Uber already allows you to get a quick ride in from one place to another, or even a helicopter ride in some cities. They’ve dipped their toes into package delivery in the past too. Now, Uber wants to deliver your next meal in a pilot program called UberEats. Currently rolling out in 10 US cities, the service will expand upon Uber’s existing lunch delivery service. UberEats will offer food delivery between 10am and 10pm, with Uber drivers able to choose whether or not they want to also be UberEats drivers.
Uber has been testing this service in Toronto for the last month, where the app has been available and customers have been able to choose from over 100 restaurants. The US rollout will hit cities that previously offered Uber’s lunch service, including Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Fransisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C. Uber’s lunch service will be renamed from UberEats to Uber Instant Delivery to differentiate the two services. Where the lunch service promises delivery in 10 minutes, the general meal service will have a slightly larger window. During the test in Toronto, customers could expect to receive their meal in around 30 – 40 minutes.
As for how the system will work:
When a customer places an order, Uber will send it through to the restaurant and estimate how long it will take for the item to be prepared. When Uber predicts the item is ready for pickup, it will locate a driver close to the restaurant and let him decide if he wants to deliver.
If multiple customers in proximity order items from the same restaurant, Uber said, it plans to bunch those orders together and give one driver the opportunity to pick up multiple delivery fees.
Uber plans to charge around $5 per order, though the amount will vary by city. As with Uber’s standard fares and fees, a portion will be given to the driver while Uber keeps a cut for themselves. Uber will also charge restaurants a fee for every order.
Are you in one of the cities where UberEats will be available? Are you looking forward to trying it out for your next meal? Tell us in the comments below, or on any of your favorite social media sites.
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