How Uber teaches brick-and-mortar retailers to sell more

Uber recently announced a strategic partnership with Best Buy in the United States: now, customers can buy electronics directly through Uber Eats, with fast delivery to their doorstep. More than just a new sales channel, this partnership shows how technology and retail companies can reinvent themselves to serve an increasingly impatient and connected consumer.

So, what can brick-and-mortar retail learn from this move?

Consumers Want Convenience, Not Just Price

For years, competition in physical retail revolved around promotions and discounts. But Uber’s experience shows that the deciding factor for today’s customer is convenience. Consumers already order food in minutes via their phones. Now, they expect the same for higher-value products like laptops, headphones, or gaming consoles.

Insight for Physical Retail: it’s not enough to sell — retailers need to rethink how customers access products, removing barriers and delivering speed.

Digital Platforms Expand Reach Without Opening New Stores

Uber doesn’t need to build shopping malls or open kiosks — it connects with strategic partners and multiplies the reach of its app. With Best Buy, Uber Eats goes beyond being a food app and competes in fast electronics delivery.

For Physical Retail: smart partnerships with digital platforms can open new revenue streams without major investments in physical infrastructure.

The Buying Journey Is Increasingly Hybrid

Customers can see a product in-store, compare it online, and complete the purchase via Uber Eats in minutes. This fluidity between physical and digital — called omnichannel — is no longer a differentiator but a requirement.

Lesson: brick-and-mortar retail must integrate channels seamlessly, recognizing that the consumer journey no longer follows linear steps.

Speed Is Branding

The Uber brand is synonymous with speed. This is what builds customer loyalty. In retail, speed delivers more than a product: it delivers trust. Best Buy benefits from this: it reinforces its image as a modern brand capable of competing with players like Amazon in terms of speed.

Takeaway: investing in smart logistics is as important as investing in marketing.

Data as a Competitive Advantage

Every Uber Eats order generates valuable data: which products are in demand, regions, time slots, and customer profiles. This information helps both Uber and Best Buy optimize inventory, logistics, and campaigns. For Physical Retail: integrating data from different touchpoints (store, e-commerce, partner apps) is essential for sustainable growth.

The Future of Retail Is Collaborative

The Uber-Best Buy partnership shows that the boundaries between tech and physical retail are increasingly blurred. To grow, stores need to think like platforms: explore partnerships, integrate data, and put convenience at the center of their strategy. Just as Uber transformed mobility and delivery, it now points to a new path for physical retail: grow not only by expanding stores but by expanding smart connections.

Brick-and-mortar retailers can also accelerate transformation by adopting solutions that combine convenience, data, and technology. Just as Uber and Best Buy use digital platforms to better understand and serve customers, stores can gain a competitive edge by monitoring operations in real time. With smart security cameras and AlterVision’s people-counting technology, it’s possible to turn visitor data into strategic insights, boosting sales, optimizing customer experience, and strengthening market presence.

Learn more about our solutions.