Image courtesy of Facebook Newsroom
Facebook is reminding us of its dominance in the tech world by announcing its participation in the food delivery space. You already use Facebook to catch up on the latest world news, wish your friends happy birthday, and even sell previously-loved goods, and starting today, you can order food for pick-up and delivery on Facebook via desktop, iOS, and Android apps. Facebook's "Order Food" feature actually has more benefits than its competitors, so we're excited to see how many people will actually use it.
By realizing that users already use Facebook to locate nearby restaurants and read their friends' reviews about these places, Facebook simply capitalized on that revelation by making it easier to try these foods and bringing the restaurant to users. Every restaurant in your area available on DoorDash, ChowNow, EatStreet, Delivery.com, and Olo, plus restaurants such as Panera, Papa John's, Chipotle, and Jack in the Box, are eligible for food delivery service via Facebook. It essentially combines all of your grub apps in one, redefining the convenience and usability of third-party food delivery apps.
Order Food is also a few simple taps away. On a desktop, "Order Food" is under the "Explore" section on the left-hand column of your News Feed. You may have to click "See More..." to find "Order Food." In the Facebook app, click the hamburger icon in the bottom-right section to find "Order Food" under the "Explore" section. Once on the page, users will be able to browse "Restaurants Near You" or add a new location to discover spots in a new city. You can also sort by Cuisine, Delivery or Pickup, Price ($ to $$$$), and restaurants that are currently open. Simply select "Start Your Order" for the restaurant of your choice, and you will be redirected to the third-party delivery service that offers delivery from that restaurant. You will simply sign in with your existing login, and if the restaurant is available via multiple delivery services, you just have to choose which service you'd like to use. Moreover, if you don't have an account with that service, you can easily create a new account without ever leaving Facebook.
In addition to identifying your old favorites, Facebook's Order Food service will also introduce you to new restaurants in your area. Reviews about restaurants from your friends will appear so you can see what your peers have to say before you commit. There is also a section called "Your Restaurants," which includes restaurants that you have checked into on Facebook. They're still testing the feature, so anticipate additional aspects to come soon.
It doesn't take a genius to see that Facebook saw an idea and ran far with it. They were able to consolidate all your delivery resources in one to guarantee every single food option is available at your disposal. We're eager to see how Facebook will enhance this feature, and if any other features are already in the works. Let us know what you think in the comments below!
