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Lyft Rewards Caffeine Addicts With New Starbucks Partnership

Lyft and Starbucks are collaborating on a new initiative that will reward loyal drivers and riders. Even better: the new partnership will provide efficient transportation options to employees in select areas. 

Lyft drivers now have the opportunity to become My Starbucks Rewards loyalty program gold status members, and both drivers and riders can earn Starbucks loyalty stars, which are redeemable for food and beverages. Additionally, Lyft drivers can receive Starbucks eGifts from customers using the Lyft app. This gives users an opportunity to thank their Lyft drivers in a different, more personal way.

Later this year, Lyft and Starbucks plan to further expand their partnership by providing convenient and cost-effective transportation to Starbucks employees. The program initially will be tested in one market so the companies can gauge employee interest and adoption.

So how will this expanded partnership impact both companies? The RTP team shares their thoughts and perspectives below: 

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Debbie Hauss, Editor-in-Chief: This partnership has a lot of potential. It’s a good mix of services and will help Lyft get more attention in the competition with Uber. Having Starbucks’ Schultz support Lyft so publicly will go a long way to improving the brand’s overall perception. Incorporating the Starbucks loyalty program into the agreement is great, but I am not convinced drivers want to receive their tips in Stabucks points. Helping Starbucks employees get to work is a cool addition to the program but is more of an internal motivator than a brand booster.

Alicia Fiorletta, Senior Editor: I think this is a great way for Starbucks to forge relationships with companies that align with their brand values and overall image. For example, Starbucks has always tried to reaffirm that caring for employees is a top priority, and testing a program where Lyft drivers provide safe transportation delivers on that. I also like the idea of having loyalty program partners. In a way, Starbucks is creating its own affiliate network, so there’s no need to join a coalition loyalty program. It will be interesting to see how both projects perform in the long term.

Rob Fee, Managing Editor: This seems like a positive move from both companies, and it plays in well with the loyalty collaboration trend that has been gaining momentum lately. However, I’m not too sure that many Lyft drivers will appreciate receiving their tips in the form of Starbucks stars, and I see a lot of confusion for riders trying to decide how many stars is an appropriate tip. That aspect of the partnership might be more trouble than it is worth. I’m also intrigued by the employee ride to work trial set to begin later this year. Though the details are short, I see a lot of benefits in ensuring that employees arrive safely and on time for their shifts. I expect that this program will be popular with store managers and employees looking to save on commuting costs.

Glenn Taylor, Associate Editor: Urban professionals, transportation and coffee create a very logical combination so I expect this service to do well. Lyft will definitely get the bigger boost here if this partnership is carried out effectively. While I’ve always been familiar with Lyft, it’s never the first company that comes to my mind when discussing transportation options. Given this opportunity, Lyft will surely benefit from the horde of Starbucks fans that are looking for more incentives to do business there. From this point forward, it will be very interesting to see what kind of partnerships Lyft and Uber have in store as they try to boost their consumer bases and foster loyalty.

Brian Anderson, Associate Editor: I definitely believe it’ll have a positive impact on both businesses. For Lyft especially, it’ll impact both the passengers AND the drivers since both sides will be earning rewards. Much like how Starbucks plans to collaborate with Lyft on helping employees find rides to work, any employee incentive that is beneficial and boosts morale will have a major impact on employee motivation and productivity. All-in-all, I’m excited to see how successful the partnership will be.


What are your thoughts on the partnership between Starbucks and Lyft? How do you believe it will impact overall customer loyalty? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! 

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