The spark of scientific discoveries and technological advancement have engendered rapid change in all aspects of human life. This wind of modification did not exclude the business world. These changes have brought about intense market competition which has led to the increased complexity of the economic atmosphere. The fierce competition has created the need for companies to upgrade their standards and their delivery services. Consequently, the way for ordering and delivery of goods and services has become subjected to this change. Upon this background, therefore, has the on-demand delivery applications usage in courier and product delivery emerged. Furthermore, the emergence of the on-demand delivery app has helped in revolutionizing the service sectors, which has helped in facilitating swift and smooth access to prior limited products and services.
Have you ever imagined you sitting in your living room to get a taxi for your dinner date? On-demand delivery apps have made life easier with Just a few clicks in your comfort zone. Hence, this article would be relating to you all you need to know about on delivery apps: its meaning, types, its benefits, and how it works.
Definition of on-demand delivery
You could have been wondering or bemusing on what on-demand delivery means or perhaps you have been hearing this, but you don’t know what it means. It is a straightforward concept to digest; I would like to help break it down using your everyday activities before defining the idea.
Taking yourself as a case reference, if you happen to be a boss in a manufacturing firm, you might not need to do any paperwork; and you need to get some file across to some customers. Few clicks on your system can get you those files. Also, this would save you from stressing yourself and wasting time. Can you see that? Yeah! That is just the way on-demand delivery service works. Instructively, on-demand delivery would then mean the scheduled or immediate delivery of products or services to the customers after they have placed their order for such products or services.
Definition of on-demand delivery applications
Since the on-demand delivery is the delivery of services or products to the client immediately or based on the schedule of the ordering, regardless of where the client stays, then what would the on-demand delivery application be? Let’s first demystify what application is first? An application is a program or set of software that perceives as a single entity by the end-user to be an instrument for a well-defined purpose. Most people refer to the application as an application program or software application. Hence, the On-demand delivery application is a program that allows users to get quick access to and immediate delivery of the product. And this is either done immediately or base on schedule.
The on-demand delivery application allows clients to place their orders and getting delivery of any product at their comfort. On-demand delivery applications help overcome the challenge of unnecessarily stocks delay. Just exactly the way it sounds, you make your order and get it delivered in only a few minutes or hours with only a mobile app. Therefore, with on-demand delivery apps transaction of different individuals and businesses has become very easy, time, and energy saving. In essence, the on-demand delivery application is a mobile application that allows, users, to place an order(s) and get them delivered just as demanded.
Benefits of on-demand delivery application
One of the questions that most likely be running across your mind now might probably be on the benefit of the On-demand delivery app. As stated earlier, modifications have taken place in the business world today, especially in the aspect of the delivery of products and services to clients. In fact, in the commercial banks, they would have noted an increase in capital accumulation over the years. The increase in on-demand delivery apps has orchestrated this. According to a report by US NTRST in November 2017, there has been a significant increase in the usage of on-demand delivery service between 2016 to 2017.
Furthermore, the report findings revealed that the number of customers patronizing on-demand delivery service in the US has increased from 24.9 million to 41.5 billion between 2016 and 2017. The study estimated the customers‘ expenditure on on-demand delivery services, which shows an increase from $48.0 billion in 2016 to 75.7 Billion Dollars in 2017. The synopsis is of this analysis is to relate with you how functional and beneficial the on-demand delivery service could be. In that regard, it is imperative to discuss the benefits of on-demand delivery applications.
The following are the reasons:
– Convenience
– Trust building
– Access to cheap products and services
– Swift delivery of products and services
Convenience:
on-demand delivery applications are found beneficial, bringing in the appliance into the ordering and delivery service. A working-class nursing mother needs not to worry about how to balance work and house chores. Instead of going through different rigours she faces at home, at the workplace and the children’s school, right in her office, she can get everything done without moving an inch. A few clicks on her cell phone or personal computer would get her all that she wanted without any stress. This is only possible with on-demand delivery apps. With on-demand delivery apps, convenience goes beyond product delivery; it encompasses quick search access, real-time tracking, and swift delivery.
Trust building:
on-demand delivery applications help in building a trust plated relationship between the customers and on-demand delivery providers. On-demand delivery apps are made with a feedback system. The feedback system allows the on-demand delivery providers to get to know the gaps in the service been rendered and get it corrected on time. With on-demand delivery apps, track the ordered product from when it has been ordered, till when delivered.
Access to cheap products and services:
on-demand delivery applications help in accessing goods and services at different prices that each client might find relatively inexpensive. The on-demand delivery application is made up of varying amounts and timing. This feature allows the clients and even the Business to choose the services and products that suit their budget. The apps permit the business owners to conserve funds since they don’t have to invest their capital in logistics, full-time couriers, and delivery vehicles.
On-demand delivery service providers help in that regard by acting as the independent contractor between the Business and the clients through the usage of their means of transportation. By implication, this helps the business owners in saving capital and get excluded from the payment of vacation time, sick days, insurance payroll taxes, and so on. On-demand delivery applications also help in offering daily hot deals and special promotions for the customers.
Quick access to products and services and swift delivery of goods:
The thoughts of where and how to get a particular product or services are no longer a thing to worry about. Are you bemusing about where to get the cake for your wedding coming up tomorrow after your baker has disappointed? Or is your partner in need of a hot and delicious meal for lunch? You don’t need to worry about this; the on-demand delivery applications have stood in that gap. With on-demand delivery apps, you can easily order for those products and services in a flash. Scheduling, booking, searching, and reviewing orders can be done quickly in just one app without living where you are. Within a few minutes, the wedding cake you are worried about would reach your doorstep.
Types of on-demand delivery apps
The on-demand delivery applications are built to serve both the clients and the service providers. While developing the apps, the app developers ensure that separate apps are made for the two parties for a smooth transaction. Furthermore, aside from the clients and business owners, gig workers hold a very significant part of the users of on-demand delivery apps. These gigs workers are the independent body that plays a central role between the clients and businesses; they work on a part-time basis with the right to decide the hours when they work. UK Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy once reported that gigs workers offer services like courier services, food delivery, and transportation. Most of the gigs workers work with organizations with high-demand services like Uber, Deliveroo, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour.
Based on this prelude, concerning users’ services provision, the on-demand application is categorized into three main types:
- Business to Business (B2B) on-demand delivery apps
- Business to Consumers (B2C) on-demand delivery apps
- Clients to clients (C2C) on-demand delivery apps
B2B on-demand delivery applications:
The Business-to-business on-demand delivery applications are the on-demand delivery apps that are created in a bid to link Business together. Based on the content of the platform, Business-Business on-demand delivery apps can be split into two:
The horizontal on-demand delivery applications which deal with multiple industrial sectors and;
The Vertical on-demand delivery apps deal with the service of just one industrial sector.
Some examples of those on-demand delivery apps that support transactions between companies are Cargomatic, Catalant, and Event. Eventio, for instance, is an on-demand delivery application that creates room for users to access a list of available locations. After the selection of the area by the clients, then, the supplementary services like cleaning services, bands, catering, and security. Afterwards, the general public or the guests can then buy the tickets for the event through this app.
B2C on-demand delivery applications
Business-to-customers’ on-demand delivery applications are on-demand delivery apps that permit the transaction of commodities and services between the providers and the clients. Examples of apps that perform this function are Starbucks, McDelivery, and Booking.com. Starbucks app allows its users to order and pay in advance for their favourite coffee or get it delivered to them right at their doorstep.
C2C on-demand delivery applications:
Customer-to-Customer on-demand delivery applications allow the exchange of goods and services among users. On this app, a customer can sell to another customer, and can also buy from another customer. On this form of on-demand delivery applications, all users have equal rights, and none of them is considered business owners.
Examples of on-demand delivery applications accommodate this form of the transaction are eBay, Esty, and BlablaCar. On BlaBlaCar, for example, the app helps the users to locate co-travellers. Users of this platform can get or offer rides through online interaction by just providing details regarding the travel dates. The time of departure and arrival is also communicated. On this platform, as soon as the ride-seeker gets his/her perfect ride, s/he can then book for a seat. After these have been done, the driver would collect the contact information of the co-travellers in a bid to arrange the detail.
The time of departure and arrival is also communicated. On this platform, as soon as the ride-seeker gets his/her perfect ride, s/he can then book for a seat. After these have been done, the driver would collect the contact information of the co-travellers in a bid to arrange the detail.
How on-demand delivery application works?
Many on-demand delivery applications are available for your use for both the consumers and businesses. There are different types of on-demand applications that can help in linking one user to another user. On-demand delivery applications have been functional in assisting companies in reaching customers in a bid to meet market demands. The usage of on-demand apps is not restricted to the existing businesses alone, but also new companies. Importantly, the use of on-demand delivery applications is not just in the courier services alone. On-demand delivery apps cut across different industries. Food Industry, health care industry, logistics and transportation services, gift companies, home services, and other service providers use on-demand applications.
Besides, on-demand delivery applications work along with other apps. One of those apps is the GPS live tracking application. GPS is a live tracking technological apps that provide a real-time time tracking service. This application helps the client in tracking the current location of their ordered products. An example of this is the Parcel Delivery app that allows customers to track delivery from when ordered.
Furthermore, on-demand delivery offers courier services where you get your products delivered anywhere in the world. An example of those applications is Uber which allows the customer to gain access to the convenient delivery services within their localities. Uber offers its customers one of the swiftest courier services around the world today. Other courier delivery apps are Wedfast Courier app, Express Delivery, Pace Courier, FedEx, and so on.
How some industries use on-demand delivery apps?
The usage of on-demand delivery apps has spread far and wide. As it has been mentioned earlier, the usage is not only restricted to courier services alone. Other industries like Health care, food, Gift and flower services, Transportation services, and lots more do make use of it. In the following, it would be related to how some industries employ on-demand delivery service in their operations.
Taxi services
This is one of the most on-demand delivery service providers that are in high demand. The popularity of this on-demand service provider is traceable to the features their on-demand delivery apps possess. On their apps, they offer services like GPS and map navigation which helps in getting nearby cabs. They offer In-app communication which facilitates interaction between the driver and the passengers. They provide real-time tracking service for their users that allows family and friends to track your ride. Also, they offer a dual-end feedback system that provides for a share of ratings and reviews of the drivers and passengers. Examples of apps used here are FlyWheel Taxi, left, and Juno.
Health care service providers
On-demand delivery applications in this industry help patients in contacting the medical practitioners anywhere on their cell-phone. These mobile apps used by this service provider allow one-on-one contact with the medical personnel with just a few clicks. All the patients need to do is to connect to their doctor through the mobile app on their phone. This app has saved many of the stress of going through the rigours of booking appointments in hospitals. Also, this has helped in conserving money paid for the consultation of the consultants. One of the most used health on-demand delivery applications is Doctor on Demands. Other apps like PharmEasy, 1mg, Myra, and NowRx help users in getting drugs delivered to their doorsteps without moving out.
Food delivery service
This industry is a significant niche for the development of the on-demand delivery application. The delivery applications used here help in the delivery of groceries or meals anywhere. Moreover, these apps offer different and a lot of benefits to both the customers and the business owners. From the customers’ corner, the delivery application helps in accessing customers-friendly menus quickly. And also to the owners, this helps them in efficiently managing the increasing orderings they are getting. Examples of the apps used by this industry are Doordash, Grubhub, Instacart, and Uber Eats.
Transportation & logistics industry
This industry employs on-demand delivery applications that help offer on-demand transportation services to users. The apps used help customers in getting transparent pricing and quick payment advantage. Some of the apps also help customers in parcel delivery and freight transportation any time without stress. The apps also provide real-time tracking and in-app messaging between Some of the applications that do these are UberDelivery and UberFreight.
Endnote
On-demand delivery application is a program that allows users to get quick access to and immediate delivery of the product. The on-demand delivery application will enable clients to place orders and getting delivery of any product or service at their comfort. On-demand delivery applications help overcome the challenge of unnecessarily stocks delay. The usage of on-demand delivery applications is beneficial in such a way that they are fast, convenient, and transparent. These apps come in different types, and various industries use them. Some of these apps are UberDelivery, UberEats, Doctor on Demand, 1mg, and host of others.