DoorDash has announced it made big updates to its app as part of its inaugural Dash Forward 2023 product showcase.
“Customer feedback has been central to how we approach innovation since our founding 10 years ago, and we continue to embrace that commitment as we build products and services that meet the real-time needs of all the audiences we serve,” said Rajat Shroff, head of product and design at DoorDash. “By helping merchants digitize every part of their business to drive incremental sales, by making every store in the neighborhood more accessible to consumers and by pioneering the future of work with new and flexible ways to earn, DoorDash is building the future of local commerce on a global scale.”
According to DoorDash, its customers say convenience and getting time back are the advantages they value most, so DoorDash redesigned its consumer app experience to make shopping and discovering new options on DoorDash more convenient, reliable and personalized.
Changes in the app include adding universal search and a browse, grocery and retail tab and multiple carts. DoorDash is also introducing online SNAP/EBT payments for grocery delivery with retail partners, including ALDI, Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer and participating 7-Eleven stores. The app updates will gradually roll out to consumers over the next few months across the United States, Canada and Australia.
For DoorDash merchants, the company is also making updates, including:
Personalized growth recommendations: Restaurants are now able to access bespoke recommendations within their Merchant Portal to encourage growth through improving order accuracy, optimizing menus with photos or adopting new products like Sponsored Listings or DashPass.
New ways to reward customers: DoorDash is launching a new customer rewards feature that allows restaurateurs to reward customers for their repeat patronage on DoorDash. Operators can create this reward within the Solutions Center in the Merchant Portal, and there are no additional marketing fees or commissions, except for the cost of the reward itself.
Driving conversion through storefront enhancements: Storefront, DoorDash’s commission-free online ordering software, was developed to help restaurants operate and grow their first-party online ordering channel. To continue fueling their growth and encourage customer conversion, DoorDash is debuting enhanced customization options which enable operators to extend their branding online with such features like personalized fonts and colors.
Additionally, DoorDash gig workers, or Dashers, will now have the ability to choose between two ways to earn their money: earn by time and earn per offer.
Earn by Time is a whole new way for Dashers to earn. From the moment they accept an offer until it’s completed, Dashers will earn a guaranteed hourly minimum rate plus 100% of tips on top. Earn Per Offer is for Dashers who prefer the existing earnings mode, but now with more variety in the types of tasks they can complete on the platform. When a Dasher earns per offer, they’ll be shown upfront the guaranteed minimum amount they can expect to make on that offer. Dashers can choose which earning mode they want to use and at any time, and they can end their dash and start a new one in a different mode when available.
DoorDash is also allowing for post-checkout tipping, as well as introducing Dash Along the Way, which allows Dashers to automatically receive offers that take them directly to the zone they’ve selected as their dash’s starting point. DoorDash is also launching location sharing, which allows Dashers to share their location with up to five trusted contacts. The contacts will see if they’re on a dash, if the dash has ended, or if 911 help has been requested.
According to the NACS Last Mile Fulfillment in Convenience Retail report, 61% of retailers are satisfied with their third-party delivery partners. There are still concerns over high fees, little access to consumer data, difficulties delivering age-restricted products and service and operational issues.