Breathometer is a connected device that calculates blood alcohol content from a small round whistle-like tool. Simply blow into the breathometer and the app shares BAC and pinpoints a time in which this amount should drop down to zero.
The app exists to prevent drunk driving, and the founders have announced a few ways that the travel industry can benefit in this prevention.
Breathometer now integrates with Uber, offering a direct one-button click means of calling an Uber driver. If a user blows into either the connected or wireless breathometer and finds a too-high-BAC, the app prompts the user to select a transportation option rather than drive home drunk.
The app also allows users to call a cab or a friend for a pick-up. The app uses a direct connect to the Uber API for the real-time pickups, and is promoting the new integration with complimentary $20 rides for the first users who hail Uber through the app.
Two other travel sectors gaining a boost from sobering drunks: hotels and restaurants. Beyond connecting inebriated users to transportation, the app also suggests nearby hotels to be booked for last minute stays.
The "stay nearby" function is particularly useful for hotels looking to fill that last minute inventory, and could also be the target of a savvy "get sober" promotion by a marketing-forward hotel. Why not combine a hotel stay with room service to appeal to the user? After all, this person has already spent around $100 on a breathometer so a) they are clearly concerned about safety, and b) they're willing to spend for it.
Restaurants are also in on the game, with a geo-located listing of nearby restaurants populated within the app to give users time to sit down, eat, and sober up over time.
Even with the integrated hotels and restaurants, the "Get Home Safe" screen is by far the most popular, seeing 4x more usage than the "Stay Nearby" screen. This data comes from an in-depth 9-week case study that Uber shares here. Of those users clicking through to Get Home Safe, 54% ended up calling an Uber.
Overall, the integration worked well for Breathometer in its specific use case, demonstrating how the right integration can deliver dividends when it fits with the user base. There was actually a drastic increase in the number of digital measurements once an easy and quick solution was provided. Without that solution, the information is far less actionable and, therefore, the app's overall utility was diminished.
This integration is another reminder that travel is a broadly-defined category; those who work to fuse unique partnerships can see success with that satisfying three-sided win.