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Synopsis

Use our Timeline Template Collection to visualize and track your business processes. Timelines keep your projects on track, provide context, and set expectations for stakeholders. They show where you're currently at in a project, what you've accomplished so far, and help set deadlines and expectations.

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A timeline can improve accountability in a project by providing a visual representation of the project's progress. It shows where the project currently stands, what has been accomplished, and what still needs to be done. This helps set clear expectations and deadlines for stakeholders, ensuring everyone is aware of their responsibilities and the project's goals. It also allows for tracking of the project, making it easier to hold individuals or teams accountable for their tasks.

There are several software and applications that can be used to create project timelines. Some of them include Microsoft Project, Trello, Asana, Smartsheet, and Basecamp. These tools provide features for project planning, scheduling, and tracking, helping you to keep your projects on track.

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Below, we use timelines from this collection to compare Uber versus Lyft across their availability, speed, price, and business fundamentals and explain the most important metric to assess a ride-share company. After that, we'll share how you can use the same tools for your business. Download our fully customizable Timeline Collection Collection for dozens more visualizations to save time and hours of work. If you want to scroll straight to the presentation explainer, do so now.

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The Timeline Template Collection can be used to improve stakeholder communication by providing a visual representation of key events, milestones, or metrics over time. This can help stakeholders understand the progress of a project, the performance of a business, or the impact of strategic decisions. It can also be used to compare different companies or strategies, as in the example of Uber versus Lyft. By presenting information in a clear and engaging way, the Timeline Template Collection can help to facilitate more effective communication and decision-making.

The Timeline Template Collection can be applied in various industries such as marketing, project management, event planning, education, and research. It can be used to visualize project timelines, historical events, process flows, and more.

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Case study: Uber vs. Lyft

Which is the better company? Uber, or Lyft? Both Uber and Lyft are the current leading rideshare services, with a combined net worth of over fifty billion dollars. But what led to their meteoric rise, and what sets them apart from the competition… and each other?

Uber and Lyft debuted on the public market within two weeks of each other in 2019. Both IPOs were in the works for years and were long-awaited by investors. While today, Uber is available globally in over 650 cities and regions, Lyft is still only available in the US and Canada. But because of Lyft's regional focus, it is available in more US cities than Uber.

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The IPOs of Uber and Lyft intensified their competition. Both companies became publicly traded around the same time in 2019, which increased their visibility and scrutiny in the market. This also meant they had to be more transparent with their financials and business strategies, which could have influenced their competitive tactics. However, the IPOs did not significantly change the geographical competition between the two, as Uber continues to have a broader global presence, while Lyft focuses more on the US and Canada.

Uber and Lyft both went public in 2019, within two weeks of each other. However, their expansion strategies have differed. Uber has pursued a global strategy and is now available in over 650 cities and regions worldwide. On the other hand, Lyft has focused on the US and Canada, but due to this regional focus, it is available in more US cities than Uber.

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Despite Uber's larger size, Uber only has twice the cash as Lyft. Lyft's market share has doubled since 2015 from 15% to 31%. As both companies battle it out for market share, they've had to spend on driver subsidies and promotional discounts for riders. It's a strategy that has caused both companies to burn through a lot of cash—Uber has reportedly spent over $11 billion since its founding. But this year, for the first time in its history, Uber announced it will be cash-flow positive for the full 2022. While it has become normal to make a loss for extended periods in the tech sector, Uber did so for longer than others.

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Uber and Lyft's financial performance can be considered quite significant in the gig economy. Despite Uber's larger size, it only has twice the cash as Lyft. However, Lyft's market share has impressively doubled since 2015 from 15% to 31%. Both companies have been investing heavily in driver subsidies and promotional discounts for riders in a bid to capture more market share. This strategy has led to significant cash burn, with Uber reportedly spending over $11 billion since its inception. However, Uber announced for the first time in its history that it will be cash-flow positive for the full 2022. While it's common for tech sector companies to operate at a loss for extended periods, Uber did so for a longer duration than others.

Uber and Lyft's financial strategies, which involve spending heavily on driver subsidies and promotional discounts for riders, could have several potential impacts on their customers. Firstly, these strategies could lead to lower prices for customers in the short term, as the companies compete for market share. However, in the long term, these strategies could lead to financial instability for the companies, which could potentially result in higher prices for customers if the companies need to increase prices to become profitable. Additionally, if either company were to go out of business due to their financial strategies, this could reduce competition in the market, which could also lead to higher prices for customers.

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Uber was founded in 2009 as UberCab. After some initial investment rounds, 2011 was a crucial year for the growth of Uber. Its ridesharing service first went live in New York in May 2011 before national expansion began in September in Chicago. By December, the company had expanded internationally with its launch in Paris. And by July 2015, Uber was the most valuable startup in the world. But it still wasn't turning a profit: it had bigger goals of becoming the world's primary transportation marketplace, and that would require a lot of investment.

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Uber's initial investment rounds in 2011 were pivotal for its expansion. The funds allowed Uber to launch its ridesharing service in New York in May 2011, marking the beginning of its national expansion. By September, the service was available in Chicago. The investment also facilitated Uber's international expansion, with the service launching in Paris in December 2011. These expansions were part of Uber's larger goal to become the world's primary transportation marketplace, a goal that required significant investment.

Uber faced several challenges in its goal to become the world's primary transportation marketplace. One of the main challenges was the need for substantial investment to expand its services globally. Additionally, Uber faced regulatory hurdles in many countries and cities where traditional taxi services were well-established. The company also had to deal with issues related to driver compensation and working conditions, which led to protests and legal challenges. Furthermore, Uber had to invest heavily in technology and infrastructure to support its rapidly growing user base.

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Uber and Lyft aren't just companies, they're platforms. These platforms allow connections that create marketplaces. In 2015, Uber used its existing platform to quickly grow UberEats, which is now the most valuable part of its business model. By 2016, It was sink or swim for Uber. To achieve the necessary growth, they had to plot out milestones with important events and dates. They had to sync team members around an organized timeline. On March 1, the UberEats app launched in Los Angeles. Fifteen days later, it launched in three other cities. In April, Uber launched in Argentina. In May, Uber announced that it would show riders the price before they book a ride in the hopes of gaining more customers. In June, Uber opened up its RUSH API to developers so more businesses could incorporate Uber drivers into their models. In August, Uber announced it would launch a service with self-driving cars. And in November, the company launched a completely redesigned app that allowed riders to split fares, get driver contact info, and see more details about their destination, all in an effort to get people to spend more time on the app.

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In 2016, Uber had several major events. On March 1, the UberEats app launched in Los Angeles. Fifteen days later, it launched in three other cities. In April, Uber launched in Argentina. In May, Uber announced that it would show riders the price before they book a ride in the hopes of gaining more customers. In June, Uber opened up its RUSH API to developers so more businesses could incorporate Uber drivers into their models. In August, Uber announced it would launch a service with self-driving cars. And in November, the company launched a completely redesigned app that allowed riders to split fares.

The timeline played a crucial role in Uber's growth strategy. It helped Uber plot out milestones with important events and dates, and sync team members around an organized timeline. This allowed Uber to quickly grow and expand its services, such as UberEats, in a systematic and efficient manner. The timeline also provided a clear path for Uber's expansion into new cities and the introduction of new features and services.

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So who's better, Uber or Lyft? Overall, drivers on Lyft report higher wages than drivers on Uber. That's because, on average, Uber takes a more significant cut of each ride. Lyft's hourly average is $17.50, whereas Uber's is $15.68. In terms of speed of service, Uber has significantly higher operating earnings than Lyft, and that's due in large part to this pricing strategy. In the US, Uber charges passengers more per mile than Lyft. According to research, Lyft charges 10% less on a per-mile basis. Lyft also has lower minimum fares. But both companies utilize dynamic and surge pricing during high-demand hours, so prices can always swing wildly. Uber does charge surge prices faster than Lyft.

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Uber and Lyft's pricing strategies significantly impact their operating earnings. Uber generally charges passengers more per mile than Lyft, contributing to its higher operating earnings. Lyft, on the other hand, charges about 10% less on a per-mile basis and has lower minimum fares, which is why Lyft drivers report higher wages on average. However, both companies use dynamic and surge pricing during high-demand hours, causing prices to fluctuate significantly. This strategy allows them to maximize earnings during peak times.

The Timeline Template Collection is a unique tool designed to visualize and track business processes. Unlike other business process tracking tools, it provides a visual representation of the project's progress, which can be easily understood by all stakeholders. It helps keep projects on track, provides context, and sets expectations. However, the effectiveness of the Timeline Template Collection compared to other tools may vary depending on the specific needs and requirements of your business.

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Still, if you're looking for the cheapest ride, the best option may be to open both apps and compare prices. To get around this app switching and build loyalty among customers, both companies are highly invested in their subscription services. And the future of both subscription services look different: Uber will focus on consumer delivery services such as UberEats and logistics, while Lyft will focus on its micro-mobility business, including its popular bike-share. To achieve these missions, both companies will need to utilize timelines to organize around common goals.

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Timeline templates can be crucial in aligning with the digital transformation initiatives of companies like Uber and Lyft. These companies are constantly evolving and innovating, and timelines provide a structured way to plan, track, and communicate these changes. For instance, Uber's focus on consumer delivery services and Lyft's focus on micro-mobility business would require detailed timelines to ensure all tasks are completed in a timely manner and goals are met. Timelines can help in visualizing the process, setting expectations for stakeholders, and keeping the projects on track.

Uber and Lyft are two companies that could greatly benefit from using timeline templates. These companies could use timelines to organize and track their various business processes and goals. For instance, Uber could use a timeline to track the progress of its consumer delivery services such as UberEats, while Lyft could use it to monitor the development of its micro-mobility business, including its popular bike-share. Timelines would provide these companies with a visual representation of their projects, helping them stay on track and set clear expectations for stakeholders.

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To learn more about Uber's growth strategies, go check out our summary of Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber. The slides we used to showcase Uber's growth are part of our Timeline Template Collection, which has dozens of visualizations that you can use for any business need. Let's review some of the top timeline tools from this presentation:

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The specific timeline tools used in Uber's growth presentation are not mentioned in the content provided. However, considering the context, it's likely that the presentation utilized various timeline templates from the Timeline Template Collection. These templates are designed to visualize and track business processes, providing context and setting expectations for stakeholders. They show the current status of a project, what's been accomplished to date, and what's planned for the future.

The Timeline Template Collection can be used to track business processes by visualizing the progression of tasks, projects, or events. It provides a clear picture of what has been accomplished to date and what is currently happening. This helps in setting expectations for stakeholders and keeping projects on track. The collection includes various visualizations that can be adapted to any business need, making it a versatile tool for tracking and managing business processes.

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Tool highlights

Traditional horizontal timelines

This is a common left-to-right visualization that tracks events, dates, project stages, and key milestones. It can be used for any time period and edited for quarterly views. The twelve events easily divide this visualization into a 12-month timeline if needed. If using a timeline for your own tracking, include as many details as you want. But for presentations to stakeholders, try to keep it simple and only include the most important information for each project event. (Slide 3)

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A left-to-right visualization in a timeline is significant as it provides a clear and intuitive way to track events, dates, project stages, and key milestones over time. This type of visualization is commonly used because it aligns with the way most people read and process information. It can be used for any time period and can be edited for specific views such as quarterly views. It helps in keeping projects on track, providing context, and setting expectations for stakeholders.

A timeline is a powerful tool in project management. It helps in setting deadlines by providing a visual representation of the project's schedule, allowing everyone involved to see when each task or milestone is due. This aids in planning and allocating resources effectively. It also sets expectations by clearly outlining the project's progression and what needs to be accomplished at each stage. This transparency helps keep everyone on the same page and can prevent misunderstandings or miscommunications. Furthermore, a timeline can provide context, showing how individual tasks fit into the larger project and contributing to a sense of progress and momentum.

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Gantt chart

The Gantt Chart visualization is also grouped by weeks, but can quickly be changed into months. The highlighted week indicates where the project is currently at. The chart is divided by "function" with each department's tasks listed underneath. This visualization is useful to view the time period that tasks require, and the personnel responsible for each. (Slide 22)

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Common challenges in applying the Gantt Chart visualization include complexity in managing large projects, difficulty in updating the chart as project progresses, and lack of flexibility. Overcoming these challenges can be achieved by using project management software that simplifies Gantt Chart creation and updates, breaking down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks, and incorporating flexibility in project planning to accommodate changes.

The main components of a Gantt Chart visualization include the timeline, tasks, and task owners. The timeline can be grouped by weeks or months, indicating the duration of the project. Tasks are listed under each function or department, showing what needs to be accomplished. Task owners or the personnel responsible for each task are also indicated. This visualization helps to view the time period that tasks require and who is responsible for each.

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30-60-90 day plan

The 30-60-90-day plan zooms in on key milestones and identifies the most important deadlines. See what's important across each time period, then provide a detailed description of quarterly accomplishments. Identify the most important aspects of a new project or introduce accomplishments and progress markers to a new role. (Slides 28-30)

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Some common challenges in implementing a 30-60-90-day plan include setting unrealistic goals, lack of clarity in objectives, and insufficient tracking of progress. These can be overcome by setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals, clearly defining objectives and expectations, and regularly monitoring and adjusting the plan based on progress and feedback.

The 30-60-90-day plan is a business planning framework that focuses on setting and achieving key milestones within the first three months. It's particularly useful for new projects or roles, as it allows for detailed descriptions of quarterly accomplishments and progress markers. In comparison, other business planning frameworks may have a broader scope, focusing on long-term goals and strategies. For instance, the SWOT analysis focuses on identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to inform strategic planning. The Balanced Scorecard, on the other hand, provides a more holistic view of the organization's performance by looking at financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth perspectives. Each framework has its own strengths and is best suited to different contexts.

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Multi-stream timeline

The multi-stream timelines show sub-tasks under a single topic or project. Each one has its own workstream. This timeline provides a 6-month view, but it can be updated to 12 months (with increments of two). X's or check marks show which tasks have been completed or not, with space underneath to write notes. (Slide 46)

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In the multi-stream timeline, X's and check marks are used to indicate the status of tasks. Specifically, they show which tasks have been completed and which have not. There is also space underneath for notes to be written.

The 6-month view of the timeline contributes to project planning by providing a clear and concise overview of the project's progress and future tasks. It allows project managers to track the progress of sub-tasks under a single topic or project, each having its own workstream. This helps in identifying which tasks have been completed and which are pending, facilitating better planning and execution. It also provides a platform to write notes, further enhancing the planning process. The 6-month view can be updated to a 12-month view for longer projects.

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Calendar visualization

And last, a calendar view lets you plot tasks by date. Easily adjust the dates to correspond with the current month and year. A legend allows you to color code tasks to decide which stakeholder or department is responsible for what. And if you want more calendar visualizations, check out our Productivity Planner presentation and accompanying video on the top 5 calendar planners with productivity tips from Bezos and Musk. (Slide 32)

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The Timeline Template Collection can be used to determine which stakeholder or department is responsible for what by using the calendar view feature. This feature allows you to plot tasks by date and adjust the dates to correspond with the current month and year. A legend allows you to color code tasks, which can be used to assign tasks to specific stakeholders or departments. This way, it's clear who is responsible for what.

The Timeline Template Collection provides context for stakeholders by visualizing and tracking business processes. It keeps projects on track, sets expectations, and shows the current status of a project and what has been accomplished to date. It also allows tasks to be color-coded to indicate which stakeholder or department is responsible for what, providing clarity and understanding for all involved.

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Conclusion

To create your own clear and concise timelines, you can download the Timeline Collection template for dozens more visualizations to save hours of time and work. For more like this, check out our Ultimate Gantt Chart Spreadsheet and accompanying video for additional tools and insights on how to incorporate Gantt timelines into your workflow.

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Some other resources similar to the Timeline Template Collection that can aid in visualizing and tracking business processes include Gantt Chart Spreadsheets, Project Management Software like Asana or Trello, and other visualization tools like Mind Mapping software. These resources provide different ways to visualize and track progress, tasks, and milestones in a project.

The Timeline Template Collection can assist in tracking the progress of a project by providing a visual representation of the project's timeline. This allows for easy tracking of business processes and keeps projects on track. It provides context and sets expectations for stakeholders by showing where a project is currently at, what has been accomplished to date, and what is yet to be done. Additionally, the collection includes templates for various visualizations, saving hours of time and work.

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