Certify’s Q1 analysis uncovered that ridesharing services are quickly transforming the market for taxicabs and limousines.

Leading cloud-based travel and expense management software provider Certify announced the results of its latest business spending report, covering the first quarter of 2015.

The report tracks spending across major categories such as food, airlines, lodging and car rentals and highlights top vendors for business travelers using data from millions of business expense receipts processed in Certify.

Certify’s Q1 analysis uncovered that ridesharing services are quickly transforming the market for taxicabs and limousines. In Q1 of 2015, an average 46% of all total paid car rides were through Uber, compared with 15% in Q1 of 2014. Rides with taxicabs (a category which includes limousines and shuttles) dropped to an average 53% of paid car receipts in the first quarter, compared with 85% in Q1 of 2014.

While the shift toward Uber is driven by the preferences of individual business travelers, company accounting departments should also be happy. Certify’s data indicates that using Uber is generally cheaper: the average ride for Q1 was $31.24 on Uber, compared with $35.40 for taxis.

“More companies are choosing Uber for Business every day to offer their employees a safe, affordable and reliable option in over 300 cities globally,” says Max Crowley, manager of Uber for Business. “Across business travel we have seen the strongest growth on uberX, our lowest cost option. Employees recognize the value of riding with Uber and are saving their companies money in the process.”

“The business community is looking for value and convenience, and at the same time this is a group that is interested in innovation,” says Robert Neveu, CEO of Certify. “Ridesharing services are making inroads into corporate budgets because they combine all of those things.”

The Certify report also offers an analysis of Uber’s growing market share in several major U.S. urban markets including New York City, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“The sharing economy is bringing disruption to all of these markets, but it’s fascinating to see how that disruption unfolds from city to city,” says Neveu.

“For example, business people in Dallas and San Francisco are now expensing Uber more often than taxis, while taxis still dominate market share in New York.”

The quarterly Certify SpendSmartTM Report analyzes vendors, expense amounts and satisfaction rating data on corporate expense reports collected directly from end users. Certify SpendSmart reports on millions of receipts and expenses, delivering valuable insights to Certify clients and the business travel and expense industry at large.

Certify has been tracking corporate travel and expense data since 2009 and uniquely offers integrated travel booking, travel and expense management and reimbursement in one system. 

Q1 Highlights:

Most-Expensed Restaurants:

• Starbucks: 5.32% of expenses, averaging $12.22 per receipt
• McDonald’s: 2.56%, averaging $7.91
• Panera Bread: 1.81%, averaging $41.35
• Subway: 1.55%, averaging $18.81
• Dunkin’ Donuts: 1.47%, averaging $12.37

Most Expensed Restaurants by Meal

• Breakfast: Starbucks 13.74%
• Lunch: Subway 3.12%
• Dinner: McDonald’s 1.40%

Top Rated Restaurants (On a scale from 1 to 5, as indicated by travelers)

• Chick-Fil-A 4.4
• Chipotle 4.3
• Starbucks 4.2
• Panera Bread 4.2
• Dunkin’ Donuts 4.1

Most Expensed Airlines

• Delta: 20.67%, averaging $399.64
• Southwest: 13.42%, averaging $289.13
• United: 13.32%, averaging $412.50
• American: 11.32%, averaging $361.34
• US Airways: 08.79%, averaging $300.59

Top Rated Airlines

• JetBlue 4.5
• Alaska Airlines 4.4
• Southwest 4.4
• Delta 4.0
• United 3.8

Most-Expensed Hotels

• Marriott: 9.4% of expenses, averaging $239.02
• Hampton Inn: 7.97%, averaging $211.98
• Courtyard by Marriott: 6.59%, averaging $170.74
• Hilton Garden Inn: 4.27%, averaging $184.98
• Holiday Inn Express: 4.14%, averaging $222.86

Top Rated Hotels

• Westin Hotels 4.5
• Homewood Suites 4.3
• Hilton 4.2
• Hyatt 4.2
• Courtyard by Marriott 4.1

Most Expensed Car-Rental Services

• National: 22.7%, averaging $186.29
• Enterprise: 20.46%, averaging $131.46
• Hertz: 13.8%, averaging $223.01
• Avis: 13.09%, averaging $189.80
• Budget: 03.28%, averaging $195.59

Top Rated Car-Rental Services

• Enterprise: 4.3
• National: 4.1
• Hertz: 4.0
• Avis: 3.8
• Budget: 3.6

To see the data live online go here: www.certify.com/CertifySpendSmartReport.aspx.