News

OpenTable adds delivery for Apple app users

July 24, 2019

Restaurant reservation platform, OpenTable, is partnering with three third-party delivery providers to extend delivery and pickup options to thousands of restaurants on the iOS app for Apple device users. The companies said that the delivery integration is being added to give brands more flexibility to attract and serve diners through the iOS app's integration with Caviar, Grubhub and Uber Eats, a news release said.   

Diners with Apple devices that use the reservation app can now select from delivery providers to order meals to come to them or for them to retrieve in-restaurant a meal in a few simple taps. By adding delivery and pick-up as an option through its iOS app, OpenTable provides a more dining choices in one place for its Apple users. The option is seen as an extension and alternative to a reservation that's been made through OpenTable.  

"Sometimes plans change or the weather doesn't cooperate. Instead of canceling their reservation, diners can now enjoy the meal they had planned from home," OpenTable CTO Joseph Essas, said in the release. "Our goal is to make OpenTable the go-to app for all dining occasions. Adding delivery is an important next step." 

Now, when diners use OpenTable's iOS app, they will see a "Get it delivered" button or carousel. Diners who choose delivery are then directed to the restaurant's preferred delivery partner or partners from the three third-party providers to complete the transaction. 

At launch, Caviar, Grubhub and Uber Eats will power delivery for over 8,000 restaurants across 90 metros in the U.S. on its app. Future features will include estimated delivery time and cost. When asked when the companies might extend delivery to Android users through that version of the OpenTable app, a company spokeswoman said, "Right now, we’re focused on refining our tech, expansion with the current partners and seeing how this performs. From there, we'll determine timing for expansion beyond the (iOS) app."

At Grubhub, Senior Director of Business Development Good Seif said the company sees the new feature on OpenTable's iOS app as another way to meet hungry users' needs.

 "By partnering with OpenTable, we're also helping our restaurant partners reach more diners with delivery when a visit to the restaurant or a reservation isn't available," he said in the release.

OpenTable did say that it has also redesigned both its iOS and Android apps in ways which the company said provide more "relevant, personalized options" to help users make buying decisions, including a new home screen with dynamic, data-backed recommendations which it said are matched to diners based on past bookings, favorites, and other insights. Diners can also vote a restaurant up or down to improve recommendations and make the app "smarter" over time.