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:
 

Step#1 Identifying project objectives: Businesses have varying requirements based on their revenue model and services they offer. App development companies start the development process by carefully analyzing the businesses demands, target audience, and deliverables. They should know the revenue model to suggest the most appropriate and suitable features for the application, with budgeting decided upon based on the information provided by the company.

Step#2 Suitable technology stack: This is the stage where resources required for app development are decided. From the set of technologies, frameworks, programming languages to APIs and other tools, all these resources are identified in order to define the development plan for the app.

Step#3 UI/UX design: Includes finding the most suitable and user-friendly design for the app. Always make sure that the app is easily accessible and is SIMPLE TO USE. Complicated apps never last. Call me for live examples I can show of competing apps that are simply ridiculous… and we can have a good laugh together.  Make sure to create a design with an easy navigation menu, simple sign-up process, etc.

Step#4 Coding: Once all the resources are assembled, coders are charged with writing elegant code using HTML, CSS tags along with JavaScript and the core language framework. The code is tested and revised multiple times to ensure error-free results.

Step#5 Testing / User Acceptance Testing (UAT):  This is the final phase in the software development lifecycle where the end-users or clients test the software to ensure it meets their requirements and functions as expected. During UAT, real-world scenarios are simulated to validate that the software is both fit for purpose and reliable, often using a set of pre-defined test cases. Any defects or issues identified are then fixed and retested before the software is approved for production deployment. This process serves as a critical quality assurance step, aimed at confirming that the software delivers the desired outcomes and is user-friendly.

Step#6 Launch: The final phase before releasing an app is the app’s deployment. This entails packaging and distribution of the app-to-app stores or platforms; making sure it is compatible and that it follows successful launch guidelines. As of this writing, there are three app platforms, Windows, Apple and Android, but 99.99% of all apps are only released on the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

Development Cost Factors

Platform Choice: Deciding whether to develop for iOS, Android, or both can significantly affect costs. Native development for each platform requires separate coding, testing, and maintenance, thereby increasing the overall costs. Additional points to consider include:

1. Native Development: Developing natively for iOS and Android means you'll essentially be building two separate apps, each requiring its own set of technologies and skills. For iOS, you'd typically use Swift or Objective-C, and for Android, Kotlin or Java. This doubles the development effort, thereby increasing costs.

2. Cross-Platform Development: Tools like React Native or Flutter allow you to write code once and deploy it on both iOS and Android. While this can save time and money, it may not provide the same level of performance or user experience as native apps.

➤ Developer Skillset: Specialized developers are needed for each platform in native development. iOS developers may command different rates than Android developers, and the availability of these specialists can also impact costs.

➤ Testing and QA: Native apps require separate testing procedures for each platform, adding to the time and cost. Cross-platform apps may reduce this effort but could introduce unique bugs that arise from the shared codebase.

➤ Platform-Specific Features: Some features may be easier to implement on one platform than another or may only be available on one platform. This could necessitate additional development time to find workarounds or alternatives, thereby affecting costs.

➤ App Store Submission: The cost and time involved in submitting an app to the Apple App Store and Google Play also differ. Apple has a more stringent review process, which could lead to multiple iterations and potential delays, adding to costs.

➤ Feature Complexity: The number and complexity of features you want to include in the app play a crucial role in determining the cost. Advanced functionalities like real-time tracking, payment gateways, or machine learning algorithms can add to the development time and cost.

➤ Design Requirements: Customized user interfaces and user experiences require specialized design skills, which can increase the overall budget. The more intricate the design, the higher the cost.

➤ Development Team: The expertise and location of your development team can also impact costs. Highly experienced developers or agencies may charge more, and rates can vary significantly between countries.

➤ Ongoing Maintenance: Post-launch, apps require regular updates, bug fixes, and possibly new features to keep users engaged and ensure security. These ongoing costs can add up over time and should be factored into the initial budget.
 

Key Takeaways

On-demand delivery app development is a crucial service when it comes to launching a tech-driven application. Statista's survey reveals that the food delivery app market revenue will reach $500 billion mark by 2027.

On-demand mobile apps must provide exceptional features like order tracking, restaurant locator, customized menus, etc. On-demand delivery services for other industries include medicine delivery, grocery delivery, goods, and services deliveries to companies etc. But the food delivery segment still dominates the on-demand delivery app market. Digitization has made it easier for people to relish their favorite meals from the comfort of their homes. This has become even more relevant since the trend of ‘Netflix and Chill’ emerged, wherein people relax on their couch and enjoy their meals while watching a movie or series.

If you need a food delivery app that can add value to your business, then Skytech Mobile is here to assist you. We possess an experience of two decades in delivering software development solutions. Our expertise includes:

✅ Mobile app development
✅ Custom application development
✅ Website development
✅ Web app development
✅ Management systems

Skytech Mobile, a division of Sofvue, LLC, a company based in Phoenix, Arizona, has been developing mobile application systems for companies since 2010, and for a wide swath of B2b, service and manufacturing industries across the United States. Whether you want a food delivery app, on-demand service app or a custom e-commerce mobile app, our skilled team will convert your ideas into success using elegant mobile technologies. If you have a project in mind, call us at 623-845-2747 to learn more.

You may also like to read: A Complete Guide to Building B2B SaaS Mobile Apps

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