Rakuten and Uber strengthen their partnership with Rakuten ID integration

5 hours ago 3 min read

Rakuten and Uber announce that the companies will strengthen their strategic partnership, starting with the integration of Rakuten ID.

Last month, Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO, Mickey Mikitani, and Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, came together to announce a significant strengthening of their partnership, beginning with the integration of Rakuten ID.

By connecting Uber with Rakuten ID, a core component of the Rakuten Ecosystem, the two companies will enable customers to seamlessly earn Rakuten points through services on both the Uber and Uber Eats apps, delivering even greater value for users across the country.

From December 12th, users can earn one Rakuten Point for every 200 yen spent when using the Uber and Uber Eats apps. The new integration builds upon Rakuten and Uber’s partnership, which began in April 2022, when Rakuten Pay rolled out on Uber Eats.

“*By combining the strengths of Uber, Rakuten AI, and the Rakuten Ecosystem, we are set to unlock even more opportunities and consistently deliver outstanding customer experiences.” noted Mikitani.*

Expanding possibilities in data, AI and personalization

Commenting on the collaboration, Mikitani told the audience, “This is just one step in our partnership. By combining the strengths of Uber, Rakuten AI, and the Rakuten Ecosystem, we are set to unlock even more opportunities and consistently deliver outstanding customer experiences.”

Looking ahead, the two companies are exploring how Rakuten’s extensive data assets and AI technology could be used to provide more tailored recommendations and relevant promotional information, helping users discover exactly what they need at the right moment.

Mikitani offered a glimpse into this vision: “We are exploring possibilities such as recommending optimal tourist spots by leveraging user interests, preferred locations and real-time traffic data. Potential integration with Rakuten Gurunavi will allow us to suggest favorite restaurants, with the option for Uber Eats to deliver those meals directly to you. These are among the key areas we are exploring as Uber and Rakuten advance our strategic partnership even further.”

*Khosrowshahi emphasized that combining the strengths of both companies will allow them to deliver richer and more reliable daily experiences for their customers.*

Khosrowshahi echoed this sentiment, drawing on his own travel experience in Kaga city of Ishikawa prefecture. “I enjoyed Kaga’s beautiful scenery while being driven around by the owner of a soba restaurant, who partners with Uber in their spare time. It was a reminder of how technology can support local communities,” he recalled. “Today’s partnership is about extending that impact across Japan”. Khosrowshahi emphasized that combining the strengths of both companies will allow them to deliver richer and more reliable daily experiences for their customers.

“Our promise is simple: To make daily life easier, better value, and more seamless for people all across Japan.”

Celebrating with “The Saikyo Campaign”

To celebrate the exciting new chapter, Shigenobu Kobayashi, CEO of Rakuten Payment, announced “The Saikyo Campaign”, offering even more benefits to users of both services, including:

Instant points: Users can link their Rakuten ID with Uber apps to receive a gift of 1,000 Rakuten Points.
Special offers for Rakuten Mobile users: New and current Rakuten Mobile customers will receive 20 times the Rakuten Points when shopping on Uber apps.
Uber One savings: Users who link their Rakuten ID with Uber apps will enjoy a 70% discount on the annual plan fees.

With Rakuten ID now connected to Uber, the partnership moves into a new phase, with the potential to create smarter, more personalized everyday experiences. As Rakuten and Uber continue to deepen their collaboration, users across Japan can expect even more ways to discover value in their daily lives.