Ola introduces (contactless) food and parcel deliveries

1407 Views 12 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Dan Mation, Apr 9, 2020

Jack Malarkey

Discussion Starter · Mar 27, 2020 (Edited)

Email received from Ola (as a driver) on Friday 27 March 2020 at 6.02 pm:

Introducing no contact deliveries

Hi Jack,

We understand that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the demand for rideshare.

At Ola we are working to secure opportunities to help you to increase your earnings and to support your fellow Australians through these unprecedented times.

From today, we're working with grocers, retailers and restaurants to provide unaccompanied food and parcel delivery to their customers.

What does this mean for you?

You will still be able to complete trips with riders, however increasingly bookings may come from businesses to deliver packages or even packaged hot food to someone who is self-isolating in their home.

Picking up the delivery

When you have arrived at the pickup location, let the customer know you are there. The customer will then let you know if they are riding or need a parcel to be delivered.

Ask the customer for the particular delivery instructions. Be sure to follow social distancing measures when picking up and dropping off packages.

Dropping off the delivery

When you drop off the delivery, be sure to take a photo for your records. Note that some rides may have to deliver at several different locations.

We understand that deliveries are not for everyone. We're working on improving our platform to allow you to choose whether or not to accept deliveries. Until then, we're hoping that you can help our communities and in turn help us increase demand for you, our drivers.

Stay safe,
Team Ola

Jack Malarkey comments:

These delivery arrangements have clearly been introduced in haste and without an adequate platform to support them.

The driver doesn't know whether the ride is a passenger trip or a delivery until after arriving at the customer's request point and contacting the customer.

The driver needs then to obtain delivery instructions and to comply with them. They also need to take a photograph as a record of the delivery.

The driver will have the issues of finding legal and safe parking at both ends of the trip and may have to deliver a parcel far into a block of apartments.

At this stage, there's no option to opt out of deliveries.

And, most importantly, there is no car insurance coverage for deliveries other than with NRMA: see https://uberpeople.net/threads/be-very-careful-about-uber-eats-insurance-coverage.316987/.

From the Bingle website:

Does Bingle cover UberEats drivers? Or other food delivery companies?

Thomas

Unfortunately no, Bingle does not cover UberEats/other food delivery drivers. Bingle's Uber/Rideshare cover is ONLY for rideshare. It does not extend to food, parcel delivery, taxi's, couriers etc.

Reach out to the Insurance Council of Australia to find the cover that's right for you.

(https://help.bingle.com.au/hc/en-us...ats-drivers-Or-other-food-delivery-companies-)

See less See more

Save

1 - 3 of 13 Posts

minty_

· #4 · Apr 2, 2020

When can we expect to receive Ola delivery orders @Jack Malarkey and do you know if/when we can switch between deliveries and rides, like how Uber let us switch between deliveries and rides?

Regards,
Minty.

Save

minty_

· #6 · Apr 2, 2020

Jack Malarkey said:
@Minty, Ola does not yet have the in-app facility to switch between deliveries and rides the way Uber does.

I suspect Ola delivery requests will come through soon now that Ola is actively promoting the service at a time where the demand for deliveries is increasing and the demand for rides is decreasing.

As I have mentioned previously, drivers would need to ensure they have adequate insurance coverage for deliveries.

There is no problem with NRMA policies for deliveries but the position would appear to be problematic with other insurers unless the driver takes out a full commercial insurance policy.

Remember that rideshare and deliveries are NOT legally the same thing and particularly so when it comes to insurance.

True, hopefully we begin to receive delivery requests from Ola in the next few days.

Do you know whether we'll be notified in app, regarding whether the request is delivery or rideshare? For example, if I receive a request with the pick up address as a Coles supermarket, how do I find out whether it's delivery or rideshare?

I often get rideshare pick ups from supermarkets and I park in a 2 minute parking, loading zone or no parking zone to pick up my pax, so if it's a delivery request from a supermarket, it will be handy to know in advance, so that I can find a proper car park, walk into the store and pick up the package to deliver.

Regards,
Minty.

Save

minty_

· #8 · Apr 2, 2020

Jack Malarkey said:
At this stage, the Ola app can't notify you whether it's a delivery or a ride request. The customer phones you and lets you know if it's a delivery request.

Both the customer and the person to whom you are delivering meet you at your car.

Shebah has also recently introduced a delivery service. The Shebah drivers do know at the time of request whether or not it's for a delivery request as the delivery requests are coloured differently.

True. Do you know whether or not DiDi are introducing a courier service as well?

Save

1 - 3 of 13 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month