There is no longer a wait of days for customers to get their orders. They are expecting food, groceries and packages to arrive the same day or even within an hour. In this transformation, on-demand delivery platforms have become essential for small businesses, far from being a luxury.
These platforms provide a link between businesses and drivers, automatically dispatch them and manage deliveries in real time. Failure to do so in the small business world can leave you with the loss of customers to your competitors who respond quicker.
Here are the details on what they do and why they are important, which ones are best for your business type, and how you can select the one that is right for you.
On-Demand Delivery Platforms: What Are They?
An on-demand delivery platform is a software that connects a company to the available drivers to deliver orders in no time. The platform matches the order with a local driver within minutes – no need to wait for a fixed schedule with a courier. There are three basic parts of most systems:
- An app or website for customers to place orders with.
- A mobile application for a driver to pick up jobs and drive them.
- A dashboard to monitor orders and order management for the business.
Under the hood, the software is able to automatically dispatch orders and locate the fastest available driver, without requiring any human involvement.
Why Small Businesses Need These Platforms
Back then, a couple of years ago, it would’ve been something that only big companies could do that would be fast delivery. That has changed. Similarly, delivery software is now affordable and designed for small businesses, a local bakery or pharmacy or a boutique can match the speed of a national chain.
The primary reasons for small businesses to use an on-demand delivery platform are:
Lower overhead. It’s costly to hire, train and insure your own delivery drivers. An existing driver network can be accessed via a delivery platform, rather than the construction of an original network.
Rising customer expectations. The norm today is same day delivery, rather than a premium. If it isn’t offered, it’s likely that the business will miss out on the sale to the one that does provide it.
Staying competitive. In fact, bigger companies have already employed rapid delivery to attract customers. The tools are the same and can be used by small businesses to compete on speed and service without a large logistics team.
Better customer retention. When people know they can count on you to deliver, they trust you. If customers know that their orders will be delivered on time, they will be more willing to return for a second purchase than they will be to switch to another competitor after just one bad experience.
Wider reach. Once a business integrates with an on-demand delivery network, they’re suddenly serving a much larger area, as their walk-in customers or small delivery radius are suddenly extended to a much greater distance. This creates opportunities for sales in neighborhoods and areas which have previously been unavailable.
Best On-Demand Delivery Platforms for Small Businesses
Not all platforms operate in the same manner. There are some that are designed for restaurants, others for retailers, and some that are more appropriate for businesses that already have their own drivers. Here are some options for solids that are good for various purposes.
DoorDash Drive
Restaurants and food companies are a great fit for DoorDash Drive, as it allows them to have their brand on the food. It’s a white label service, which means that the customers will see your brand name, not DoorDash’s, when you are delivering the meals, but you’ll be using the driver network that DoorDash has. This allows you to provide delivery services via your website and/or app without having to deal with hiring and managing drivers.
Onfleet
Onfleet is designed for companies that have their own delivery team. It provides comprehensive tracking and performance metrics, allowing you to gain insights into the performance of each driver and delivery. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses such as local pharmacies or specialty retailers where one needs accountability and desires to make adjustments and improvements in delivery operations over time.
Uber Direct and Shipday
For businesses that don’t have their own drivers, and are new to the delivery side of things, these platforms are a great option. They both have less expensive entry points, such as free or low volume plans and so it is a low-risk strategy to discover if on-demand delivery is right for your business prior to making a larger investment.
Lalamove
Lalamove is designed to deliver quickly to urban areas. It enables businesses to book a driver in minutes, making it beneficial for orders that require quick delivery in the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s effective for businesses that require fast pickup and drop-off, instead of planned and scheduled routes.
Roadie
Roadie’s specialties include delivering large or oddly-shaped objects that other carriers would refuse. Roadie is for furniture, appliances or items too big for a standard parcel service.
How To Select the Best Platform
The key deciding factors on the right on-demand delivery platform are having your own drivers, the number of orders you process and the importance of your brand control.
- Low order volume, no drivers? To try out the waters, begin by using a low-cost one such as Shipday or Uber Direct.
- Increased orders, increased ownership of drivers? With Onfleet you have data and tools to manage and grow your team.
- Have a restaurant or food business? For white label delivery, without the need to run a fleet, try DoorDash Drive.
- Desiring quick delivery services within the city? Lalamove books drivers within a short period of time for time sensitive orders.
- Do you have to sell large items or unusual items? Roadie deals with deliveries which are not possible with regular platforms.
No one platform is the best fit for all businesses. It depends on the platform’s capabilities and your requirements.
Key Features to Look for in Delivery Software
Regardless of the platform you select, there are some elements that truly make a difference when using the platform on a daily basis:
Real-time tracking. It should be possible to see the current location of an order at all times, both for you and your customers.
Order and post integration. The platform should be compatible with your current ordering system and orders should seamlessly pass through the platform without having to be entered manually.
Flexible pricing. Search for plans that will grow with your order size, meaning you’re not spending too much money when business is slow or too little money when it’s busy.
Reporting and analytics. By looking at delivery data you can identify delays, assess driver performance and know how to enhance service in the future.
Customer communication. Customers are kept in the loop with automatic order updates, delivery notifications and estimated delivery times, without any extra effort from you. This cuts down on the amount of “where’s my order?” calls and emails your team will receive.
Final Word
The need for on-demand delivery services is rapidly gaining momentum and small businesses that integrate delivery into their business now are in a better position to adapt with customer expectations on the rise. Do some research, try out one or two with a free trial or cheap package and select the platform that suits your order volume, your drivers and your branding requirements. Fast delivery isn’t just a convenience for customers anymore. It’s an essential requirement to remain competitive.
FAQs
1.What is an on-demand delivery platform?
It’s software that’s able to link companies to drivers who are available and to control the orders that are dispatched in real-time, and delivered.
2.Is on-demand delivery service just for big companies?
No. There are a number of platforms available that have free or low cost plans for small business. This allows quick and dependable shipping for local retailers, restaurants, and other small businesses.
3.What is the best platform for restaurants?
With white label delivery, DoorDash Drive is a great option for restaurant delivery. The restaurant is not branded as Door Dash’s, but as the customer’s own.
4.Do I need my own delivery drivers to use these platforms?
Not always. There are platforms that are designed for businesses that don’t have drivers, such as Uber Direct and Shipday.
5.What is the best delivery method for my business?
You need to consider three factors: Do you have your own drivers or not, how much volume of orders you average and if the brand is important to you or not.
Read More: Adultsrach: Everything You Need to Know About the Platform
