Hacker News Reader

How exactly does this compare to Caviar? Screenshots show the app used to support delivery, so sounds like they scaled back to pickup only. Why did Square buy them when they could have just added a pickup option to caviar? Was it just to add their merchants to their network?

View on HN

Quick example: Philz uses both Orderahead and Caviar.

If you are going to a Philz store and want to skip the line, use OrderAhead to have the drink waiting at the bar. Particularly helpful during a morning rush.

If you are at home and want a bagel delivered to your door, use Caviar.

I mean I understand that, but am wondering why Square bought them. Is there some sort of sophisticated technology that goes into adding a pickup option when you can already handle pickups by deliverers? No, I'd think it's not a technology acquisition. Are they buying the customer list, as someone asked? Did they just not pay very much?

Caviar actually launched pickup as a service about the same time this acquisition was announced.

The acquisition was two-fold.

Increase merchant count, and integrate pickup into the rev stream. Later down the road I imagine Orderahead's app will be absorbed into Caviar (or vice versa) in some capacity.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com