On-demand Delivery Apps: Development Process, Costs, Features and More

What is an On-demand Delivery Mobile App?

An on-demand delivery mobile app is a software application specifically designed for smartphones and tablets allowing users to request and receive goods or services directly to their location in rapid time. These apps act as a digital marketplace, connecting consumers with service providers or vendors. The "on-demand" aspect refers to the immediate nature of these transactions; users can get what they need quickly, often within the same day or even within hours or minutes, and with the rise of drone delivery services (now in several cities), it is only a matter of time before you can check the days forecast, see it’s going to be a bit chilly, order a sweater on-line, and have it delivered “on-demand” before you walk out the front door.

On-demand app development has grown in recent years, especially in areas like food delivery services. According to Statista, the revenue in the online food delivery industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 12.7% by 2027. The online audience is vast, which is now leveraged by businesses using the latest technologies. That said, if you are planning to develop an on-demand delivery app for your business, then this piece will provide you with useful information on the development processes and steps of building on-demand delivery apps.

Primary objectives of on-demand delivery apps

On-demand delivery apps are designed for the sole purpose of delivering services and products to your customers’ doorsteps in hours – not days. These apps often serve Business-to-customer (B2C) enterprises but are also used by B2B companies. For example, food delivery apps, grocery apps, medicine delivery apps, etc. all cater to the B2C model, while B2B companies use on-demand mobile apps for countless purposes including inventory control and auto-parts delivery, to name a few. These apps exist to provide ease and convenience to customers, thereby increasing sales and better customer service. Here are a few examples of what an on-demand delivery app is used for:

✅ Delivering groceries, prescriptions, meals, and other products to customers.
✅ Reducing geographic fences allows faster interstate deliveries of certain products faster.

Industries Investing in on-demand Delivery Apps

Here is a list of the business segments investing in and releasing on-demand delivery apps:
 

◾Restaurants

Restaurants can list their services on these apps and customers can order from their preferred restaurants, and have meals delivered to their doorstep in as fast as 30 minutes. Many restaurants also run their own delivery services through specialized mobile apps, allowing consumers to order from their chain, filtering out locations, delivery time, etc.

◾Grocery Retail

Delivery apps have become popular as many grocery stores and supermarket chains are now investing in these platforms so customers can shop for groceries from home. Some of the major companies now offer these services include Walmart, Amazon Fresh, Aldi, Peapod and Instacart.

◾Healthcare & Prescription

Healthcare institutions are actively embracing this new tech by providing online services. Patients can now receive doctor issued prescriptions and have their medication delivered right to their door.   

◾E-commerce

Many e-commerce businesses also provide same-day delivery of a wide variety of products, and some are even offering “Morning” and “Afternoon” delivery options for convenience. From clothing and cosmetics to vitamins and printers, businesses are becoming proficient in leveraging on-demand delivery solutions.

Steps in Developing an on-demand Delivery App

An immersive and well-designed application can only be developed by an app development company who specializes in these types of services. So, hiring the right development company requires patience and research. That said, before you approach a service provider, it is vital to understand the development process. Here’s a list of steps moving forward: