Uber is preparing to launch a new delivery service and is currently in talks with merchants that are potential partners in the program. The company said that its Uber Merchant Program could partner with as many as 400 stores, including Hugo Boss, Cohen's Fashion Optical, Tiffany's, Louis Vuitton and Neiman Marcus.
It looks like Uber is taking its product delivery ambitions into the next level as it attempts to evolve from product deliveries through its UberRush bike couriers that the company launched a year ago. Once the program fully launches, it will definitely make Uber a bigger player in the delivery market.
The new program would also require participating drivers to carry two official Uber phones, one of which would be used for passengers and the other for customers expecting packages. Eventually, drivers would be able to access both services in a single app once the program is ready for primetime delivery.
"Experimenting and finding new, creative ways for the Uber app to provide even greater value to our riders and driver partners is a way of life at Uber," said a spokesperson for Uber. "We have been piloting UberRUSH with multiple retailers for the last year."
Since it will be a merchant delivery pilot program, Uber has provided its participating drivers and couriers with training documents, the contents of which had been shared online by TechCrunch.
According to the document, the new app will give more information such as details on the dropoff location that includes the contact's info, basic package description and ability to gather info on current job in progress. All of this information will be accessible in a more convenient format.
"For now, we have two dispatch systems in place, so to test the new app you'll need to use 2 Uber phones at once," said Uber in the document. "If you accept a job on either phone, go offline with the other phone until that trip is completed (the prices will be same for both)."
The new program, judging by the contents of the manual, would allow drivers to multitask by hauling packages and carrying passengers at the same time. In other words, the driver could have Johnny's pizza in the front seat, a pair of Hugo Boss sporty sneakers in the car trunk and a passenger in the back seat.
Uber seemed to show a deep interest in becoming a strong key player in the delivery industry by making its drivers also available in delivering curated meals for lunch and dinner and even household goods. These include programs that are aptly named UberFresh, UberEats and UberEssentials.
With Uber's new merchant-delivery service, it's possible to assume that the company could actually dominate the thriving delivery market. The possibility of launching future programs to further strengthen its position is quite endless. Some of these possibilities could include launching an UberTech (for tech geek customers), UberPet (for animal lovers), UberDocs (for important documents that shouldn't be delayed), etc.
