{"id":36902,"date":"2022-01-19T15:26:14","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T09:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/appscrip.com\/blog\/?p=36902"},"modified":"2025-02-25T11:59:56","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T06:29:56","slug":"how-does-postmates-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/appscrip.com\/blog\/how-does-postmates-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Postmates Work After Uber Postmates Merger?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
A decade or so ago restaurant meal delivery meant pizza or Chinese.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n COVID-19 has now diametrically changed how the world eats. Globally the food delivery niche has grown to a $150 billion worth industry, which is three times of what it was in 2017.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The dawn of alluring tech-enabled driver networks, user-friendly apps, and changing consumer expectations birthed food delivery as a major category.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Lockdowns and physical-distancing during the pandemic gave this category a much needed boost, with delivery becoming a lifeline for the aching restaurant industry. The foodie landscape is poised to have this development as a permanent attribute.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even though restrictions for the pandemic will vanish one day, this newly established delivery culture could stay as a lifestyle for consumers. Customers have got used to getting lots of stuff brought to them, hence they will in all probability clutch on to this custom. This would be in spite of having the alternative to shop again freely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Postmates\u00a0was founded in San Francisco in 2011. The app is designed to get you food and other essential services delivered at an address of your choice.\u00a0This idea predated the smartphone, but the company’s ability to raise an app helped them survive and be copied by others eventually.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Postmates isn’t just food delivery. The idea behind Postmates is having anything delivered to you. Let’s check how does Postmates work. Takeout is their bread and butter, but you could also get deliveries from grocery stores, pharmacies, electronics and liquor stores. This depends on where you live and the nearby stores that are affiliated to the firm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The most mature delivery markets include Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US. The US market grew twofold and Australia fourfold in 2018 and 2019 respectively. This massive growth continued through 2020 and into 2021. Now these markets have matured by 4 – 7 times in comparison to 2018.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The market in US has more than doubled during the pandemic at a growth rate of 8%. Bulk of this increase came at the expense of the grocery sector. This was primarily because the millennials and the Gen Z preferring delivered meals<\/a> over cooking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This trend towards convenience has grown, thanks to the pandemic. The food-delivery market spiked between March and May 2020 when lockdowns in Europe and the US were the most severe. It has maintained that trajectory into 2021.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The working of Postmates is pretty straightforward. The user orders from within the app after scouring through various food choices and restaurants. After completing the payment or choosing ‘pay during delivery’<\/a> the order is complete. Now a Postmates appointed driver would collect the order from the restaurant and deliver to the users\u2019 doorstep.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The monetizing part of Postmates is:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0The users had to pay a small delivery charge of $5 which reduces to $3 or even less during offers. Whatever the charge is, 80% of it is paid to the messengers and 20% goes to the company.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0Postmates charged 9% convenience fee which the users pay in order to get goods delivered at their doorstep. Unlike the delivery fee where a larger portion goes to the delivery personnel, convenience fee goes straight to the company\u2019s accounts.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Postmates launched collaborations\u00a0with local merchants that benefited both parties. Hence the merchants got an extended customer base and Postmates a cut on each order.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Uber has finally satisfied its urge to have a greater share in the market by acquiring Postmates. The Uber \u2013 Postmates merger was officially completed on December 1, 2020. It was announced that the two firms would operate separately.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Uber\u2019s transaction is termed as a \u201cmerger,\u201d but the fact is the deal is a full on acquisition. Uber now fully owns Postmates, after transferring $2.65 Billion in Uber stock to Postmates.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Postmates has shut down its driver affiliate and referral plans and their drivers have been asked to apply to Uber Eats. The delivery staff have been informed that the App would be retired and they would have to approach Uber Eats.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On a corporate level, Postmates laid off 15% of their staff. Customers and restaurants have been introduced to the fact that Postmates is being \u201cassimilated into\u201d Uber Eats.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Uber Eats has become the fastest growing US meal delivery service. Other firms compete for contention such as DoorDash and Grubhub (which Uber tried to purchase). Uber\u2019s delivery<\/a> business isn\u2019t profitable for Uber.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the major benefits for Uber in this deal is the large number of drivers they would have access to. This is because getting loyal drivers is always an issue. An influx of drivers from Postmates could provide the much needed solace to Uber\u2019s driver shortage issue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some delivery drivers may take up rideshare too. It is rudimentary for competent drivers to switch back and forth between delivering items and carrying passengers on the Uber app.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n The Uber Pro rewards program applies to both rideshare and delivery domains. So rideshare drivers can maintain benefits through both rideshare and delivery. And you need to be delivery driver to be eligible for Uber Eats Pro.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Uber is confident of turning profitable now that they have acquired Postmates. The surge in delivery business continues as the pandemic rages on. Businesses are now keen on investing more in deliveries.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Postmates stronghold in Los Angeles and the Southwest will add to Uber\u2019s potential for success and growth in the future. Uber Eats gobbling Postmates enhanced their share to 37% of the national food delivery market.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Postmates drivers need to sign up as a \u2018rideshare<\/a> driver\u2019 first and then be automatically accepted as an Uber Eats delivery driver. Incentives for signing up as a rideshare driver is promising.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re already an Uber Eats driver, you\u2019ll automatically benefit from the additional orders that are likely to come your way because of Postmates. Also, because some Postmates drivers may be ejected there would be increase in business.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n And consolidation under one corporate umbrella will provide leverage for negotiating better pay and job security. Drivers can also make the most as now they would be working for more than one platform.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Uber has been working hard for success in the delivery market. After losing its bid to acquire Grubhub, it succeeded in acquiring Postmates. Now Uber<\/a> will have a bigger share in the food delivery business. Over and above Postmates enables Uber to deliver goods such as alcohol and groceries.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is an apt way for Uber to extend its reach, and capitalize on the growing market to deliver all kinds of goods. Postmates will contribute a lot of expertise and a large network of restaurants and retailers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n First of all, although the deal is made, it isn\u2019t done unless \u2018Regulatory Approval\u2019 is attained.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n This tells us that Postmates<\/a> will remain separate from Uber Eats, and the apps won\u2019t be merged right away. The management end of things will be handled in a similar fashion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This dual mode of operation may or may not change after the deal is done. After the regulatory approval happens the two companies can merge. For the moment Uber, Uber Eats, other Uber delivery services and Postmates will remain separate entities. \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Considering the drop in rideshare business due to the pandemic, drivers needed other opportunities to earn. Now drivers should be at ease as the business could increase post-Postmates acquisition and expanding interest in the business of delivery.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Also Postmates survival is more assured because of this deal.\u00a0For the time being both companies can continue to offer drivers opportunities to earn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A 100% rise in volume year-over-year due to COVID-19 has made delivery the go-to for Uber drivers. The acquisition of Postmates will increase opportunities for drivers due to agreements Postmates has with a large number of restaurants and retailers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For Postmates drivers, this merger will open opportunities to drive rideshare and do deliveries. They will also benefit due to Uber\u2019s stable position in the marketplace.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rideshare and delivery businesses are competitive and struggle for profitability. They\u2019re under constant strain to improve their fiscal performance, and cut operating expenses.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n As Uber and Postmates merge, they may consolidate resources and then the operations could prove cost-effective. They might eliminate high-priced engineers and analysts. They might not focus on increasing their revenue by reducing driver earnings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As both companies work together in the delivery domain the demand for experienced drivers will heighten. This could possibly affect how drivers are incentivized.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The bigger and fewer companies in a niche could bring in derogatory and oppressive policies on drivers and their working conditions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Uber and Postmates collective ability to lobby legislators and launch ballot measures could grow as their resources amass, leaving drivers in an even weaker negotiating position.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This merger isn\u2019t complete until and unless the regulatory commission grants full approval. In the final say the Apps could merge or continue to operate separately. As of now both apps are operating with separate branding, but are sharing merchants\u2019 data.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It will be interesting to see if Postmates fleet members retain priority in terms of getting calls for deliveries that are more lucrative than the calls typically offered by Uber Eats. Postmates drivers may have to go through a second vetting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Postmates drivers would have to worry about the tougher restrictions Uber Eats employs, such as not permitting vehicles that are more than 20 years old. Also Postmates drivers who prefer using bikes for deliveries would be dissuaded from this habit. Uber Eats has a policy of registering a separate bike delivery account.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Uber Eats background check is known to be tougher. And if you\u2019ve been deactivated by Uber Eats, and later went on to deliver for Postmates there are good chances of being left in the cold. Migration from Postmates to Uber Eats is not\u00a0<\/em>automatic. Postmates members must apply with Uber Eats to be a part of the new entity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Drivers for Uber Eats could stand to lose from this merger as more number of drivers could mean lesser orders. But as Postmates clients have been added to the fold the impact could be less severe.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
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Postmates History<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Sizing The Market<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Business Model<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How Does Postmates Work<\/h3>\n
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Delivery Fee:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Convenience Fee:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Restaurant Fee:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Postmates-Uber Merger<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Postmates Acquisition Changing The Equation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Drivers Can Profit From This Deal<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Details Of The Deal<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Both Firms To Continue<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Cost-Cutting Won\u2019t Affect Drivers<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Demand For Drivers continue<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Still To Know<\/strong><\/h3>\n
After Merger Effects<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Positives<\/strong><\/h3>\n