There are often times when you’re so hungry that the thought of having to endlessly scroll through your favourite food delivery app is a struggle.
But help is at hand, thanks to Uber Eats’ latest feature which allows you to search for a takeaway with a single emoji, anywhere in the world the app is available.
The food delivery app has added the option to search with 30 different emoji, ranging from pizza to bento.
Uber hopes the feature will be useful for people on holiday, or looking to find something quickly while on their way home from work.
As well as adding the option to search by emoji, Uber has also added a ‘pickup map’ to show a list of places in the immediate area.
It says the pickup maps were introduced after a survey found eight out of 10 customers faced issues craving a takeaway, only to find the nearest was miles away.
Uber Eats customers can now use more than 30 different emojis to find their favourite food, after the firm added the characters to the app
The map shows everything within close proximity to where you are standing, so you can pop over and get your meal, rather than wait for a delivery driver to arrive.
Studying user experiences before the new map was launched, the firm found users would switch to other maps, like Google to find places they could pick up from.
‘Uber Eats’ new pickup maps resolve this issue,’ the firm said, adding that it also works with the new emojis being added to the service.
For example, users can type in an emoji such as bagel, ramen or falafel to find the types of food they want for delivery and pick-up.
In the map, the icon will change from a knife and fork to the chosen food emoji to show you quickly what is available and where.
‘Whereas before Uber Eats users could see what was available for pick-up by scrolling the map, they can now use the new search function to more easily find the cuisine they’re looking to enjoy,’ a spokesperson said.
The map function doesn’t just list places for pick-up, but also show restaurants with a dining room, so people can use it to find somewhere to eat out.
The firm says this could prove particularly useful when on holiday, for finding a place to grab a bite, or when working away from home in an unfamiliar area.
‘For instance, if you’re looking for pizza on your next trip to Rome, you can search what’s available using the pizza emoji,’ Uber said in a statement.
The new features include a map showing pick-up places, and the ability to highlight the type of food they sell by typing in an emoji
‘The feature is also set to help those heading home from work who want to quickly grab dinner, or are heading to a friend’s for a social gathering and want to pick up some party snacks and drinks.’
As well as restaurants, grocery and convenience stores have been given the emoji and pick up map treatment, searchable within the new pages.
To access the new feature, users need to open the Uber Eats in-app map, type what they’re looking for (using words or emoji) and see what’s available for pickup.
Emoji that users can type in to find what they’re looking for include: Pizza, Bagel, Pretzel, Waffle, Pancake, Hot Dog, Burger, French Fries, Sandwich and Salad.
Users can also use the emoji for: Taco, Burrito, Sushi, Pasta, Ramen, Coffee, Pie, Cupcake, Cake, Doughnut, Wine, Alcohol, Tea, Ice Cream, Popcorn, Egg, Cheese, Curry, Dumpling, Shrimp, Omelette and Popcorn.
An Uber spokesperson said: ‘We’ve heard from users that ordering for pickup with Uber Eats isn’t just a time and money-saver—consumers can order ahead, save on delivery fees and skip the line—but it’s also a way to discover the best of Uber Eats in areas just too far from home to surface in the delivery feed.’
This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk
