Key facts
- Serve Robotics has partnered with Grubhub to use its sidewalk delivery robots for order fulfillment.
- The collaboration will initially launch in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Alexandria.
- Serve's existing agreement with Uber Eats is set to expire early next year.
- The company has also expanded its services with DoorDash into San Jose and Washington D.C.
- Serve is implementing 'micro depots' to facilitate robot stationing, charging, dispatch, and maintenance.
- Serve is also deploying its next-generation Moxi hospital robots.
Serve Robotics is expanding its robot delivery services through a new partnership with Grubhub, aiming to offset the anticipated loss of volume from its expiring alliance with Uber Eats. The collaboration will initially deploy Serve's sidewalk robots for order fulfillment on the Grubhub platform in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Alexandria.
This move comes as Serve Robotics prepares for its Uber Eats delivery agreement to conclude early next year. Serve CEO Ali Kashani expressed confidence that the Grubhub partnership, along with other initiatives, will more than replace the volume lost from Uber, enabling faster growth.
In parallel, Serve Robotics has launched services with DoorDash in San Jose, California, and Washington, D.C., marking its seventh and eighth major U.S. markets. The company is also implementing a strategy of rolling out "micro depots" in Miami. These smaller facilities are designed for robot stationing, charging, dispatch, and maintenance, aiming to reduce costs and development timelines compared to full-scale operations, thereby enabling quicker market entry.
Grubhub's parent company, Wonder, is also increasing its focus on automation within the food delivery sector to reduce labor costs. This includes plans for drone deliveries in Texas starting in January.
Furthermore, Serve Robotics is expanding into the healthcare automation market by rolling out the next generation of its Moxi hospital robots. This initiative is bolstered by its recent acquisition of Diligent Robotics, a move intended to diversify Serve's revenue streams.