Peer-to-peer in the Workplace

Ahmed, Syed Ishtiaque; Bidwell, Nicola J.; Zade, Himanshu; Muralidhar, Srihari H.; Dhareshwar, Anupama; Karachiwala, Baneen; Tandong, Cedrick N.; O'Neill, Jacki · 2016 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1145/2858036.2858393

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Summary

This paper investigates the impact of peer-to-peer (P2P) transportation applications on the work practices of auto-rickshaw drivers in Bengaluru, India. Specifically, it examines the adoption of Ola Auto, a platform connecting passengers with drivers, within a population of financially vulnerable workers in the informal sector who had previously limited exposure to smartphones or the internet. The study is motivated by concerns that while P2P technologies promise improved livelihoods, they may instead introduce new forms of exploitation or fail to address the inherent uncertainties of informal labor. The authors aim to understand how these drivers integrate the technology into their existing workflows to inform the design of more equitable and inclusive workplace systems. The researchers conducted an ethnographic study between April and July 2015, employing observation and semi-structured interviews with 66 auto-rickshaw drivers. Of these, 23 were observed and 48 were interviewed, with a subset actively using Ola. The study utilized an ethnomethodological perspective to analyze drivers’ interactions with the technology and their peers. Data collection involved following drivers in a second vehicle to observe natural work practices, including passenger acquisition and navigation, while conducting in-situ interviews during breaks. The participants were predominantly male, with an average age of 39 and varying levels of education, many of whom relied on auto-driving as their sole source of income. The findings reveal that Ola does not replace traditional methods of finding passengers but is interwoven with them. Drivers continue to rely on local knowledge and physical cruising ("rounding") to secure rides, as Ola requests are unpredictable and often insufficient to sustain a full day’s income. Although Ola provides a locked smartphone and training, drivers face barriers related to digital literacy and device maintenance. Crucially, the app introduces new uncertainties: drivers must navigate imprecise pickup locations, often requiring multiple phone calls to locate passengers, and must manage the risk of cancellations affecting their ratings. Drivers strategically accept rides based on distance and traffic conditions, frequently prioritizing traditional passengers who offer immediate certainty over Ola requests that may involve longer wait times or travel distances. Despite financial incentives, drivers do not prioritize Ola over traditional methods because the app fails to reduce the fundamental unpredictability of their work. The significance of this study lies in its challenge to the assumption that P2P technologies automatically improve livelihoods for informal workers. The authors conclude that Ola introduces new elements of competition and evaluation without alleviating the uncertainty characterizing auto-driving. The research highlights the need for workplace technologies to account for workers’ existing skills, literacies, and local knowledge rather than imposing rigid algorithmic controls. The findings suggest that for P2P systems to be truly inclusive and equitable, they must be redesigned to better support drivers’ expertise and provide fairer distribution of resources, acknowledging the complex realities of informal labor in developing regions.

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• passenger effects