- Uber Eats tries to solve last-minute Christmas shopping problems
- New ordering tools let you edit your order, select a replacement, and even purchase actual gifts.
- Brits are apparently ordering huge amounts of Christmas food at the last hour
Uber Eats hopes to relieve customers of the stress of last-minute grocery orders or panic gift shopping this Christmas.
The delivery app showed off a host of useful new features, including the ability to add items or edit quantities at any time before a delivery arrives, as well as a feature that allows users to specify exactly which item substitutions they allow.
But that's not all: Uber Eats is also looking to position itself as a shopping destination, with a new Gift Center offering users plenty of last-minute gift options.
Uber Eats Saves Christmas
Uber Eats says the new features were influenced by a surge in last-minute orders last Christmas, as desperate hosts or party guests searched for vital supplies or gift ideas.
The company hopes its new on-demand gift hub, which includes partners including Boots and John Lewis, will become a one-stop shop for last-minute gifts, from cards and candles to perfume, prosecco and even AirPods, delivered straight to your door.
The company says that last Christmas Eve shoppers ordered a bottle of Baileys to their door every 20 seconds and, amazingly, users even searched for more than three tonnes of turkey on Christmas Day itself.
The new real-time order editing feature will allow users to change items or quantities up until the moment the customer places them in the cart, meaning there is no need to cancel or start a new order.
Store associates can also now pick items for multiple orders at once using a new batch picking tool, meaning they can organize “batch picking” in each department of the store and make the packing process more efficient.
We've all experienced frustratingly bad replacement items in an online store, but the new replacement preferences feature will allow users to decide exactly which alternative they prefer, with smart suggestions offered based on price and past orders, as well as selections saved for future orders.
“Christmas is a magical time, but it can also be incredibly hectic,” said Katie Hunter, general manager of food 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 helps customers get what they need, when and where they need it. We are also committed to helping our retail partners grow during this critical period with tools, insights and technologies that will help them remain competitive and provide a seamless on-demand experience.”
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