Uber apparently has some serious plans for same-day delivery.
TechCrunch reported Wednesday that Uber is preparing to launch a merchant program that will help more than 400 retailers like Louis Vitton and Hugo Boss deliver products to shoppers the same day they purchase something online.
The service would build off of UberRUSH, a bike courier service that Uber has been testing for a year, and would eventually allow drivers to both transport passengers and items with the same vehicle. Some retailers are already testing the service, TechCrunch noted, citing a leaked driver’s manual.
This is similar to what Sidecar is doing with its same-day delivery service that it says will account for half of its business by the end of 2015.
Though Uber’s revenue primarily comes from transporting people around cities, the company is clearly looking to expand into other verticals with its infrastructure now in place. On Tuesday, Uber expanded its food delivery program to New York City and Chicago. The company also tested a drug store delivery service called Corner Store this past summer.
Uber could pose a threat to the likes of Amazon, Google, Instacart, and Postmates — all companies competing to deliver items to your door within hours.
