Out te Box

Appy days

The improved Uber Eats app will feature a more efficient inventory management and real-time support to fix any problems.

Uber Eats is to refresh its grocery delivery service with new app features for consumers and retailers.

WHAT’S BROUGHT THIS ABOUT THEN?

Therese Lim, Senior Director of New Verticals and Grocery Product at Uber, explained on a Zoom presentation: “My experience over the past few years has started to make me… ask why it is that, in the past, the paradigms we’re stuck with in terms of being able to for example, shop for groceries, always involve a constraint instead of a possibility.”

COULD SOMEONE TRANSLATE THAT INTO ENGLISH?

We suspect that’s corporate-speak for “the app’s a bit rubbish”.

SO, THEY’VE MADE IT BETTER THEN?

Apparently so. For consumers, the updated app will support ‘closed store shopping’ that enables shoppers to place orders after hours, with delivery in the first available window or scheduled for their convenience. In addition, an ‘item replacement option’ will also be offered, giving shoppers the chance to pick an alternative ‘back-up’ for those items that are low in stock, and not available when the order is fulfilled.

AND WHAT ABOUT RETAILERS?

For grocers, improved capabilities include barcode scanning, more efficient inventory management, a more streamlined route to add item images, and real-time support to fix any issues that come up.

ANYTHING ELSE?

Meanwhile, the US version of the app will also offer consumers live order tracking, so users can follow the shopping experience every step of the way.

LUCKY YANKS. I BET DELIVEROO AREN’T TAKING THIS LYING DOWN.

Certainly not. It is also being reported that the Uber Eats rival is also working on improvements to the usability of its app for groceries on both the consumer and retailer side.

WHAT IS UBER EATS SAYING? WITHOUT THE GOBBLEDEGOOK.

Uber Eats UK Head of Grocery and New Verticals Alex Troughton commented: “The UK has one of the world’s most sophisticated audiences when it comes to grocery delivery.

“We want to continue to invest in our world-class technology to provide them the best delivery service possible from their favourite supermarkets and local grocers.”