DoorDash Launches Creator Program, AI Tools & Dine-In Rewards
▼ Summary
– DoorDash launched a creator program that compensates users for posting short-form food videos on its app to help preview dishes before ordering.
– The company introduced “Going Out,” a feature that rewards users with in-store offers and rewards when dining at local restaurants.
– DoorDash now offers AI-powered personalized recommendations on the homepage and checkout page based on user preferences and past orders.
– New AI smart tags allow users to filter menu items by attributes like vegetarian or high-protein using inferred data from reviews and descriptions.
– Users can browse nearby stores, compare prices, and view delivery estimates in one place for items like beauty products and electronics.
DoorDash has rolled out a trio of new initiatives aimed at enriching the user experience and expanding its service ecosystem. The company announced a creator program, a dine-in rewards feature called “Going Out,” and a suite of AI-powered tools designed to personalize discovery and streamline ordering. These updates reflect a strategic push to deepen engagement beyond traditional food delivery.
Through its new creator program, DoorDash will pay users for producing short-form videos that showcase meals from local restaurants. This content allows potential customers to preview dishes visually before placing an order, a move that follows similar efforts by competitors like Uber Eats. Residents in twenty U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Austin, Miami, and San Francisco, can currently apply to join. Accepted creators will film their dining experiences and receive compensation for qualifying videos, though specific payment details have not been disclosed. DoorDash plans to expand the program to additional markets before the year ends.
Simultaneously, DoorDash is launching “Going Out,” a feature previously tested in select cities. It enables DashPass members to earn rewards when they dine at participating local restaurants. Parisa Sadrzadeh, Vice President of Strategy and Operations, explained that the program offers exclusive in-app offers and incentives for repeat visits. She noted that users have received an average of nine dollars in value per order this year through these promotions. The rewards system is now active at thousands of establishments across the United States and Australia. For a limited period, all DoorDash users can access “Going Out,” not just DashPass subscribers.
Additionally, a new integration with SevenRooms, a company DoorDash acquired earlier this year, allows users to book restaurant reservations directly within the app.
On the technology front, DoorDash has introduced several AI enhancements to improve customization and efficiency. The app now displays personalized recommendations on the homepage, factoring in a user’s order history, budget, dietary needs, location, and time of day. At checkout, a “Complement your Cart” section suggests relevant grocery additions to help shoppers finish their lists more quickly. Another innovation involves AI-generated smart tags that appear on restaurant menus. These labels help users filter items based on attributes like vegetarian, gluten-free, spicy, or high-protein. Austin Haugen, DoorDash’s VP of Product, stated that the system analyzes customer reviews, merchant descriptions, and food photos to automatically infer these characteristics.
The smart tags are available to users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. DoorDash has also broadened a feature that lets shoppers browse nearby stores, compare prices, and view delivery estimates for categories like beauty products, electronics, and pet supplies. This capability was previously limited to alcohol purchases.
(Source: TechCrunch)
