name worldwide. We all recognize it as the platform that connects riders with drivers for hassle-free transportation. But what most people don’t realize is that behind the scenes, Uber is not just a transportation service; it’s a data and analytics powerhouse. Every day, millions of riders use the Uber app, unwittingly contributing to a complex web of data-driven decisions. This blog takes you on a journey into the world of Uber's analytics and the critical role that Presto, the open source SQL query engine, plays in driving their success.
Uber's DNA as an analytics company
At its core, Uber's business model is deceptively simple: connect a customer at point A to their destination at point B. With a few taps on a mobile device, riders request a ride; then, Uber’s algorithms work to match them with the nearest available driver and calculate the optimal price. But the simplicity ends there. Every transaction, every cent matters. A ten-cent difference in each transaction translates to a staggering $657 million annually. Uber's prowess as a transportation, logistics and analytics company hinges on their ability to leverage data effectively.
The pursuit of hyperscale analytics
Uber's massive global operations generate a staggering amount of data - 256 petabytes stored and 35 petabytes processed daily, across 10,000+ cities and 18 million trips. To handle this data tsunami and maintain their analytical edge, Uber meticulously selects data platforms that prioritize limitless processing power. This supports their 12,000 active analytics users who run over 500,000 queries daily, fueling critical insights for their business.
Facing a tsunami of data from 18 million daily trips across 10,000+ cities, Uber needed an analytical engine built for limitless scale. Open-source Presto, born at Facebook to handle petabytes of data and millions of concurrent queries, fit the bill perfectly. Its secret sauce? Decoupling data storage from analytical compute, freeing Uber to focus on laser-sharp SQL optimization and conquer their analytical Everest.