Uber’s Annual Lost and Found Index gives a peek into items forgotten by riders last year

Uber, the country’s most loved ride hailing app, today released the 2024 edition of its highly anticipated Lost and Found Index, shedding light on the most commonly forgotten items in Ubers across the island nation.

From perfumes to a sarong, Medicine to Soap, to Baby Shoes & Jordans, Sri Lankans really outdid themselves this year at leaving behind their personal belongings. Backed by data trends, Uber’s Lost and Found Index aims to educate riders in a fun yet informative manner about in-app options available to them at the tap of a button, in case they forget something at the back of their Uber.

Over the last year, wallets, mobile phones, backpacks, documents, keys, jewelry, and electronic items, topped the list of items left in Ubers across Sri Lanka most frequently. Interestingly, there were more than triple the number of iphones left behind compared to android phones.

Reflecting on the latest findings, Kaushalya Gunaratne, Country Manager - Uber Mobility - Sri Lanka, said, "At Uber, we understand the anxiety of realizing you've left something behind in your Uber ride. With us, riders always have the option to get in touch and try retrieving their belongings. The survey makes riders laugh on relatable and honest trends on leaving behind everything from backpacks to water bottles and umbrellas, and reminds them on easy steps to raise a retrieval request for a lost item. With a busy travel season ahead of us, we thought it was a good time for a quick refresher.”

Key Insights from Uber's Lost and Found Index Sri Lanka 2024:

Top 10 most ‘unique’ lost items

• Baby Shoes
• Jordans
• Medicine
• Gold Chain
• Perfumes
• Sarong
• Soap
• Gym weights
• Wedding ring
• Flour and local food

Top 5 Most Commonly Forgotten Items:

1. Wallet
2. Mobile phones
3. Handbags
4. Electronic items
5. Keys

Most Forgetful Cities:

1. Colombo
2. Kandy
3. Galle
4. Kurunegala

Other Highlights:

• Most Forgetful Time: Evenings, with 6 pm being the peak forgetfulness hour.
• Most Forgetful Days: Saturdays, Fridays, and Sundays witness the highest number of forgotten items.
• Top 3 Days for Lost Item Claims: December 15, 2023; December 22, 2023; October 29, 2023

Riders looking to retrieve their lost items can easily do so via the Uber app by following these simple steps:

1. Tap on the "Menu" icon.
2. Select "Your Trips" and choose the trip where you left something.
3. Report an issue with the trip and select "I lost an item."
4. Contact your driver about the lost item by providing your phone number.
5. Coordinate with your driver for the return of your item or seek assistance from Uber Support if needed.

In addition to the updated Lost and Found Index, Uber continues to prioritize the safety and convenience of its riders by offering services like Uber Connect for same-day item retrieval.

With these insights, Uber remains committed to enhancing the rider experience and ensuring a seamless journey for all its users across Sri Lanka.