On-demand apps have been big business for quite a few years now, but the challenge of Coronavirus has effectively been a test of how much strain these on-demand service apps can handle. As most people are sheltering at home, they’re relying more and more on these delivery apps to keep them supplied with everything they need.
Chances are that things won’t be reverting back to the way they were, at least not completely. We can expect different types of on-demand apps to be a dominant force in the economy looking forward, and we can expect to see smaller businesses creating apps that center their product or service and keep customers coming back. Here’s what you need to know about starting or operating an on-demand app in the time of Coronavirus and beyond.
Why Does Your Company Need an On-demand App?
No matter what the size of your company or the service or product you’re offering, chances are that you can come up with an on-demand concept that suits the needs of your family. Some of these advantages are unique to different types of businesses, but here are the important ones to consider.
Scalability
The great thing about an app-based model is that the fundamentals can scale just as well to the needs of an enterprise-level business as they can to the needs of a small business. That’s especially true of on-demand apps that simply serve as a means to connect the user with a third-party service.
Convenience
The average consumer is assaulted by countless stimuli in the course of the day, and that means that it can be hard to get your brand in front of a customer and even harder to get them to continue to engage. An app stays on the user’s phone, providing you with a means to reach them directly through methods like push-button notifications.
This value has been magnified in times of COVID-19, as many of the conveniences that are prioritized in on-demand mobile app development are also dramatically useful in times of social distancing.
Actionable Data
The great thing about having an app in the hands of your users is that it can offer you very granular information on your users and how they’re interacting with your app. Information on how users interact with touchpoints and how long they linger on pages can help provide your team with insight into how the app can be improved.
But it also provides input into how your user’s shop. Combine that with shopping data and personal information, and you’re left with a robust set of demographics for guiding your business.
Low Long-Term Cost
One persuasive argument for on-demand apps is that most of their cost is buried in overhead — and it’s a cheap solution even by that standard. On-demand apps can often allow you to strip down your real-world administrative needs like office space and keep the operating work force low.
Depending on the model, there may be operational costs in forms like training, the addition of new features, software updates, and marketing. But those demands will vary from business to business, and they’re often far more malleable and compact than they’d be in a more traditional service-based model.
Different types of On-demand Delivery Applications
Our economy is arguably transforming into one driven primarily by on-demand delivery apps. In the meantime, there is a myriad of different sectors where on-demand delivery apps are gaining ground.
Grocery Delivery Apps
Everyone needs to eat, and that’s allowed grocery delivery services to explode in popularity in the past year. Some services like Postmates have even begun to offer prescription delivery services, offering a lifeline to the elderly and others at high risk. While third-party grocery delivery apps are popular, many chains are beginning to employ their own shopping services.
Restaurant Delivery Apps
Restaurant delivery apps have surged similarly to grocery delivery apps in the past few years. In fact, they’ve helped create the rise of delivery-only “virtual restaurants” that are created in the kitchens of existing restaurants. Combined with the rising popularity of food carts and pods, these app-based services could redefine dining.
Package Store Delivery Apps
If you’re looking to buy a bottle of liquor or a pack of cigarettes, there’s a different app for that. While some grocery shopping apps do deliver tobacco and alcohol products, local and state regulations can be complicated. But there are a number of different apps like Saucey and Drizly which are dedicated to alcohol and tobacco products as well as snacks.
Conclusion
There are a lot of opportunities for on-demand delivery apps, and those opportunities will only grow as we adjust to a changing world. But if you don’t know how to make on-demand delivery app design works, it might be time to bring in a mobile app development service for a consultation.