Zomato is set to introduce a new ‘Mehmaan Mode’ that hides menu prices during group orders, easing social discomfort when guests order from a shared device. The feature comes directly from a user suggestion on LinkedIn and will roll out this week.
- ‘Mehmaan Mode’ masks prices during group ordering on Zomato
- Feature inspired by a marketing manager’s LinkedIn idea
- Eternal, Zomato’s parent, also advancing AI assistant technology
What happened
Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal confirmed that the food delivery platform will launch a ‘mehmaan mode’ feature this week. This mode hides prices on the app when a host passes their phone around among guests during group orders, enabling guests to order without the social awkwardness of seeing prices. The idea originated from a LinkedIn post by marketing manager Ayushmaan Agarwalla, who explained that the feature would prevent hesitation or embarrassment around costs when multiple people order together.
The suggestion sparked significant interest online, garnering over 2,800 reactions and 74 comments. Goyal publicly acknowledged the user-driven input and committed to implementing the feature swiftly, highlighting Zomato’s openness to community feedback for product enhancements.
Why it matters
Group food ordering often involves passing phones or devices among friends or colleagues, which can create tension or embarrassment due to visible menu prices. By removing prices from view, ‘mehmaan mode’ aims to make the ordering experience more comfortable and social, encouraging more group orders and improving overall user satisfaction.
This move also reflects a growing trend of innovation driven by direct consumer insights and social media engagement. Zomato’s responsiveness signals a broader strategy to enhance user experience through simple but impactful features that address real-world customer pain points, strengthening its competitive edge in the Indian food delivery market.
What to watch next
The ‘mehmaan mode’ rollout will be closely watched by industry observers and users alike to see how well it is adopted and whether it effectively improves group ordering dynamics. Positive reception could encourage other platforms to adopt similar features or inspire further user-driven innovation.
Meanwhile, Zomato’s parent company Eternal is also venturing deeper into AI-enabled consumer services with the upcoming launch of Dark, a privacy-focused AI assistant that uses advanced encryption technologies. This suggests a strategic expansion beyond food delivery into broader digital privacy and AI interaction markets, positioning Eternal for diversified growth.