The Future of Hyperlocal Ecommerce: How Software is Driving Innovation

As people embraced social distancing, the home quarantine become a new normal, they turned to online shopping more than ever before. As per the report by NielsenIQ data shows that 67% of all consumers report they have changed the way they shop due to COVID-19, and this figure is poised for further growth. Interestingly, the retailers too stepped up to the challenge, not just by supporting more online sales but by embracing the emerging technologies that created fresh connections with the post-pandemic era shoppers in order to make their shopping experiences more convenient. And this gave birth to one of the most challenging segments is e-commerce that is hyperlocal.

What is hyperlocal e-commerce?

There has always been a market for delivering products, goods and other supplies. The markets have been in existence since ages and they have also been making home deliveries for many years, even before the technology existed–be it milk, paper, morning groceries, pet supplies, bakery products and so on. The hyperlocal business focuses on geographically nearby consumers for fulfilling their on-demand needs through web-mobile or any online platform including social media. All the hyperlocal ecommerce requires is a strong local delivery network with both the vendors and customers in a small area of few kilometers or miles. The seller or store who plans to connect in hyper-local e-commerce should have the option to display their products/service and have the inventory details updated with detailed serviceable location details and a full fledged order processing system.

Increasing reach of hyperlocal eCommerce

With the increasing demand of hyperlocal deliveries, hyperlocal ecommerce businesses are coming up quickly. Some of the businesses are where it has made in-roads are:

• Grocery
• Food businesses like restaurants, cake shop/bakeries
• Medical products
• Electronics
• Clothes
• Services

Hyperlocal e-commerce market to have a golden future

The global Hyperlocal Service Market Size was valued at $1,714.60 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $5,188.60 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.9% from 2021 to 2030. This is majorly attributed to hectic schedule of the customers, improved mobile technologies, advances in internet connectivity, and increased urbanized population.

Hyperlocal ecommerce software

In a highly fierce competitive market like todays, to give your hyperlocal ecommerce business an edge you need to have an efficient and scalable hyperlocal ecommerce software in place.

How does ecommerce software function?

An ecommerce delivery software provides a platform that enables local offline businesses to cater to the needs of their targeted customers by ensuring timely delivery anywhere, it could be few meters or few kilometers from the location. The ecommerce software smoothens the entire process, starting right from placing the order through a mobile application, allocation of order to the delivery partner till the delivery of the order to the end user, who can make payment both online and off-line.

As the experts say the success of the ecommerce business will purely depend upon choosing the right delivery software. There are many ecommerce delivery software available in the market and hence one has to be very cautious while selecting the software as it’s the software that will decide the fate of the business.

How to choose the best ecommerce software?

Hyperlocal ecommerce experts say that in the era of quick deliveries when the delivery time has reduced to one minute or so, one has to be sure that they pick the right software, fully loaded with present day features. Here is a list of present day features that are a must-have in the software:-

1. Smooth registration process

The very first thing that customers do while logging on the mobile application that is a part of ecommerce software is to register themselves. And hence, the registration process should be smooth and easy. You must remember that your customers may choose not to complete the process if it is complicated.

2. Clutter free search option

Once the registration is over, the search will be the second most thing which a customer will do on the mobile application and hence the search option should be quick and simple. It should be programmed in a way that it fetches the result quickly.

3. Multiple Payment Gateways

As a business owner, payments are critical to your ecommerce delivery business. When you make the payment procedure simple-and-secure, it helps. It should have an option of multiple payment gateways and should also accept payment in terms of bitcoins, which is an in-thing nowadays. The payment options offer a wide range of choices to your customers.

4. Tracking in Real-Time

The users can not only contact the delivery person to get a time estimate, but they can also track the progress in real-time. Now, that’s cool. The user can get a correct estimate that reduces the anxiety of waiting for the delivery.

5. Reviewing Order History

What if users want to see their previous orders? It’s always convenient to place similar orders. What can you do? You can add the Order History feature to allow users to place the same order again. Users can click to place the order again, eliminating the process of searching the ecommerce products and adding it to the cart and so on.

6. Rating the product

Customers love to use the rate and review feature. It’s an incredible way of telling other users about their experiences, and a must-have.

7. Offers, Promos, Push Notifications

The feature of Offers and Promos is essential for your ecommerce delivery app. It can play a significant role in customer retention and win brand loyalty. Who doesn’t like to buy products for a discounted price? When customers get attractive promos and offers, they are delighted to order.

Here is a list of admin-oriented features which an ideal ecommerce software should have;-

1. ‘Auto pilot’ mode

Hyperlocal ecommerce delivery software comes with some unique features. Of the many features, the ‘auto mode’ ensures automatic allocation of orders to the drivers thereby eliminating the dealy faced during the manual assignments. This is one such feature that is a must have in the ecommerce delivery software.

2. Making use of your data

With an online ecommerce delivery software, you (as a business owner) can ensure to get data of your delivery associates that can include details like total deliveries received, orders completed, orders delayed, your delivery associate status, total vehicles (availability, in-transit), delivery associate battery status to ensure communication link is maintained.

3. Geo-fencing

This unique feature in the ultra-modern ecommerce delivery software that enables the restaurant owner to mark the delivery area, by doing which the owner can make the best use of the resources and may not spend excessively on the delivery cost. This is one of the most cost saving features that is found nowhere else than in the online ecommerce delivery software.

Conclusion

Hyperlocal ecommerce delivery can be done with anything like cabs, cars, bikes, or any public transport and can happen with anything like car service, grocery, food, etc. Today, most of the hyperlocal delivery models are just in time. It takes time to build partnerships with other merchants and delivery agencies, target the right audience, and build a great mobile app. But all these things will give your business the edge you need.