Here’s How Uber and Apple Are Shaking Up the Service Industy
Uber and Apple are big names in the tech world, to be sure, but not so much when it comes to other industries: like food service, for example. Both companies have been very busy expanding their horizons lately, and lucky for us, we get to reap all the benefits.
According to the folks over at The Verge, Uber has partnered with a startup called Yext that specializes in location data that would allow businesses to send Ubers for its customers. This means that you’ll soon be able to go to a restaurant’s or (store’s) website and click “call me an Uber” to get you to your dining or shopping destination.
There’s one catch, though: Doing so means that the company can send you “relevant information” if you pull up the Uber app while you’re en route (read: marketing materials and ads). We, for one, think it’s a small price to pay for the convenience.
When you get to the restaurant, you may also soon be greeted by a host sporting an Apple Watch. When you’re seated (and when you order a bottle of wine), every manager or sommelier in the place will get a notification, making sure you, in turn, get grade A service. A lot of restaurants are already using smartphones and tablets to expedite service, but Danny Meyer’s Union Square Cafe will be the first to put the Apple Watch in play. We think it’s a great idea, because real-time notifications mean real-time assistance: No more desperately trying to flag down the waiter because you ran out of wine!
That, dear readers, is priceless.
Are you excited about the partnership between food and tech? Let us know @BritandCo!