Consumers Can Order Food Without Leaving the Facebook App
In an Oct. 13 statement, Facebook announced its users can order food for pick-up or delivery directly from a restaurant’s Facebook page or from Facebook’s Explore menu. The social media giant said it combines options from a number of food ordering services such as EatStreet, Delivery.com, DoorDash, ChowNow and Olo, as well as restaurants like Jack in the Box, Five Guys, Papa John’s, and Panera, so that users don’t have to search through multiple places to find what they're looking for. Users can even check out what their friends have to say about a restaurant before ordering food.
Facebook users will be able to browse restaurants nearby by visiting the Order Food section in the Explore menu. On this page, they can browse food options and select Start Order when they've found what they're looking for. If the restaurant they want to order from offers takeout or delivery with multiple services, the user can select which service they would like to use. For example, if they have an account with Delivery.com, they can order with their existing login. If they don’t have an account with that service, they can quickly and easily sign up, without leaving the Facebook app.
Facebook said it has been testing this service since last year, and after responding to feedback and adding more partners, it is rolling out everywhere in the United States on iOS, Android and desktop.
People will be able to browse restaurants near them that take orders via Delivery.com, DoorDash, ChowNow, Zuppler, EatStreet, Slice, and Olo, as well as directly from restaurants including Papa John’s, Wingstop, Panera, Jack in the Box, TGI Friday’s, Denny’s, El Pollo Loco, Chipotle, Five Guys and Jimmy John’s
According to TechCrunch.com, this service is not a revenue driver for Facebook. The company confirmed it doesn't charge fees or share in the profits from orders placed through it. Instead, it seems that the company introduced this capbability to keep users inside its app for longer periods of time. TechCruch reports that the company has rolled out several other features with that same goal in recent months such as weather information, instant games, a jobs board, fundraisers, movie listings, booking appointments and getting quotes.