Delivery platforms are ready to introduce a new function intended to make customers’ lives even easier.
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In a bid to expand their services and provide additional income opportunities, leading delivery platform Uber is set to launch a new feature that allows delivery drivers to also act as personal shoppers. The announcement comes amid a wave of celebrity endorsements for the platform, which promises accessibility to a wide range of goods.
The new feature, as revealed by platform executives, will utilize machine learning models to identify customers' fresh grocery needs. Delivery drivers will be able to communicate directly with customers via the mobile app to address any out-of-stock items.
Before completing orders, customers will have the flexibility to add or remove items from their shopping carts. The driver's app will display aisle and shelf locations, allowing for efficient selection, as well as barcode scanning to identify products. In the event of stock shortages, AI will suggest alternative items.
The new feature will be rolled out in New Zealand and Australia, followed by Japan in July. Its potential introduction in Taiwan is being evaluated.
Frontline delivery drivers are happy to have the chance to earn extra income, but some concerns remain about how practical it will be and what benefits they will receive. Chairman of the National Delivery Industry Union Arery Chen (陳昱安) has pointed out some challenges. For example, given the large number of major supermarkets in Taiwan, it's not clear how drivers will be fairly compensated for the time needed to travel and fulfill orders.
With only 14 percent of purchases on the platform accounting for fresh groceries, the introduction of this new feature aims not only to enhance the shopping experience but also to alleviate labor shortages within the retail industry, as per Uber’s latest quarterly data.