- Uber Eats seeks to solve the problems of last-minute Christmas shopping
- New ordering tools allow you to edit orders, replacement preferences, and even purchase actual gifts.
- Britons apparently order huge quantities of Christmas food at the last hour
Uber Eats hopes to take the stress out of last-minute grocery orders or panic-buying gifts this Christmas.
The delivery app has revealed a number of useful new features, including the ability to add items or edit quantities at any time before a delivery arrives, along with a feature that allows users to specify exactly what type of item replacements they will allow.
But that’s not all: Uber Eats is also looking to position itself as a shopping destination, with a new Gifting Hub that offers users a variety of last-minute gift options.
Uber Eats saves Christmas
Uber Eats says the new features were influenced by the huge spikes it saw in last-minute orders last Christmas, as desperate hosts or party guests searched for vital items or gift ideas.
The company hopes its new on-demand gift centre, which features partners such as Boots and John Lewis, will be a one-stop shop for last-minute gifts ranging from cards and candles to perfume, prosecco and even AirPods, delivered straight to your door.
The company says shoppers ordered a bottle of Baileys to their doorstep every 20 seconds last Christmas Eve and, surprisingly, users even searched for more than three tonnes of turkey on Christmas Day itself.
The new live order editing feature will allow users to change items or quantities up until the time the buyer adds them to the cart, meaning there is no need to cancel or start a new order.
Store staff can now also pick items from multiple orders at once using a new batch picking tool, meaning they can organize ‘batch picking’ in each section of the store and make the packing process more efficient.
We’ve all dealt with frustratingly bad replacement items in an online store, but the new replacement preferences feature will allow users to decide exactly what kind of alternative they would prefer, with smart suggestions offered based on price and previous orders, and options saved for future orders.
“Christmas is a magical time, but it can also be incredibly hectic,” said Katie Hunter, managing director of grocery and retail at Uber Eats UK.
“Whether you’re cooking for ten people, rushing to a party or shopping for the perfect gifts, Uber Eats is helping customers get what they need, when and where they need it. We’re also committed to helping our retail partners grow during this critical period, with the tools, insights and technology to help them stay competitive and deliver a seamless on-demand experience.”
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