Of times when hyperlocal ecommerce deliveries are thumpingly saying- Bring it on!

“The times are getting competitive indeed. Despite all the challenges and hurdles faced, one thing that stands tall and singular in the business world is the growth of hyperlocal ecommerce and its tremendous track of delivering conveniently and speedily to the masses.”

Introduction

Hyperlocal ecommerce has been going pretty good in its pace. The last few years have been witnessing a steady growth in the hyperlocal ecommerce delivery industry. In fact, for the past three decades or so, since ecommerce has been operational, it has never changed as much as it did in the previous three years.

Ever since the outbreak of the pandemic in the world, where at least parts and portions of every country were severely hit, if not all, hyperlocal ecommerce businesses have come upfront and have come up with overwhelming hyperlocal ecommerce delivery solutions for everyone affected by the pandemic. Yes! Hyperlocal ecommerce businesses, by virtue of owning immaculate and efficient hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software, have made life easier for businesses and customers alike. They have in fact ushered in a new lease of life especially in businesses for whom growth and development were hard to fathom, and for customers, especially the less techno-savvy ones or the technology skeptics, for whom using technology intensive gadgets and smartphones was no child’s play or was rather an unconvincing proposition.

Courtesy to modern day hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software and apps, businesses and customers of today, have rightly understood the benefits that arise out of the use of modern-day technology, have perfectly acclimatized themselves to the hyperlocal scenario, and are now spoilt for choice as they thankfully have the entire world of products and services in front of them to choose from.

Hyperlocal ecommerce deliveries- Increasing in abundance

The hyperlocal ecommerce industry has been making a steady pace of progress, if observations and statistics are to be believed. Quite literally though, they have taken the world by storm. The market share of hyperlocal delivery services worldwide is estimated to reach 3634.3 billion USD by 2027. That’s a 17.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from the year 2021 to 2027. These figures are in perfect tune with the way the hyperlocal ecommerce delivery space is progressing.

Starting off with food delivery services, hyperlocal ecommerce has come a long way. You name a product or service, and it will, in all likelihood, have a hyperlocal presence- groceries, pharmaceuticals, home essential services, packed gift items, laundry services, and all that the hyperlocal ecommerce model is capable of delivering.

Some noteworthy hyperlocal delivery companies that have brought about a revolution in the hyperlocal ecommerce delivery space are Zomato, Swiggy, Dunzo, Blowhorn, Wefast, Grab, Pidge, Grofers, etc. Barring a few, most of these hyperlocal delivery companies have diversified to provide delivery of items outside food, pharmaceuticals and groceries.

Hyperlocal delivery companies, such as the ones listed above, integrate with robust and economical hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software companies to deliver goods and services of variety and provide customers a set of feasible delivery solutions. Not only does this enhance and enrich the customer experience, but it also saves hyperlocal ecommerce businesses a lot of time and money by getting rid of the entire warehousing and transportation process. The only limitation for hyperlocal delivery is the size of the order being delivered. Order sizes in hyperlocal delivery don’t usually go above 10-12 kgs. And anything below that weight doesn’t go undelivered. That’s hyperlocal ecommerce for you. Since the day of its coming into being, it has spread to several industries today and it continues to lay its hands upon each and every other industry that has just not become hyperlocal yet.

Contemporary consumer behavior and modern-day ecommerce

Though the contemporary consumers have become pretty demanding of things and ravenous of hyperlocal deliveries, modern day ecommerce businesses have just not left anything to serendipity. They have been playing an instrumental role in shaping consumer behavior. From making week long deliveries to delivering within a few minutes, hyperlocal ecommerce has just been at the helm of every trade and commerce that has been happening online.

But, of the myriad factors that have compelled the consumers to bring about a continuous change or modification in their behavior, one of the most evident ones is the outbreak of the pandemic. As countries went into lockdowns, shops closed down and people were isolated or quarantined, customers resorted to online shopping to meet their daily needs. As a matter of fact, compared with May 2019, ecommerce sales more than doubled in the year, seeing a 110.8% increase. Even tier II and tier III cities that were previously outside the ambit of online commerce contributed heavily to its popularity during the pandemic. Yes! A lot of that was possible because of food, pharmaceutical and grocery companies preferred offering quick hyperlocal deliveries to customers.

Call it the growing rapaciousness of consumers or the success of hyperlocal deliveries, the pandemic completely changed the face of consumer behaviour. One thing that we all can be certain about is the fact that today’s customers are just not happy with long estimated dates of delivery (EDDs). In fact, shipping costs and longer EDDs are two of the biggest reasons for cart abandonment among modern day consumers. As a result, ecommerce businesses and logistics partners have had to figure out ways to meet rising customer expectations, that too efficiently, conveniently and instantly.

To this rising need of theirs, hyperlocal was the answer. Hyperlocal delivery is an attractive and a truly potent way of delivering orders to customers at the earliest. Most hyperlocal deliveries will take anywhere between 45 minutes to a few hours for order delivery depending on the geographical area and the proximity of local stores- something that appeals and interests the customers of modern era. With them having an extreme paucity of time, they just cannot wait for long for their products and services to reach them- perhaps the reason why they left buying from brick-and-mortar stores or traditional ecommerce that had long serpentine queues or even longer estimated times of delivery.

Future of hyperlocal ecommerce in the light of demands of contemporary customers

It’s bright! Since consumers are at the pivot of modern-day business decision making process, they ought to be served well- exceptionally well! And that could only be done with the adoption of a hyperlocal delivery model. With hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software companies working unfailingly and tirelessly 24*7 to keep developing immaculate software and apps at the backend, hyperlocal industry can surely expect flourishing times ahead.

The rising number of organic customers is a proof in itself as to how developed and demanded the hyperlocal ecommerce deliveries have become and what it means and promises for its stakeholders. As consumers continue to look for a variety of products and services on hyperlocal platforms to be delivered to them just as quickly as the blink of an eye, there are high hopes from the hyperlocal ecommerce delivery companies. And this hopefulness should make for more competitive and well-developed hyperlocal businesses in the times to come.

Now, with the contemporary consumers having got a taste of hyperlocal deliveries, they would not be accepting anything less or too humble to be given way. To this expected firm behavior of theirs, going forward is the only way out. And ‘the way out’ is nothing but ‘hyperlocal’, which is what most of the prudent businesses of today have been adhering to and strategizing around.

Wrapping up

As newer technologies get to take over the older ones, and as consumers’ wants for instant, convenient and tamper-proof deliveries grow, hyperlocal ecommerce businesses will have a significant role to play. The role of companies that work incessantly on developing a software that meets the needs of the customers exceedingly well and offers them customized delivery solutions, will also be worth watching.

Easy adoption of smartphones and increased penetration of internet and use of technology driven apps has made the contemporary consumers ravenous and have left them wanting for more. With the consumers tastes and preferences consistently changing and getting refined like anything in today’s times, more of hyperlocal ecommerce is demanded of modern-day businesses each day. Having said that, several businesses have been just about quite successfully and brilliantly meeting and fulfilling those myriad number of customer expectations every day.

Now, with increased access to technology, automation, drone delivery prospects, advanced robotics mechanisms, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, futuristic and hard headed businesses are game for anything that comes their way. Be it food, groceries, medicines, stationaries, home essentials, or anything that you just feel may be delivered quickly and easily, contemporary businesses are owning every bit of the hyperlocal need, satisfying it pretty unfailingly, and vehemently pushing for more hyperlocal practices, as if they are saying aloud to the ever-rapacious customers of today- Come on! Bring it on.