Hyperlocal ecommerce deliveries- Bringing faint signals of change only to become strong signals later

'It all began with quick delivery of products and prompt satiation of services. Hyperlocal ecommerce deliveries have since then rendered business perspective to transform abundantly and consumer behavior to evolve tremendously. And these delivery capabilities are now indomitably dictating the rules of the game, called hyperlocal ecommerce.'

Introduction

While ecommerce has appealed to the masses on a global level, hyperlocal ecommerce has been around for a while ensuring that this appeal doesn’t fade away with time. Hyperlocal ecommerce, by virtue of having tremendous capabilities to deliver to the customers, has been a harbinger of good times in the hyperlocal ecommerce industry. It started with food delivery companies, realizing the importance of making reach hot and savoury meals to the customers’ doorsteps in quick time.

To enable this, they had to rely on a model that can find in its vicinity or nearby location, both the sellers and the buyers. This prompted businesses to adopt a highly efficient and refined version of ecommerce, which has today come to be known as the hyperlocal ecommerce model. Had it not been for the food delivery industry and the subsequent foundation laid for aspiring businesses and budding entrepreneurs, hyperlocal ecommerce would not have acquired the present shape as enormously as it has.

What food delivery has done to the ecommerce space is indeed inspiring and riveting to observe- a history in the making sort of a thing. As a matter of fact, and fortune that just followed afterwards, the food delivery businesses were the pioneer ones to jump on the bandwagon of hyperlocal delivery. What followed them is the coming into being of groceries, home utility essentials, stationary supplies, packaged gifts, medicines, laundry services, and all that which can delivered to the customers’ doorsteps just about instantly and conveniently.

The birth of hyperlocal ecommerce

As is the contemporary belief, it was with the commencement of food deliveries that hyperlocal ecommerce took birth and started to evolve. Food delivery companies like Dunzo, Swiggy and Zomato did test the ground and made a lot of hyperlocal deliveries before eventually stepping into the hyperlocal space full-fledged. Pioneering supply chain efficiencies, and building upon logistics management and associated delivery services, these companies provided immense strength to themselves and a fresh perspective to businesses that were aspiring to grow.

Notably though, there were numerous companies providing minimal hyperlocal delivery services in the late 2000s, like Food Panda and Zomato. But the success of these ventures was rather short-lived, likely due to the lack of funding and technology needed to efficiently track and deliver items in a timely manner. This having happened about more than a decade back, hyperlocal ecommerce as it stands today, has not just traversed several industries but has permeated scores of countries and regions too.

Yes! This rather new perspective about things that could be delivered to the customers’ doorsteps instantly and conveniently never remained restricted to sumptuous foods and luscious meals and restrained by geographical boundaries. Few of the most impacted businesses viz a viz groceries, pharmaceuticals, home essentials, etc., started delivering similarly- through a hyperlocal model, at a global level.

The businesses therein had to partner with hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software companies in order to let hyperlocal deliveries endure and prevail the test of times. No sooner did these deliveries went down extremely well with the customers, businesses made hay so much so that hyperlocal deliveries are now more prevalently known as the new norm in the world of ecommerce.

As these businesses and several others laid their hands on hyperlocal ecommerce, customers were never left far behind. The contemporary customers, being at the centre of hyperlocal operations and subsequent growth, are wanting services and deliveries to be quick and convenient- be they groceries, food, medicines, beauty products, home essentials, packaged gifts, laundry services, grooming sessions at home, and everything that can be fulfilled easily and promptly. They have become increasingly ravenous about hyperlocal deliveries and that has led to all the growth that exists today in the hyperlocal space.

Hyperlocal ecommerce’s abundant growth

Hyperlocal delivery of fast food, groceries, fruits and vegetables has accelerated with the introduction of local neighbourhood vendors, stand-alone food outlets, multiple online grocery stores, e-commerce platforms and other delivery-based start-ups who have forged partnerships with the local stores and nearby supermarkets. It has also helped in a way that many of the retail stores are now managed by a newer generation which is willing to embrace technology in their daily lives. The in-store experience has now transitioned to an in-hand shopping experience through intuitive mobile apps.

With the goal of making sellers and buyers come together and as close to each other as possible, businesses had to put faith in some of the leading hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software platforms, standing upon which they could see the growth of hyperlocal ecommerce deliveries. Satisfied and convinced, prudent businesses across an array of industries jumped on the bandwagon and went hyperlocal. While they planned and committed resources to their hyperlocal cause, they were aiming to cater just as brilliantly as possible to the evolving needs of the customers.

In fact, hyperlocal deliveries have been majorly driven by rising consumer demand fuelled by the increasing number of well-funded start-ups solidly backed by immaculate hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software partners, curated products and services and their promise of on-demand delivery. Their success has led to interest and participation by some of the large business houses and online giants. Moreover, the ‘near me’ concept catching up with the occupied consumers in metros, cities and towns has tremendously added to the hyperlocal craze, with a majority of them embracing the ‘ideal blend of online comfort and physical re-assurance.’

Few features of a hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software that tested the waters for some time and they are now a big hit among consumers

Hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software and apps have brought about one-of-a-kind revolution in the ecommerce space. It has not just transformed the way business was conducted, but it has changed the perspective and expectations of a variety of stakeholders, with consumers being the most vulnerable ones.

There have been a lot of unique features of modern day delivery software and apps that were introduced to appeal to the masses and they have been pretty successful in what they wanted. They have just left the customers delighted and wanting for more.

Real time order tracking is one feature that customers have been liking a lot and looking forward to, with more improvements lined up as technology progresses. They can easily and quite transparently keep a watch on their orders once they place it.

Not just this, but several hyperlocal players have reduced friction to a significant extent by providing payment and extending last mile delivery expertise to the neighborhood stores.

Moreover, technologies such as geolocation or geo-tagging and contextual targeting tools have effectively and quite considerably driven the ecommerce sector into hyper-localism.

Future of hyperlocal ecommerce

Hyperlocal businesses are upbeat about the future of the modern-day quick commerce. With technological improvements bound to lead instant deliveries into the consumer households, hyperlocal businesses are poised to go a long way. Supplemented with all the expected advancements in supply chain and operations, the hyperlocal growth will make for one fascinating sight to behold- for the customers, businesses, investors and all the stakeholders so concerned.

Hyperlocal businesses are expected to continue using artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to focus on solving key issues like route planning, order consolidation, estimating optimum time slots and overall servicing costs. Using blockchain technology and the incorporation of cryptocurrencies can be yet another milestone for businesses to deal with the payment hassles of the customers.

Increased customer targeting via demographics and psychographics segmentation is likely to gain traction as we see some rapid and massive growth in this sector in the future.

Wrapping up

All the boom and prosperity witnessed in the hyperlocal space till now is just the beginning. Promising same day delivery and providing features like geolocation and real time order tracking may just be a preliminary screening for businesses testing the ground before the final take off. Having led the customers into direly wanting instant and convenient deliveries and with them becoming habitual of the exciting features that come along with it, the hyperlocal space has sent strong signals for the businesses dwelling therein to step up their game. With yet a lot of technological amendments and limitless automation up the businesses’ sleeves, the current hyperlocal growth as we witness it, may just be the tip of the iceberg.

Incorporation of blockchain technology, machine learning algorithms, and drone delivery and robotics, can bring about an unprecedented revolution in the hyperlocal space. It can arm hyperlocal ecommerce businesses with the requisite paraphernalia- ones that perfectly align with the modern day needs and requirements, thereby empowering them to dictate the rules of the game they are gradually capitalizing upon.

It's time to get ready for the much sooner than anticipated welcome to the world of hyperlocal ecommerce deliveries- ones that started as faint signals of change in the ecommerce space just a few years back and that which are now strong and capable enough to trespass and supersede every hurdle that may be a threat to their very ‘hyperlocal’ existence.