Why can't the rider slow down? Algorithmic rules are difficult to "perfect"

"If the rules of the platform don't change, the speed of the delivery riders is unlikely to slow down." A traffic policeman told reporters that as law enforcement personnel who often appear at the scene of various traffic violations of takeaway riders, they often bear the greatest pressure. "But when we chat with this group, we will find that they are not completely concerned about their own safety, but they can't take their own safety to heart when the delivery time is short, and some people are lucky."

According to the reporter's understanding, at present, under the guidance of the State Administration of Market Supervision and other departments on algorithms, multiple takeaway platforms are also constantly optimizing the algorithms and delivery rules of takeaway delivery. When the reporter interviewed the relevant staff of a platform, the other party said that the current platform calculation of the "estimated arrival time" In addition to the estimated time of the model, it also includes multiple dimensions such as urban characteristics, segmented accumulation and distance of the distribution process, and additionally calculated three times, and selected the longest time to give to the rider; in addition, in order to avoid other unexpected situations, maintain the relationship between the rider and the user, the platform side will also change the "estimated arrival time" to "estimated arrival time".

"But this estimated time is not the most perfect, after all, the takeaway delivery scene is complex and changeable, and there are many unexpected situations." Coupled with the slowness of many merchants, they may have clicked on 'meal complete' before they have eaten, which will lead to longer waiting time for riders, and naturally the time on the road will be squeezed. A takeaway rider said that if the user looks closely, he will find that the arrival time of the rider displayed on the user's mobile phone is different from the arrival time on the rider's mobile phone. When the reporter tested, he found that in some orders, it is true that the time on the user's mobile phone will often be one to two minutes earlier, "this move may be the platform to appease the user, but this leads us to have to fly on the road in order not to take bad reviews." The rider said.

Text/Guangzhou Daily Xinhuacheng reporter Cheng Yilun

Photo: Guangzhou Daily Xinhuacheng reporter Cheng Yilun

Video/ Guangzhou Daily Xinhuacheng reporter Cheng Yilun

Guangzhou Daily New Flower City Editor Cai Lingyue