There has never been a higher demand for meal delivery services. Uber Eats provides its Happy Meals to over 6000 cities worldwide, generating over $4.8 billion in sales (about $15 per person in the US). The demand for such apps skyrocketed after COVID-19 stoked the flames. There is still a lot of opportunity, and a novel approach could help them find success. The actual issue is how much it will set you back to create an app for meal delivery.
To assist you, we have compiled a comprehensive reference to the cost of food delivery app development, including everything from the business models of existing apps to industry statistics to the development process and its impact on pricing. You can also take the help of best food delivery app development company in New York to sustain in Food Delivery business.
What is a Food Delivery App?
Deliveries from eateries, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other businesses can be made straight to your doorstep using a meal delivery app. A food delivery app can facilitate communication between the user and the establishment being ordered from.
However, certain apps, like Domino’s, are company-specific and can only be used by its consumers.
Statistics and Data on the Growing Food Delivery App Market
The internet food delivery sector is predicted to generate $1 trillion in sales by 2023.
With an annual revenue share of $395 million, China’s online meal delivery sector is far and away the largest in the world.
A recent survey found that more than 86 per cent of Americans have used a food delivery app at least once per month.
Over 58% of people said they would rather order in than eat at a restaurant.
Best Apps for Delivering Food
Uber Eats
Uber entered the food delivery market with Uber Eats, and it quickly became the most downloaded meal delivery app in the world. In addition to India, the United States of America, Germany, Portugal, and South Africa, the app’s services are available in more than 45 other countries. Delivery fees, subscription fees, and transaction fees from eateries are some ways the corporation makes money.
Uber Eats is a popular food delivery app with a 4.8-star rating on the Apple App Store and a 4.4-star rating on Google Play. The app features meal delivery from various restaurants, fast food chains, grocery stores, pharmacies, and even pet stores.
DoorDash
In addition to the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Germany, DoorDash is offered in approximately 7,000 cities worldwide. The business operates primarily on a $9.99/month membership basis, allowing free shipping and rewards with each purchase. However, if you don’t pay the extra premium, the company will add 15%-30% to your delivery and 6% to your pickup.
In addition to food, the company now delivers for convenience stores, pharmacies, pet shops, bars, and more.
GrubHub
Whether you’re an individual or a business, GrubHub can help you get your meals delivered. Incredibly, the service is offered in more than 3,000 locations across the United Kingdom and the United States. The company has over 10 million active installs on the Play Store and over 7 million on the Apple Store, and it generated revenue of $1.8 billion in 2020.
PostMates
PostMates, which began as a food delivery service in 2013, will be absorbed by Uber Eats in 2020. The business has branched out into new areas, including the pharmaceutical industry, the petroleum industry, retail, and even alcohol distribution in some areas. The app’s rapid ascension to popularity is largely attributed to its user-friendly, quick-to-respond, and inventive interface. Finally, the company’s business strategy is strikingly similar to that of Uber Eats.
ChowNow
ChowNow operates as a directory for eateries online, and it helps with food delivery without charging a fee. The startup provides eateries and fast food joints with alternative delivery options. The company’s partnership with more than 22,000 local eateries means it can serve customers in many locations, from small towns to major metropolises. The user can now order straight from the restaurant’s social media pages thanks to the restaurant’s new social media integration function.
Steps for Food Delivery App Development
Business Model
The inventory-based and service-based models are the two most common types of companies. You have to pick one and stick to it. Suppose you already have a profitable business up and running. In that case, the inventory model will serve you well, and the later model will serve you as a delivery service for numerous locations.
Market Research and Discovery
Market research into the industry, market, target audience, and company strategy is the next phase after the previous one. Business success depends on several factors that must be considered before taking action. While searching for a feature-rich app, keep a list of everything you hope to see. The features of your app can be investigated in several ways, such as through brainstorming sessions, random web browsing, or reading a mobile app development guide.
Hiring a Software Developer
After you’ve finished collecting ideas, it’s time to choose a reliable company to help you build an app. The app’s functionality, efficiency, and aesthetics will significantly impact your business’s success, making this a crucial phase. Find a mobile app development company in India that has done similar work, has a solid portfolio, and uses cutting-edge development tools and technology. The cost of developing a meal delivery app in Asia is far lower than in the United States or the United Kingdom.
Development
The next phase is having the selected firm create the app. Maintaining regular communication with the team is essential for staying abreast of developments. The business will focus on the app’s backend, which can build high-quality functionality, while the UI/UX team will create the app’s front end. Keep in mind that the visual design of the app has an impact on how people perceive it. If you want a beautiful app, hire professional front-end devs.
Testing
Following the development phase, the app enters the testing phase, when any remaining issues are discovered. Once errors and problems have been isolated, they can be fixed. Remember that if testing begins sooner rather than later, more bugs can be found and fixed. Before releasing the app to the general public, you can use it to explore and test key features.
The App’s Unique Food Delivery Functions
Customers, eateries, and couriers are the three main groups who benefit from a meal delivery app. Remember that the cost of developing food delivery software will increase in proportion to the number of features it contains. The characteristics of each are listed below:
Advantages for the User Side
Filter and Search
Customers need to be able to search for both restaurants and specific dishes within a meal delivery app. With this feature, users may learn more about their available choices. In addition, a filter function will help you refine your search to just what you’re looking for. The ability to filter results based on criteria such as cuisine type, user reviews, proximity to a given area, etc., is popular.
Checking Up On Your Orders
Real-time order tracking is another way to earn users’ trust as a meal delivery app. Customers may rest easy knowing they will get their delivery thanks to Google Maps integration for order tracking.
Online Banking System
If you want your app to be successful, you need to make it possible for users to pay in various ways. Accept payments via credit/debit cards, PayPal, UPI, or other methods your users like. Connecting to external payment apps is a quick and painless solution.
Ratings
Customers must be able to provide feedback on the cuisine, the restaurants, and the app itself. It’s useful for finding the app’s flaws and giving decent eateries a level playing field.
Options for the Delivery Driver’s Side
Integration of Maps
Drivers should choose the quickest route possible to be there on time. For the driver to make the last-minute food delivery on time, it is crucial to incorporate maps into his control panel.
Notifications
New orders are constantly being placed. Thus, drivers must be alerted when they become available. They must receive push notifications about the upcoming delivery even when the app is not running in the background.
Multiple Shipments
All delivery guys should be able to juggle many deliveries at once and respond to inquiries from neighbouring communities.
Profile Control Panel
Create a dashboard for driver profiles in your app. The driver’s photo, name, email ID, residential address, and ID card details can be stored in this database.
Accents Around the Restaurant
Managing the Menu
The menu and the information it contains should be editable and manageable by the restaurant owners or authorized personnel. Menu items can be added or removed, and their prices and descriptions can be changed and photos uploaded.
Processing Orders
The proprietor of an eatery needs the option to take or reject a customer’s request. This feature is very useful for large eateries in maintaining order and efficiency.
Analytics
The app should be the only place a restaurant owner has to look to see how his listing is doing. Ad spending analytics should track clicks, impressions, and return on investment.
Financial Accounting
The cash flow of restaurants could benefit from a specialized payment platform. The owner should be able to transfer any remaining funds to his bank account and use them to pay for the advertisement, if necessary.
Total Food Delivery App Development Cost
The basic formula for estimating the price of making an app for delivering meals is the number of hours spent on development times the hourly rate. The time required to create an app will be determined by its features, complexity, and functionality. The developer’s hourly rate also depends on factors like their location and the project’s complexity. A food delivery software with complicated functionality can be developed in around four to six months, while a more basic app might be developed in less time. All necessary components will be built, such as the backend, frontend, user interface, driver interface, and restaurant interface. To give you an idea, though, the cost of developing an app for food delivery is between $30,000 and $60,000.
Final Reflections
The topic at hand was the time and money required to create an app for delivering food. Remember that many competitors are already in the market for meal delivery apps. Therefore, before committing to the idea, ensure it has a unique selling proposition (USP). If you want your platform to run smoothly and grow with your business, consider hiring a reputable cross-platform app development company.