Let's Think About DoorDash's New Ultra-Fast Grocery Delivery in Terms of Robots

End-to-end autonomous retail is on its way.

DoorDash announced yesterday that it is now offering the ultra-fast, 15-minutes or less style grocery delivery that is in vogue this year. Per the press release, DoorDash is starting out speedy delivery with its own DashMart store in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City.

There are plenty of angles to tackle this story: DoorDash is hiring actual employees — not contractors — as delivery people. DoorDash will be making the service available to its retail partners (a la Instacart). DoorDash is launching the service at a time when existing speedy grocery players are consolidating or shuttering.

But, since OttOmate is all about robots and automation, that’s where we’re focusing. And not for nothing — I think it’s perhaps the most interesting facet of this story, given DoorDash’s recent launch of a robotics division, its own delivery robot patents, and the company’s acquisition of Chowbotics earlier this year.