Uber dramatically expands range of food delivery
Uber Technologies Inc. is taking a national approach to what has traditionally been a local service.
The Uber Eats on-demand delivery subsidiary of Uber is now offering a new nationwide shipping option. With nationwide shipping, consumers across the U.S. can order food items from select retailers in New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles (with more cities to come soon) via the Uber Eats app.
According to Uber, during the past few years, especially during the two years of COVID-19 restrictions which decreased travel, consumers have been asking for the ability to have specialty food items from far-off locations delivered to their home. Retailers have also been requesting the ability to diversify their delivery offerings and reach new consumers.
To place a nationwide shipping order, consumers open the Uber Eats app and click the “Nationwide shipping” tile. Once they have selected the retailer they want to order from, consumers then select the item(s) they would like to purchase and add them to your cart.
Customers can confirm their order by viewing their cart and going to checkout, where they review their order details and place the order. Soon after placing an order, customers will receive an email with tracking information from FedEx, its nationwide delivery carrier partner.
Uber Eats pursues delivery innovation
Nationwide delivery is the latest innovative delivery offering from Uber. The company’s Uber Eats division is also now conducting two separate pilots of two very different autonomous delivery vehicles in the Los Angeles area.
Uber Eats is conducting end-to-end food deliveries for customers in Santa Monica, Calif. using Motional all-electric, self-driving Ioniq 5 “robotaxis.” The Motional Ioniq 5 vehicles used in the service have been adapted to enable autonomous deliveries. Upon arrival at the drop-off location, the customer will receive an alert, securely unlock the vehicle door via the Uber Eats app, and collect their order from the backseat.
Uber is also partnering with autonomous sidewalk delivery company Serve Robotics to pilot an on-demand robotic delivery service in Los Angeles. Uber Eats customers in the Los Angeles area are now able to have orders delivered contact-free by zero-emissions Serve rovers.
Serve began as the robotics division of Postmates, which was acquired by Uber in July 2020 for $2.65 billion, and was spun off as an independent company in February 2021, with Uber as an investor. According to Serve, its self-driving robots have successfully completed tens of thousands of contactless deliveries in major U.S. cities, and it has established several commercial partnerships.
“Ever gotten home from vacation still craving the pizza you tasted that late night in NYC?,” Uber said in a corporate blog post. “We’ve been there. Ever want to surprise a friend with her hometown bagels from across the country? We’re food people at Uber Eats, and we’ve been there too. Whether you want to send dad barbecue for an upcoming Father’s Day gift or want to celebrate date night with your favorite dish from The Big Apple, it’s never been easier for Uber Eats consumers than with nationwide shipping.”