Uber Trials Fast Food Delivery Service UberFresh | Hacker News Reader

Uber Trials Fast Food Delivery Service UberFresh

forbes.com

47 pointsmck-16 comments

It's incredible how fast Uber executes: they launched in the same month: 1/moving in Atlanta 2/convenience store in DC 3/lunch in LA 4/ride-sharing in SF

The one thing I am not sure is how they could branch out of pure "people logistics" (and into commerce). When I am hungry, would I open the Uber app, toggle 10 things and see the menu or just open Sprig/Spoonrocket? People always mention Amazon, but Amazon is search driven so I can find anything, that's ok. As for Uber, it's a totally new mental model they have to create. I guess for them, it is about the "Now". That being said, they have millions of users and CC on file, so it would be easy for them to create other apps for these different experiences.

Don't forget they also just launched an API. The goal of that may be that restaurants can put "get this delivered via Uber" buttons in their apps.

That is for sure. But it is also assuming that stores know how to generate demand for their restaurant. The way they have out-executed Postmates is really crazy.

well, for anything delivery within hours from amazon we just need to connect the dots from here:

http://danilnagy.dreamstudionyc.com/index.php?/research/get-...

https://www.uber.com/cities

using $200/hr aircraft

There are enough players in this area: Sprig, Munchery, Grubhub, Seamless, Caviar, etc. etc. What is Uber bringing to the table?

1.) The ability to deliver from any restaurant, not just those participating or offering their own delivery service. 2.) Drivers in a large number of locations, likely closer to the intended restaurant than any "pick it up for you and deliver" service could ever be.

Wait, did I miss the part where they can deliver from "any restaurant"? How would that work? Is that what their goal is?

This is basically Postmates.

I agree, but I guess the argument is they are more efficient because unlike Postmates their drivers can work as both taxis and delivery vehicles so will have less down time.

There is a big difference between - delivering food you have in your trunk in under 10 minutes, and what Postmates or Caviar does. It seems UberFresh is closer to a Sprig/Spoonrocket model than a Postmates model.

As a driver, I'm sure you make more money delivering passengers than burgers. Which would you rather pick: taking a ride across town and making $25, or delivering a $8 sandwich the same distance and making $5, tops?

How useful is this for customers if it's just a small period of time (and likely vendors not to mention limited area)?

I know it's a big jump to add a whole new competency (delivery vs. cabs), but I'm not sure I'd even try it out given other options (DoorDash) exist and don't operate on a trial basis.

I think this jump makes sense and you already have these drivers available it gives them another way to use these people. I don't know of any services like this in my area but Uber doesn't have a huge presence yet either..

I think someone in Uber has some dream of creating a system where drivers are constantly kept busy and completing jobs (small deliveries, driving people, food deliveries) in an efficient, algorithmic flow that keeps downtime at a minimum, while drivers earn money and Uber earns even more money.

Sounds like it'll only ever be a dream. Assuming they can keep sabotaging their way towards market dominance, eventually they'll reach a point where they have to deal with humans directly - and with humans you get problems you can't solve technically.

They will either have to dedicate people to strictly or mostly food delivery, or offer an annoying service where your driver has to make a detour so he or she can pick up a hamburger for someone else.

You call it an annoying service, they call it UberEconomy!

(In all seriousness, I think there could be a market for almost all of their ideas. The problem is the need for seamless integration and management of human assets that have little allegiance, combined with small, test markets, makes it hard to predict what services will take off and what will flounder)

Reply on news.ycombinator.com