Zomato rolls out Priority Delivery for Covid-19 Emergency; company suggests to treat like Ambulance

Zomato has launched a new emergency delivery feature to help deliver food on a priority basis to people in need. “Today, along with thousands of our restaurant partners, we just rolled out a “priority delivery for covid emergencies'' feature on the Zomato app. This feature will allow our customers to mark 'This order is related to a Covid-19 emergency' option during checkout," Deepinder Goyal, Founder, Zomato, said in a tweet.

He also shared the screenshot of the feature in which the banner will appear on the checkout page. “We will prepare and deliver this order on priority. Treat this as an ambulance and please do not misuse it. #RestaurantsAgainstCovid,” the banner also reads. Deliveries to such customers would be contactless by default to ensure the safety of the riders, and subsequent customers.

Who can use the Priority delivery feature?

The company has not specified what qualifies as an emergency Covid-19 delivery. Yet, users need to understand the feature is for users who have Covid, whose family members are covid positive and unable to cook, elderly people living alone, etc. The company advises to use the feature cautiously and treat it as an ambulance; only order via emergency delivery when necessary.

Deepinder Goyal also thanked the restaurant industry and the ones who have agreed to partner with Zomato on this unique initiative. "Thousands of restaurants have pledged to prioritise these orders in their kitchen above all others. All deliveries to such customers will be contactless by default to ensure the safety of our riders, and subsequent customers. Needless to say, all customers should opt-in for contactless deliveries right now," wrote Deepinder Goyal in his tweet.