Yandex Rovers are now delivering groceries from stores

Our Yandex Rovers are continuing to expand their reach — most recently by providing autonomous delivery services from a number of Moscow supermarkets.

Our autonomous couriers have recently started making deliveries from Azbuka Vkusa and VkusVill supermarkets in the central Moscow district of Khamovniki. Rovers have the capacity to carry up to 20kg of goods, so even after ordering a gallon of milk, a couple bottles of water and some fruit, there will still be some room left for other treats.

Customers can choose the robot delivery option on either the Yandex.Eats food delivery app or Yandex Go super app. Once the order is placed, supermarket staff assemble it and load it onto the Rover, which heads to the customer’s address and makes the delivery. Upon its arrival, the customer will receive a notification, and an ‘unlock’ button will appear on the app.

Data from the Yandex.Eats on-demand food delivery platform suggests that hyperlocal delivery is an important trend in today’s grocery market. More and more, people are opting to have their favorite products delivered from local shops quickly, rather than go shopping themselves.

“We are thrilled to introduce our delivery robots to the bustling grocery delivery market in Moscow, which holds enormous potential,” says Valeriia Verkhovykh, Head of Product (Robotic Delivery). “Our team has worked diligently to seamlessly integrate these cutting-edge robots into Yandex.Eats delivery application, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for customers. We are confident that our innovative solutions will redefine the landscape of grocery delivery in this dynamic city, making everyday life just a little bit easier for its residents”.

Yandex Rovers are well-equipped for hyperlocal deliveries, which make up a large percentage of express grocery orders. Given the growing demand for super-fast food delivery, autonomous rovers can provide a much-needed, cost-effective solution for additional capacity and improve last-mile delivery times.

More and more, our Yandex Rovers are becoming a common sight on Moscow streets, as they deliver orders for Yandex.Lavka rapid e-grocery service, restaurants, cafes and supermarkets around the Russian capital. Since regular service began at the end of 2020, Yandex Rovers have completed over 6,000 deliveries from some 50 restaurants and stores in Moscow and Innopolis.