The first is an allergy alert, which will inform Eaters up-front of any possible allergy-prone ingredient their orders may contain, helping to reduce the potential risk of accidental consumption and also offering piece-of-mind.
The second update will build on creating a more sustainably-conscious service by offering customers a utensil opt-in option, allowing them to advise whether or not they require cutlery with their order, thereby reducing the plastic wastage.
According to Uber Eats, the decision to launch in South Africa in 2016, provided the platform with an opportunity to localise food delivery to the climate of South Africa.
“When we launched in South Africa, we knew from the get-go, that the app needed to celebrate diversity and promote inclusivity when it comes to foods and flavours. The country is rich with various unique cuisines that you aren’t able to find anywhere else, and providing local restaurants with a platform to grow this was imperative,” says Ailyssa Pretorius, general manager at Uber Eats South Africa.
Based on the recent Uber Eats Local Cravings Report, it was identified that South Africans love supporting locals and home-known flavours. Some of the largest international food chains had to adapt menu items to cater to the Eater, with as many as 1,000 order requests asking for traditional starch to be swapped out for local pap. SA favourite Chicken Licken was also added to the app after many requests.
The inclination towards supporting locals and home-known flavours, has seen some of the biggest food chains internationally change menu options to better suit the audience. KFC introduced the starch-swap option of mash & gravy for pap, while the app provided a platform for easy access to local favourites like kotas and vetkoek.
The app entered four new cities/towns this year alone (Bloemfontein, Paarl, Kloof, Soweto) bringing the total tally to nine cities countrywide.
The platform's rapid expansion has provided opportunities for multiple locals to earn a living by joining as a courier. The app has also created new low-barrier entry methods for couriers to join the app, by introducing delivery through non-motorised vehicles such as bicycles.
Uber Eats currently has more than 3,000 active restaurants, over 480,000 menu options and a total of 80 unique cuisines. The app has provided a channel that extends business offerings, increasing visibility and accessibility of these restaurants.
Greig Walker from CNR Café, who joined the app from its launch says, “Joining Uber Eats at first was a bit of a risky move, because it was fairly new and still building a resonance locally. However, three years later, it was a great business decision, and the support and research analytics that I receive from the app has allowed us to grow in the most unconventional ways. I’m excited for what’s to come and the new opportunities it brings.”
