I suppose you can picture it this way. Boeing has been the primary passenger plane manufacturer for as long as we can remember. Basically, the market was theirs to lose. Then several years ago Airbus enters the fray and essentially applied a Seattle slap down to the home team. How can such a phenomenon happen. Boeing invented the market, owned the market, and personally guided and formed the airline industry as we know it.
How could Airbus possibly compete and prosper in this David versus Goliath scenario. Well as they fined tuned their game, Boeing suffered many slips, falls and fails. Personally, I think it was the Airbus business model that helped the most. Spreading the manufacturing and assembly across many countries then shipping the finished parts to France for final assembly.
I may have another theory on this juggernaut. It is based on symbolism. I look at Boeing through my rose-colored shades and I see the limousine service from the past. It was a large functioning monopoly like industry. It had members in accord worldwide working with proper principles in a soft lock step manor. Nobody invented it. Nobody financed it. It simply blossomed over the years with all kindly acquiescing towards a common goal.
When I view Airbus and the vastness they created I see the Uber abomination and the atrociousness served on the side. The manor in which they launched the gig economy forever changed the infrastructure of commerce and industry. Is it fair to admonish Airbus for possibly building a better mousetrap? Only if you give similar kudos to Uber.
Lastly, we have Rolls Royce. Rolls Royce is one of the top five commercial airline engine manufacturers in the world although their profile is dipping. They provide engines to both Boeing and Airbus among others. So, in a symbolic way. Rolls Royce is like the off the shelf ground transportation provider. They ran their own industry until the bad guys came around and made them work for them. Think about it. One day you oversee your domain, and a day later Uber becomes your pimp.
Well as Ray Charles can see over the years the industry has been trying to break the chains of oppression and regain independence and control. It appears that the hope has happened. Over the course of time many WhatsApp groups have been forming worldwide. They are utilizing Boeing technology, Airbus ingenuity and exploiting all the holes in the SS Uber specifically the element of greed and control.
The primary local version, which could just as easily be the actual founder of the concept was a well-respected operator, father of three who went by the name Moe Green. Word is he was as fair and square as they come. Supposedly preparing to get a PHD in the future but just maybe, he was enjoying the limousine business too much. Before long, his group in the greater Chicagoland area had a roster which was an eyelash shy of one thousand licensed professional vehicles.
A good friend of mine works off several groups here. He also is very active in the Facebook version which is a huge entity of groups. I asked him his thoughts and what he sees as the differences. He claims Facebook groups have the quality, and WhatsApp group have the quantity. He also tells me a unique process he follows when in doubt. Since members on both platforms can be worldwide one must be careful on who to trust and deal with.
He tells me how sometimes he will pass on orders when skeptical and see if they come out the other end. In essence someone may farmout a farmout based on sudden changes or simply trying to make a buck. In his case if the re-booker has a prior relationship with him, he is guaranteed to be paid upon completion and eliminate all risk. Naturally if that occurs, he knows the original pitcher is legit. The behind the scenes’ juggling act is quite impressive, specifically the speed in which it occurs. All the industry ever needed was a fair platform under their control.
This is big business. Every day another small percentage of a percentage point is being rerouted from Uber to real live operators. Brick and mortar businesses who answer the phone and communicate in real time. Although the system currently bypasses the public, “at least I think so” the future could go either way. It is a known fact that many existing or surviving operators have used Uber to save an order or cover a mistake. The fact that they can be bypassed is another great service these groups provide. Let it be known, I love the peaceful, voluntary redistribution of wealth.
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