The Coronavirus has disrupted everyday life and common routines, even a simple trip to the grocery store or going out to get a bite to eat. With most restaurants having closed off their traditional dining room areas to the public and switching to a ‘to-go’ option or drive-through open only, it is no surprise that there has been a surge in downloads of food-delivery applications and same-day store pickups in the past couple of weeks.

According to the CDC, the best way to prevent falling ill is to avoid being exposed to the virus. And the best way to prevent exposure is through social distancing of 6 feet or more as well as not gathering in groups of over 10 people at once. While some choose to shelter in place, self-quarantine or social distance as best they can, the need for food delivery and same-day pickup has become essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In order to capitalize on the surge of time spent online and to maximize traffic conversion, it is critical for brands to improve their online shopping experience” (Zhao).

Thanks to many recent technological advancements and developments, there are many stores that offer curbside pickup of pre-ordered groceries, take-out food from your favorite local restaurant or even the simplicity of having the essentials delivered straight to your front door. These services and apps offered can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and help to further protect those at risk who may be immunocompromised due to various health conditions and chronic illnesses.

Why is this essential?

During a time period in history packed with so much uncertainty, these services and apps can help individuals regain peace of mind when it comes to the most basic forms of human needs. With many people self-quarantining and social distancing to flatten the curve, essentials such as paper goods, cleaning supplies, groceries or meals can be ordered and delivered with a few taps on your smartphone or laptop.

These options allow for the public to practice social distancing or self quarantining to slow down the spread of COVID-19 while protecting their loved ones and themselves.

The Apps

UberEats: A lot of us trust Uber to get us from point A to point B on various occasions, so why not trust their food delivery service in a time of need? The UberEats app is currently available in many major cities and its own standalone delivery app is available for both iOS and Android. While offering the option of contact-less deliveries, UberEats is providing its delivery personnel with sanitization options and materials to ensure safety.

Uber has even stated that on their website that “if you prefer, you can leave a note in the UberEats app to ask your delivery person to leave your food at the door”(Uber). This app is free and is waiving most delivery fees to help support local restaurants amid COVID-19.

Postmates: On this app, you can receive a lot more than just-food. Postmates is a delivery service that allows you to get just about anything delivered right to your doorstep. This helps when it comes to the essentials you may need at home, such as paper goods or extra cleaning supplies, or even a few meals to feed your family. The app is available for both iOS and Android and is offering contactless delivery options for its consumers.

DoorDash: This food delivery application is available for both iOS and Android and has been labeled as ‘unique’ for its “DoorDash Delight” scoring system, which uses factors such as restaurant popularity, food quality, customer satisfaction and delivery time to give you the best recommendations for restaurants in your area.

The app itself is free and is offering a range of contact-free delivery options to its customers to limit contact during the delivery of food during this pandemic.

Grubhub: The Grubhub app is available for both iOS and Android, making it accessible and arguably user friendly. To use, you simply download the application onto your device, enter your current location or address and Grubhub will show you the restaurants in your area that are available for delivery. The app itself is free and is now offering contact-free delivery amid COVID-19, an option that can be selected at checkout.

Order ahead & pickup services

Big name grocers such as Walmart, Albertsons, Stop & Shop, Meijer, Hy-Vee, Safeway and Target have begun rolling out more intense same-day services like Drive Up or Order Pickup with the consumers safety in mind. Majority of these stores have been developing or working with these programs for a while now but due to the severity of COVID-19, their order ahead and pickup services will change the grocery industry forever.

In a recent press release, Walmart mentioned that “this could be a good time to try online delivery or store pickup options or to use the Walmart Pay feature of our app when paying at the register”(Walmart). Other stores are following similar strategies, encouraging their consumers to order ahead online or through their store’s individual apps to encourage social distancing and aid those who are in need of this extra service.

Conclusion

Delivery services app like Grubhub, Postmates, UberEats are responding quickly to new realities due to pandemic and resorting to online channels and providing contact-free delivery options to their customers to limit contact during the delivery of food.

Most of the apps such as Doordash and UberEats are currently waving delivery fees to help those in need who cannot leave their house during this time while Postmates is offering a variety of deals and discounts to normal fees to help during this uncertain time.

If you offer on-demand services to your clients – current situation demands stepping up your effort to meet the needs of your clients and keep your business operational. Team TechAhead is available, is operational 24*7, and 200% committed to the success of our clients and their business continuity.

Source: techaheadcorp