The pandemic has changed the way people go about shopping, with many now opting for online shopping and pick-up and delivery services. If one needs to purchase something from a distant shop, what do they do? Most individuals now prefer to utilize a pickup and delivery app instead of going to the store in person.
People are enjoying the convenience of food pickup and delivery services like Subway’s takeout and McDonald’s drive-thru. If you are an entrepreneur with an interest in this area, this guide is for you to help you create your own pickup and delivery software!
Why Create a Pickup and Delivery Application?
As an entrepreneur, it is essential for you to comprehend the benefits of having pickup and delivery software for your enterprise. In this section, we will provide you with an explanation of why that is the case.
A. Curbside Pickup Sales Increased 208% Amid COVID-19
It appears that this trend is not going to go away any time soon, as the pandemic has changed the way the on-demand market operates. To meet customer needs, stores have implemented Buy Online Pickup In-Store (BOPIS) and curbside pickup services. Owing to the advantages these features offer both merchants and customers, it is essential to have an up-to-date pickup and delivery app or to improve the existing one in order to maximize profits.
B. First and Last Mile Market Size is Expanding Fast
Research shows that the on-demand sector is likely to alter the relationship between products, customers, manufacturers, and service enterprises. Digitalization will make supply chain networks more efficient, flexible, and customer-oriented. Developing an effective pickup and delivery app solution for your business online is expected to be very lucrative given the current trend.
C. 24×7 Accessibility for Customers
Having customers is essential to any business. Constantly being available to address their needs should be the highest priority. Developing a mobile app for your company allows you to stay connected with them around the clock. Chatbots, customer service, and help desks are some of the features that can help you achieve this.
Enterprises that Are Ruling The Pickup and Delivery Business
The pickup and delivery sector is filled with seemingly limitless prospects. If you are aiming to create a pickup and delivery app, it is essential to be aware of the foremost players in this area. Here are some of them:
Lalamove
Lalamove is a convenient mobile application for delivering large and heavy packages. You can easily transport items such as important documents, food and drinks, flowers, and more with this app. Additionally, apps like Lalamove offer businesses a single platform to improve and expand their pickup and delivery services.
Dunzo
Dunzo is a popular quick delivery service provider, partnering with local stores and eateries to offer necessities such as groceries and medicines. With its innovative business strategy, it has become one of the leading platforms in the pickup and delivery sector. It is renowned for its rapid delivery within 45 minutes. If you wish to have a similar app like Dunzo, it is wise to hire a reputable app development firm in the area.
Walmart
Walmart is a highly sought-after pickup and delivery service since it utilizes its physical stores to provide convenience to its customers. This app has also joined forces with over 5000 stores in the US, which helps vendors to optimize and manage their store transactions.
Gojek
GoJek is an app with a large range of services, from ride-hailing to food delivery, that follows an aggregator business model. Developing an app such as GoJek is an intelligent way to make money for any business. The GoJek app has numerous advanced features and is powered by reliable technology.
Grubhub
Grubhub is an online service that allows you to order food from your favorite local eateries and have it delivered directly to your home. Established in 2004, its reach extends to over 300,000 restaurants in over 4000 cities.
Where to Invest in Pickup and Delivery App Development?
Businesses are adapting to the changing landscapes by incorporating new trends and technology. Delivery services like food and grocery delivery are leading the on-demand market with the most customers. To increase the success of any business, having a mobile platform is essential. Here are some businesses that should consider investing in an app for pickup and delivery.
A. Restaurants & Cafes
Those who are pressed for time can purchase food online or quickly through a drive-thru. Although, not all eateries may be able to offer drive-through service or contactless delivery. Picking up meals curbside is a great way to save money. Restaurants are not obligated to have an accessible location or to pay someone to deliver orders.
B. Grocery Stores
Shoppers go grocery shopping on a regular basis. With the right plan, grocery stores can take full advantage of curbside pickup. Grocery stores can prepare and package orders before customers arrive. All that’s left to do is wait for the customers to pick up their orders. Many grocery store chains may benefit from using an on-demand grocery delivery application.
C. Gas or Fuel Stations
What can be done when a car stops on the side of the street because it has no gas? As an owner of a fuel or gas delivery business, these are some potential solutions that may help you. Get an on-demand fuel delivery app developed specifically for your business. This will enable clients to request gas whenever they need it, and a delivery agent can get the supplies from your store.
D. Brewery/Alcohol Shops
In the past few months, alcohol delivery has become increasingly popular due to its projected growth of 2.0% and potential to generate $1684 billion in revenue by 2025. Consumers are drawn to online alcohol or brewery stores because of their speedy delivery service and convenient delivery to their homes.
E. Florists
People don’t need a special event to order flowers; they can purchase them every day. If you run a flower shop, creating an app that allows people to place orders would be highly lucrative. The customers can use the app to place their order, and then you can prepare the flowers and have a delivery person pick them up.
Must-Have Functionalities For an On-Demand Pickup and Delivery App
Constructing a pickup and delivery app is not sufficient; it is essential to create a framework in which the platform can function. If you are aiming to devise a pickup and delivery service, you will require a customer app, store application, driver’s app, and an admin panel.
Let’s understand their features in detail:
✅ Customer Application
No matter what kind of business you have, the principal objective is to provide the top quality services to your customers. Before beginning development for a pickup and delivery app for your company, it is essential that you have examined the market thoroughly. It is imperative to incorporate the following MVP features into your customer app:
- 1. Registering and Logging In: It is a great idea to enable users to join the application through various login methods such as contact numbers, email addresses, or social media accounts. Having the ‘Forget Password’ option is also essential and developers need to include Google SDK and Facebook SDK for these functionalities.
- 2. Store Search: The app should be equipped with filters to allow users to look for nearby stores effortlessly. Geolocation is a noteworthy feature that must be implemented in the application to make searching easier.
- 3. Position Tracking: This feature enables customers to monitor the progress of their shipment in real time with the help of Google Location API (Android) and Location Framework (iOS).
- 4. Purchasing and Payments: After the customer has placed their desired items into the cart, they should be provided with the option to pay with methods like credit cards, internet banking, UPI payment, or COD. The app has to be connected to a standard payment gateways.
- 5. Ratings and Reviews: A feedback system is an ideal way to validate the services provided by an app.
✅ Store Application
Including a store app in your pickup and delivery platform will be beneficial to store owners, allowing them to effectively manage incoming and outgoing orders. Additionally, customers and delivery personnel can be notified when orders are ready for pickup. This store app should include the following features:
- 1. Sign-Up & Log-In: All stores signing up to the platform need to have a verified account, which can only be created with the help of Google or Facebook SDK.
- 2. Stock Management: Through the store’s app, store owners or employees can update the list of items based on availability.
- 3. Order Control: The store app will enable workers to accept, reject, or alter the status of any orders.
✅ Delivery Agent Application
Courier agents take advantage of mobile applications while out on a delivery. Therefore, it would be beneficial to create a mobile app solution for the courier within your pickup and delivery app. This development can be accomplished by incorporating features such as:
- 1. Registration and Login: To use the app, delivery personnel must first complete the registration process, which should offer the same options as the customer app, such as using social media, email, phone number, and so on.
- 2. Navigation: You should create maps that are easy to use for delivery agents, which will display the fastest, most efficient routes. The app development team you hire should use Google Maps for Android and Location Framework for iOS to incorporate these features.
- 3. Order Details: Delivery agents must have access to all order information, including the store’s address, the customer’s address, and the delivery time, among other details.
✅ Admin Panel
An admin panel is the most crucial element for effectively running your business. The basic components of the admin panel for your pickup and delivery app include:
- 1. Logging In: To ensure the safety and security of the data, the administration panel must log in with security.
- 2. Store Administration: The administrator is able to add stores to the service and delete users.
- 3. Analyzing: This ability enables the monitoring of significant metrics like delivery time, order amount, income, and so on.
- 4. Payment Management: This characteristic allows you to bill restaurants and customers, as well as modify the amount charged.
Hire Top-Rated App Developers From Us
Creating pickup and delivery software requires an effective coding plan and the optimal use of resources. We offer custom, strong, expandable, and economical solutions to meet your company’s digital needs. Contact one of our experienced professionals to learn more!
Now is the perfect time to make a change as the world moves forward into the new normal. Having a pickup and delivery option in place can help you adjust your operations to any potential obstacles, as well as guarantee compliance with safety standards. Finding a reputable mobile app development firm will give you the support you need in deciding which features would work best for your pickup and delivery app and help you achieve lasting success.
Conclusion
The development of an on-demand pickup and delivery software can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be made easy. This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of the development process, from the planning stage to the launch and beyond. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your on-demand pickup and delivery app is developed correctly and efficiently. With a well-designed, user-friendly app, you can provide customers with a convenient, reliable, and secure service that will help you stand out in the competitive market.
