Uber is testing prepaid-item pickup from local stores in India

Uber has quietly started testing a feature that lets gig workers pick up prepaid items from local stores and deliver them to customers in India.

This feature is called “Store Pickup” started in select US cities in December and has now been expanded to Delhi-NCR, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. Customers can order pickups and deliveries through the Uber app and track them live – just like they track rides.

Uber’s store pickup may face competition from Indian platforms including Dunzo, Rapido and Swiggy, which offer similar services to allow customers to pick up their packages from local stores. However, the latest rollout brings another option. This shows that Uber sees a business opportunity in delivering goods from local stores in India, just like in the US. The feature also helps Uber integrate the app into customers’ everyday lives.

That said, the store pickup feature comes with some limitations. For example, an item scheduled for pickup at a local store must be five kilograms (11 pounds) or less. It should also be worth up to 5,000 Indian rupees ($60) and can be collected without the need for proof of identity or the credit/debit card used for the purchase. Users may not distribute alcohol, medication, drugs, firearms or “dangerous or illegal items”.

Uber declined to comment.

Uber requires customers to enter pickup details before starting their delivery, including the name and address of a local store and pickup instructions for the driver, including where they should pick up the item from a customer service area. Is it required or not? Customers can also upload proof of purchase and add an order confirmation number to help drivers complete the pickup successfully.

In addition to store pickup, Uber also offers its regular Connect feature to let customers get packages delivered through its app. However, the Store Pickup feature is specifically for arranging delivery from local stores.

Last year, Uber introduced store pickup in 1,700 US cities and towns, including Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco and Tampa Bay. did. , The company also had a similar same-day local delivery feature called UberRUSH available in some markets, which was Discontinued in 2018,