RISING OPPORTUNITIES OF DELIVERY APPS IN PANDEMIC

EASY LIVES IN PANDEMIC

All of us were forced to give up the privileges of going out for shopping, dining and other fun activities due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. With so many restrictions imposed, it has become difficult for many of us to carry out our daily schedule.

Digitalization and many tech-innovations have made our lives a lot manageable than one could have ever imagined. Delivery apps has helped all consumers to stay safe at their homes and follow the pandemic guidelines. It’s one of those tech-innovations that we all are extremely grateful for.

Everyone within the comfort of their homes can order anything and everything with the help of the delivery apps in their mobile phones, and the commodity would be present on their doorsteps in a matter of few hours. Customers have started to enjoy the convenience these delivery apps provide with its products and services.

COMPANIES' STRATEGY TO KEEP ITS CUSTOMERS HOOKED

Plenty Marketing Strategies are developed by these app companies to keep their customers hooked and to attract more consumers every day. Since many customers spend large amount of time on social media, marketing on Social Media platforms has played a huge role in increasing their sales. Frequently we see many famous companies like, Swiggy, Zomato, Big Basket posting captivating contents on social media (Instagram, Twitter) to draw attention of the customers to their apps.

Updating customers about their new services through emails, attractive & smooth operating mobile apps, promoting through famous actors has all been immensely effective in the rising demands of several delivery apps.

DELIVERY APPS v/s RETAIL SHOPS

The food delivery apps started around 20 years ago. But it has recently come into limelight due to the pandemic. Initially, before Pandemic many restaurant owners avoided signing up with the delivery apps, because it added costs to their business expenditure. Now, due the pandemic consumers are not allowed to go out and spend, this incurs huge loss to many restaurants.

Delivery apps act like a bridge between the restaurant owners and the food lovers. These apps are not only beneficial to the consumers, but also to the restaurant owners. It is because of these apps that many restaurant owners are still able to make some profits.

· Along with food Delivery apps, various e-commerce delivery apps have gotten boost in the pandemic like:

· grocery apps (Bigbasket, Grofers),

· medicine apps (PharmaEasy, NetMeds),

· home service apps, miscellaneous (Amazon, Flipkart).

Delivery apps have now become a necessity in every common man's life. Imagining our lives without Swiggy, Amazon, Bigbasket is almost next to impossible.

In 2020, the Indian online food delivery market was worth around $4.35 billion. This was a strong increase compared from the year prior (2019) when the market size was around $2.9 billion.

According to Statista, total revenue of food delivery companies, Swiggy in India was approximately about 30 billion Indian rupees. Its competitor Zomato amounted to 25 billion Indian rupees; this was big surge from the year 2019.

Demand for these delivery apps is increasing in our everyday life. These apps have been successful in understanding the needs of the customers during the pandemic and have come out with easy, innovative solutions to help and keep customers safe at their homes all over the world.

With all amazing services provided by these delivery apps, the opportunities for delivery apps have risen considerably. Indeed, the delivery apps have turned out to be a blessing in the time of a pandemic.

SOURCES

Lydia Dishman, 2020, The Delivery App Landscape Is Changing and Sustaining Businesses During COVID-19: U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Revenue of food delivery apps in India from financial year 2017 to 2020, by company (in billion Indian rupees).