The whole point of having an app is to collect data, show ads, and “engage the customer with the brand.” Any additional capabilities beyond that are incidental.

The delivery driver is not the customer, but I wouldn't be surprised if some MBA bonehead thought showing ads to workers was a win. "They have to use the app to schedule and do the work, so it's a captive audience!"

Hell, I got shown an ad after I paid for a ride on Lyft the other day. Even if you’re the customer, you’re still the product. If there’s not already ads in the drivers’ views, I’m shocked it’s taken them this long.

Why do you think only MBAs have the idea to insert ads? It's not exactly specialized thinking. Plenty of startup founders with technical chops decide to insert ads because they desperately need the revenue.

Because "MBA" has become a generic derogatory term for greedy and short termist management, because its easy to blame a group of people than face the fact that the problem is a wider one of incentives and ethics that pervades the whole of western society.

Don't forget bait and switching with updates so you can do all that later, possibly after you sell your quality app to someone else and cash out.

And send push notifications

> The whole point of having an app instead of a website is to have more processing occur locally, right?

One would think this is the case. I agree it should be.

> That’s bizarre.

Unfortunately, it's not. It's normal operation.

Why is it so?

The whole point of app is to gather your info from the phone and to send you tons of notifications.

And don't forget mandatory updates, when you open an app and cannot use it without updating to the latest crappy version.

History has shown over and over again that you cannot trust the client.

No, the whole point of apps is data collection, background tasks (when the device is closed) and push notifications.

Many apps are shortcuts. They live rent free on people's home screens/launchers.

Plenty could exist as a web app.