These days, everything is at the tip of your fingers, which is a wonderful thing. Everything from taxis to meals to shopping can be accomplished with a few simple taps on your smartphone screen. People increasingly choose to order their typical supermarket supplies online, just as they do for other items, just as they do for other things. Even more surprising is that nearly 25% of people in the United States order groceries through the internet. (Source: Nielsen) The demand for these products is continually increasing, propelling the sector to greater heights. By 2022, it is anticipated that the online grocery business would have grown to a whopping $133.8 billion in value. Consequently, demand for grocery delivery services as well as grocery delivery mobile app development solutions has increased, presenting an excellent opportunity for startups, traditional grocery stores, and technology companies should invest in their own mobile app development initiatives for food delivery
Table of Contents
Why Develop a Grocery Delivery App?
Despite the fact that online grocery purchasing is still in its infancy, the number of people who have used a digital grocery service has grown dramatically.
According to the figure’s location, South Korea is the leader in the online grocery shopping sector, with about 20% of its buyers preferring to buy goods from on-demand grocery delivery mobile apps on a regular basis.
As people get more competent at using technology, shopping apps are becoming more widespread. On-demand grocery delivery mobile applications and delivery platforms have seen a tremendous increase in comparison to prior years, as has the number of online customers. At any time of the day or night, people enjoy the convenience of ordering home goods and having them delivered at their convenience. As a result, there’s no need for customers to visit a store and stand in line while they’re charged. Because of this, internet buying has surged significantly. So, businesses and IT groups throughout the world are looking into establishing grocery delivery smartphone apps.
What is the procedure for using a grocery delivery mobile app?
The operation of a grocery delivery app on a mobile device is quite simple. It has a wide variety of groceries, as well as the ability to customize your search by adding filters. After searching for the items they want, customers can add them to their shopping cart and then go to the checkout. Many apps allow customers to specify a delivery date and time. Step by step, here are the instructions:
A user registered by providing the required information.
Log in with an email address or phone number and a password after signing up.
Look for the item that the consumer wants to buy.
Choose a product and click “Add to Cart.” Add to Cart and enter the address where the package should be delivered.
The user confirms the order by completing an online payment.
The order request is received by the administrator.
The request is forwarded to the manager of the supermarket store.
The store manager reacts to the request by accepting or denying it.
Store Manager Generates the Order Update Admin that courier service has collected the order Order successfully delivers to the client Courier Service updates both the Admin and the Customer.
Mobile Apps for Grocery Delivery
The market for smartphone apps that allow customers to get groceries online is quite competitive. Because there are so many companies in this sector, it’s critical to decide from the start which type of grocery delivery mobile app idea should grow with the company. The type of app you design will determine your complete resource set, as well as your operations and capital investment. You can check these possibilities if you want to create a Grocery Delivery Mobile App for your grocery store. In a nutshell, there are two types of apps:
Grocery Delivery Aggregator Apps
If you want to build a grocery delivery mobile app based on the aggregator model, you’ll need to work with local supermarkets. This strategy is typically favored by those who own their own grocery stores, operate a chain of stores, or have easy access to grocery stores. In this model, the customer is presented with a list of grocery stores from which to choose, and the user can purchase from any of the listed retailers.
The store is responsible for all aspects of the transaction, from order fulfillment through delivery, and you are merely a facilitator between the customer and the store owner.
Apps for Dedicated Grocery Delivery
All of the functionality of the aggregator model is included in the dedicated grocery delivery apps, but you must manage the entire order process in the dedicated model. To put it another way, other grocery stores would sign up for this platform and begin selling the items. You’d have your own fleet of delivery executives at your disposal. Your primary responsibility would be to assist consumers in placing orders and delivering things to them. As a result of the need for a dedicated fleet of delivery executives in this arrangement, the online grocery platform bears more accountability.
Canvas for a Grocery Delivery Mobile App Business Model
Features to Include When Developing a Grocery Delivery Mobile App
For its many entities, every program requires a baseline set of features and functionalities. Customers, Store Owners, and Admin are the three primary entities in a grocery delivery mobile app. The following are the characteristics of each of them:
Customers Panel for the Grocery Delivery App.
Customers should be able to register for the app with ease. A user can easily log in by providing basic information such as their name, email, phone number, and address.
Customers can explore products from a wide choice of food and grocery items to find what they need.
Advanced Search: Users should be able to apply filters to their searches to make them more efficient.
Customers must be able to pay using popular and user-friendly payment options such as Paytm, UPI, Paypal, and Google Pay.
It’s important for customers to be able to select their preferred delivery time window via the app.
Order tracking: Customers should receive alerts via SMS and mail, and they should be able to check the status of their orders in real-time.
Users should have complete control over the settings, which means they should be able to change information such as their phone number, email address, and so on.
Customers can submit reviews and ratings for the things they have received as well as the store. It will contribute to a better overall experience.
Store Owner Panel for Grocery Delivery App Development
Business Locator: The store owner can reposition his store on maps, and customers can look for it as a closed store and place orders through the map.
Customers can choose to pick up their orders from the store if they like. Customers’ offline grocery business will improve as a result of this.
Managing the profile: The store owner has complete control over his store’s profile. The owner can change or update their information at any time and from anywhere, including their name, email address, and phone number.
Live Tracking Path: Using GPS tracking or Google Maps, the store owner should be able to watch the status of the courier service in real-time.
Admin – Grocery Delivery App Development
Store Management: From a single location, the administrator may control all aspects of the store. The administrator can even manage many stores.
Admin can rapidly coordinate with managers and maintain a seamless workflow by coordinating with store owners.
Product list management: The administrator can manage and even control the product list, as well as alter prices in accordance with market standards and the desires of the store owner.
Order Tracking: Admin maintains a watch on every processing order, as well as the work process, for a more systematic approach.
Customer Management: The administrator should be able to manage customers and draw them to their demands by sending out regular notifications and contacting them as needed.
Feedback: The administrator collects all reviews and ratings in order to act on them in order to improve the customer’s experience.
Notification: The administrator sends the notification to inform customers and store managers of the order’s status.
Payment Management: The payment model is also managed via the online grocery solution admin panel.
Online Grocery Delivery Market Leaders
For individuals who don’t have time to go out and stand in long lines for groceries, online grocery delivery is a great choice. Furthermore, in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, grocery delivery is ideal for those who do not want to leave their homes. Before designing this app, you need to have a fundamental understanding of the market leaders and how they function. We’ve compiled a list of a handful of the industry’s behemoths.
Walmart Grocery Delivery
Walmart Grocery is one of the world’s most popular grocery delivery services, with more than a million customers worldwide. In total, it has a presence in more than 1,600 cities throughout the world. It began operations in a small number of cities in 2015, then rapidly expanded its footprint.
How Does It Work?
You can either use the Walmart Grocery app or go to the Walmart Grocery website. On the store, you can find a large variety of products. In addition to shipping, Walmart also provides the option of picking up your order. After you’ve chosen your things, you’ll need to decide whether you want to have them delivered or picked up.
Pricing and Shipping
The delivery expenses are usually in the range of $8 to $10. However, at $13 per month or $100 per year, there is a membership option called “Grocery Limitless,” which enables unlimited delivery. The delivery slots are typically accessible for 24 hours.
Learn more about how to create a Walmart-style eCommerce retail app.
Instacart
Instacart’s market size has increased dramatically. It has increased by 179 percent since August 2017 and by 75 percent since January 2018. Grocery delivery (and pickup) is now available to 80 percent of American households, up from 35 percent in 2017. For grocery delivery, Instacart is outshined by Shipt, Amazon, and FreshDirect in market share.
How Does It Work?
Instacart has a staff of local shoppers who go out and buy groceries from various merchants in the neighborhood. You may also buy groceries using Instacart’s recipe tool. There’s also the option to schedule delivery ahead of time or order on the spot.
Pricing and Shipping
The cost of delivery with Instacart is determined by the amount of your purchase and the delivery time you select. It’s possible that it’ll be in high demand during peak buying seasons. There is also a membership feature that allows customers to get free delivery on orders above $35.
Amazon Prime Now
Amazon is one of Walmart’s main competitors. As global leaders in their respective sectors, both firms engage in a vigorous battle for market share. Amazon’s food and beverage sales in the United States were $6.13 billion in 2019, accounting for 23.7 percent of overall food and beverage e-commerce sales in the United States.
How does it work?
One of the most valuable aspects of Amazon Prime membership is Amazon Prime Now. The delivery service relies primarily on Amazon’s several warehouses for merchandise. You may get a lot more than just meals delivered in this. With Prime Now, you can get everything from batteries to cleaning supplies delivered to your home in under two hours.
Pricing and Shipping
Amazon Prime Now is only available with an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $100 per year. Delivery within two hours is free, while an urgent one-hour service costs around $10. The minimum order value is $35; orders under this amount will be charged a $5 delivery fee.
Peapod is a Chicago-based online grocery delivery smartphone app that operates in a number of U.S. locations. Online grocery delivery service Peapod operates in 24 states across the United States. urban regions as of 2015.
How Does It Work?
Peapod resembles a typical grocery store far more than any of the other options on our list. Peapod’s online store is structured into “aisles,” and because the majority of the company’s merchandise is held in its own warehouses, customers can save money on shipping by picking up their own orders.
Pricing and Shipping
The cost of delivery is determined by the amount of the order. For orders of $30 (minimum amount), delivery prices are $10; for orders of $75 or more, delivery rates are $8; and for orders of $100 or more, delivery fees are $7.
Business Model: Regardless of the industry, it is critical to determine the business model you will be pursuing. The business models for the grocery delivery business area are relatively straightforward.
Commission
You can charge fees on every order the grocery store receives through your gateway in this scenario. You can also earn money by providing delivery services.
Charges for Promotions
You can also include a promotional function that allows grocery businesses to advertise on your app for a fee determined by market norms.]
Having Your Own Supply
If you are a determined entrepreneur, you can create your own company and buy things directly from the source, then put them on your web store. You can incorporate a revenue model into this business plan by charging customers a delivery fee directly.
Advanced Features to Consider When Developing a Grocery Delivery App
After you’ve implemented the basic functionality of your grocery delivery app, it’s time to focus on the features that will set your app apart. Here are some of the more complex features that will help your app stand out from the crowd.
Notifications through push.
When you are not using the app, push notifications are displayed on the screen in the form of alerts. You can provide relevant and customized content to your customers at the most appropriate times with these messages.
Tracking in real-time.
Sending frequent live tracking updates to a GPS device, such as a cellphone, is referred to as real-time tracking. As a result, the drivers deliver the products on time, and clients do not have to wait in suspense if there is a delay.
GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking.
A mobile GPS tracking device gives the consumer a highly tailored experience. It determines the user’s geographic location and returns information such as things to order, currency, local grocery stores, nearby retailers, and so on.
Tracking of one’s actions.
In order to provide a better user experience, behavior tracking entails tracking user response instances. The items the user last ordered, the most searched items, the shopping timing, and the user’s shopping pattern are examples of examples If you’re in Italy, for example, the app will advise you to eat pasta, lasagna, and other Italian dishes.
Analytics in real-time.
Real-time analytics is the examination of data as soon as it becomes accessible. It assists you in tracking user activity, detecting fraud, reducing costs, and increasing conversion rates and revenues.
Loyalty Programs are a type of loyalty program that rewards customers for their loyalty.
Loyalty programs enable organizations to maintain a regular level of engagement with their clients, thereby increasing brand loyalty. Redeemable Coins, Vouchers, Memberships, physical presents or gift cards, non-tangible prizes, and other programs are available.
Calling from within the app (Consumer and Store Owner Plus Delivery Boy).
Both the consumer and the store owner should be able to contact the delivery boy from within the app, similar to Uber, Ola, and others.
Consumer and Store Owner + Delivery Boy can chat in-app.
In the same way that in-app calling had a call feature, there should be a chat feature that allows the delivery boy to speak with both the client and the store owner.
Masking of numbers.
Phone number masking is a method of protecting the privacy of customers by linking them with the delivery boy without revealing their true phone numbers.
Navigation within the app.
In-app navigation, particularly using Google Maps, makes it simple for the user to track his or her location for the delivery address, as well as for the delivery boy to find the destination.
Ratings and reviews.
Reviews and ratings assist businesses in understanding their customers’ comments, as well as allowing other customers to learn about a store’s services based on its ratings.
Re-Ordering.
If a consumer wishes to place the same purchase several times, the re-ordering functionality allows them to do so without having to add things to their cart each time.
CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Integration
CRM integration may assist your company to centralize, optimize, and streamline customer interactions, as well as gain a better understanding of customers, boost segmentation, and customer retention, among other things.
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Integration
It gets more difficult to adequately manage all elements of your organization as it grows larger. ERP integration allows you to streamline and monitor all of your business activities.
Business intelligence is a term that refers to the study of data.
Business intelligence aids business owners in making more educated decisions based on correct data. It will eventually assist them in identifying new business prospects, cost savings, and inefficient processes that need to be re-engineered.
Dashboards that are unique to you.
Custom dashboards give every department in your company a dedicated spot to access, interact with, and analyze current data so they can make better data-driven decisions.
Visual Search is a term that refers to a search
When a user is unable to recognize an actual product but still wants to buy from your app, an AI-based visual search can help. Visual search is a type of online search that employs real-world visuals (screenshots, Internet images, or photographs) as the stimuli and returns the required results.
Assistive technology in the form of voice
Voice Assistance, often known as voice search, allows users to purchase using only voice instructions while performing other duties.
Recommendations.
Recommending related things to the customer while they were searching or browsing on your app improved the user experience and increased sales on your site.
Take a look at the difference between a web application and a Progressive Web App (PWA).
Although the world is moving towards mobile, many people still prefer to shop on a widescreen device, such as a desktop computer. As a result, it is critical to developing a web application for your business as well as a Progressive Web App (PWA) for those users who do not want to download apps for a one-time purchase.
The architecture of a Mobile App
A development team is required.
You’ll need a highly competent team to convert your idea become a reality when designing an app. For improved user engagement, the team should have experience building complicated bespoke features and compelling UI & UX. The following people should be on your team:
Manager of the project.
The project manager examines the requirement, communicates it to developers in technical terms, and oversees the project.
Developers of mobile applications.
The fundamental development of your app would be handled by mobile app developers. They are knowledgeable about the underlying technologies and languages that are used in mobile technology.
These are the people who work on the website’s front end.
These programmers are in charge of the app’s appealing user experience and design.
Back-end developers are those who work on the back-end of a website.
These programmers are in charge of the creation of plugins, database administration, APIs, and other backend functionality.
Expert in quality assurance.
A quality assurance expert examines the entire app, ensuring that all needed features and functionalities, as well as the app’s design, are operational.
How much does it cost to design a mobile app for grocery delivery?
Obviously, the cost of building apps such as food delivery apps is important. However, the cost of development is influenced by a number of factors. These are the following:
The development partner’s reputation
A prominent, experienced, and reputable mobile app development company, such as TCS, Infosys, or Wipro, will undoubtedly charge more than those who are still in the early stages of their business.
The app development team’s geolocation
The location of the development company has an impact on the expenses as well. For example, development costs in Southeast Asia can range from $20 to $30 per hour, whereas in North America, they can reach hundreds of dollars per hour.
Team Size & Timeline
The company’s fees will almost certainly grow if you need an app right away. Having a large staff of developers also increases the cost.
MVP OR A FULL GROCERY DELIVERY APP
A minimal viable product is an app with only the most basic functions, whereas a full-fledged product has both basic and advanced capabilities. In Southeast Asia, an MVP grocery delivery app can cost between 15 and 25 thousand dollars, while a full-fledged app can cost between 25 and 35 thousand dollars. If you’re new to this market, it’s best to start with a minimum viable product (MVP) and progressively expand the app’s functionality.
It’s critical to pick the right app development partner.
Developing a flawless grocery delivery mobile app requires a skilled and experienced mobile app development partner, even if you have done extensive research into the grocery delivery domain. This is because grocery delivery app development involves multiple API integrations and customized functionalities. As a result, choosing an e-commerce solution provider with in-depth knowledge of the area as well as the required tech stack is critical.