Amazon customers with devices enabled with Alexa+ will soon be able to place UberEats and Grubhub orders conversationally, speaking to the AI-powered voice assistant as if it is a waiter.
Instead of opening up the UberEats or Grubhub app, customers can simply start placing an order with their Amazon device – asking Alexa+ to browse Italian restaurants, modify a meal with extra ketchup or change the order halfway through.
“Imagine ordering delivery the same way you would with a waiter – changing your mind, asking questions, and customizing as you go, all in one continuous conversation,” Amazon said in a press release last week.
“Starting today, that’s exactly how Alexa+ will work with a new way to order food delivery with Grubhub and Uber Eats.”
To start an order, customers can ask Alexa+ to browse certain restaurant options, like Italian or Mexican food. If you have a specific restaurant in mind, you can use Alexa+ to jump directly to the eatery.
A display window will open on the device that will show your order. The order on the screen will update in real-time if you switch your order mid-conversation, modify an item or decide to order two burgers instead of one.
Alexa+ will only jump in if you have a question about the menu or need help placing an order.
Customers can ask for items like “meat lovers’ pizza,” which will prompt Alexa+ to find the closest match on the menu, or say, “Show me desserts” for a look at the dessert menu.
A summary of one’s cart – including item names, quantities, individual prices and total cost – will appear on the screen before the customer confirms the purchase.
Consumers can check on the progress of their food delivery at any time by asking, “Alexa, where’s my food?”
Amazon customers need to link their Uber or Grubhub accounts to their devices through the Alexa app before placing orders. Linking their accounts will also allow them to reorder previous meals.
The new food delivery service has started rolling out across Echo Show 8 and larger devices.
Amazon said the new way of ordering food is just the latest stepping stone in creating a more natural, conversational voice assistant instead of the typical call-and-response model for tasks like grocery shopping and travel planning.
