SAN FRANCISCO – DoorDash customers can now order dinner or groceries via text. The company this week announced an update of its Ask DoorDash in-app virtual assistant that works in Apple Messages to permit consumers to enter text commands without accessing the DoorDash app.
The company said it had opened a waitlist for customers to try the service, which matches phone numbers with DoorDash user profiles, allowing it to take into account the texter’s order history and preferences, as well as facilitate checkout with their stored payment method.
DoorDash said customers can ask for a dish, request a local recommendation or text “order my usual.” The agent searches nearby restaurants, scans menus and suggests a cart. It texts photos of the food from the restaurant’s DoorDash store page and can sort mixed dietary needs for a group order. It can also message customers about a usual coffee order before they ask. Customers confirm the order in the thread, and the agent completes checkout.
“Managing tasks like ordering lunch or groceries shouldn't feel like work,” said Andy Fang, co-founder of DoorDash. “We built a personal shopper that helps you discover and compare thousands of items while identifying ways for you to save on DoorDash. We’re excited to see how people let us handle more of their daily needs, like putting your usual protein bowl or morning latte on autopilot. Longer term, we’ll continue to find ways to make DoorDash even more useful before you need to ask.”
DoorDash this week also said it is set to begin tests of its delivery drones in Northern California with restaurants like Chipotle and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. About 80% of its restaurant orders are sufficiently small and light for the aircraft to safely carry, the company said, adding that such factors as weather and flight range will be weighed in determining when drone delivery is a suitable option.
