Uber Offers Drivers a Chance to Earn Through ‘Shop and Pay’

Uber Eats is giving its delivery drivers a chance to moonlight as personal shoppers.

The ride-hailing/delivery giant has launched “Shop and Pay,” which gives delivery drivers the option to receive assignments to go into retailers – chiefly grocery stores – and shop for orders to be delivered to customers’ doorsteps.

It’s a program that’s happening amid an increased demand among consumers for delivery options when purchasing groceries.

“Today, nearly 200,000 US couriers are regularly doing shopping trips each month, and we’re rolling out a new set of updates based on feedback we’ve heard from people who’ve told us both their biggest challenges and their best opportunities,” Uber said in a news release Friday (March 3).

Among the changes is allowing drivers to pay for items with a digital card on their phones via Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Before now, couriers for Uber Eats had to use a pre-authorized card to pay for orders. However, because it can take time for those cards to arrive by mail, drivers in the program were missing out on a chance to earn, the company said.

The company says it has also updated its system for dealing with out-of-stock items, drivers’ most often-cited complaint.

“Today, when shoppers indicate they can’t find the originally requested item in-store, their app will show them a list of suggested substitutions that are based on similar brands and items so there’s no need for guesswork,” the release said.

The release notes that the program was born out of Uber Eats’ evolution during the pandemic, an event that has also helped drive demand for grocery delivery.

Research from PYMNTS and ACI Worldwide’s study, “Big Retail’s Innovation Mandate: Convenience and Personalization,” found that a little more than three-fourths of grocers believe their customers would be very or extremely likely to switch merchants if they were not able to order products for delivery.

Another PYMNTS study, the July “The ConnectedEconomy™ Monthly Report: The Rise of the Smart Home,” found that 25% of consumers buy groceries online for home delivery every week and 40% do so every month.

Uber, meanwhile, has seen its membership expand as consumers begin to use the platform for more than one service. Last month, the company reported that users of its Uber One program, which combines mobility and delivery services, had nearly doubled to approximately 12 million.

“We are pushing Uber One,” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said during an earnings call, adding that “you’ll see it on our delivery services. You’ll see it on our mobility services. And we are quite actively continuing to innovate in terms of the benefits that we offer … it creates great stickiness and member retention.”