Grocery Delivery Management – The Dos & Don’ts

Last Updated on May 13, 2022

The majority of retail buyers and sellers are most concerned with online grocery ordering. Perishable goods, edible goods, and everything else related to groceries must be shipped the same day.

The on-demand supermarket delivery model comes to the rescue in this case. The on-demand grocery business model is based on the concept of offering food as quickly as possible, according to the customer’s expectations. In reality, online grocery shopping and CPG (consumer packaged goods) companies depend on this form of distribution model to remain afloat.

In the wake of the Coronavirus, online grocery shopping is no longer a fad, but rather a normal practice. It is up to service providers, especially online grocery delivery service providers, to ensure that things move rapidly because consumers don’t want to wait.

On-Demand Grocery Delivery Amidst Lockdown

The coronavirus is reshaping the on-demand grocery delivery industry’s current and future. According to a report by Technavio, the online grocery delivery industry market share is going to increase by a whopping $800 Billion between 2020 to 2025 which clearly depicts the exponential scope this industry possesses.

The food retail industry has undergone a dramatic transition to home confined-buying as a result of the abrupt boom in the online grocery industry. And, according to industry analysts, this modern grocery-buying behavior (grocery home delivery) embraced by customers during the corona crisis would gradually turn into new behaviors. Customers will likely follow more tech-enabled and omnichannel methods in the future as a result of this.

In addition, the on-demand food distribution program, which is an important aspect of the supply chain, is undergoing changes, such as contactless delivery, delivery workers’ health and safety, and so on. As a result, retailers must ensure that their supply chains are running seamlessly in order to achieve optimal results.

How Does On-Demand Grocery Delivery Business Work

In its most simple form, this online grocery distribution business model is based on the concept of picking up an item from a retailer and shipping it to the customer at the time stated by the latter. It’s as plain as that, and the on-demand supermarket distribution platform operates in a number of ways:

• Assume you’re an internet food delivery service with partnerships with offline grocery stores that don’t sell groceries to customers’ homes. You create a supermarket marketplace in which you list all of the local grocery vendors. The customer selects the vendor closest to their house, places an order on your website, and you deliver the goods to their door.
• The second choice is to easily list the items on your grocery shopping delivery page, where consumers can pick the item they need and its quantity. You go to the grocery store and get those things, and distribute them to the customers. They won’t know which vendor you bought it from, but that’s meaningless as long as their groceries come on time.
• The third option is for an offline grocery store owner to launch an online grocery delivery service that also offers an ordering option. From warehousing to logistics to shipping, the website owner is in charge of all three facets (this largely falls under the single vendor online grocery business model bracket).

For more detailed insights you can check out our article on the top grocery delivery business models.

The Dos Of Grocery Delivery Management

To make your grocery delivery app work, be mindful of the following points and make sure your business follows them at all times.

Focus On Speed & Ease Of Use

The platform’s simplicity and accessibility should be the top priorities and features of the grocery app should focus on that:

• Make it simple for customers to register, find what they’re looking for, add things to their cart, check and edit their orders, and pay.
• To speed up your search, allow filtering by sub-groups of objects. Customers would like not to have to sift through a hundred-item catalog of “bread and pastries” to select the apricot-filled croissants they like.
• Be sure to provide all relevant product information. Brand names, weight, ingredients with nutritional value and allergens, and pack size should all be clearly labeled.
• Wherever practicable, have expiration dates. If a shopper learns that the Greek yogurt will last three weeks longer, they will purchase three packs rather than one.
• Returning customers should be assisted. Allow consumers to easily replay past orders and build shopping lists where staples and family favorites can be included. Allow registered customers to view their purchase history and share their baskets with other members of their families.
• Ensure that the website loads easily. Buyers can abandon their cart without completing the purchase if your site is too slow to load.

Mention the critical information upfront

How irritated would the online shopper be when he discovers that his postcode is ineligible for distribution after spending an hour adding items to his cart? It pays for retailers to be upfront and have all the necessary details from the start. Before adding a single item to their cart, customers should be mindful of shipping rates and dates, distribution limits, geographical areas protected by the operation, and special requirements.

When it’s time to check out, make sure all of the moves are specifically labeled and that customers are aware of what’s happening next. Consider using lines like “You can always change your order in the next step” or “By clicking here, you validate your order and agree to pay.”You will not be allowed to change the order after that.”

Consider including a progress bar that depicts the different phases (Customer specifics ⟶ Shipping ⟶ Payment records ⟶ Check order ⟶ Total and pay).

Have an “order fulfilled” page after the order has been made, with all of the important details summarised: goods ordered, shipping and payment information, order time, and what the customer can expect (an email?). Is it a phone call? Is there a way to trace the shipment?)

Consider Different Platforms

Mobile devices are now used by more people than machines to visit websites. According to data from marketing site The Drum, smartphones accounted for 63% of traffic and 53% of purchases on retailers’ eCommerce pages last year. Since mobile shopping is only going to get more popular, you should make sure that your website is mobile-friendly.

Many customers will begin a transaction on one computer and finish it on another. If they forget all of the things they have already applied to the cart as they restart the purchase, they will not bother to start again – and you may lose the transaction. Allow logged-in consumers to save their carts so they can conveniently pick up purchases on multiple platforms at their own speed and convenience.

Offer Flexible Delivery

Provide a variety of distribution plans and time slots, as well as fixed delivery dates. The best practice is to have specific distribution windows and let customers choose the one that best suits their needs. Customers are more likely to continue to buy with you if you are more specific. According to Nielsen’s “Global Connected Commerce Study,” delivering 30-minute interval windows is a good idea if you can keep your promises and deliver within the specified timeline.

What form do you use to distribute the goods? Different distribution systems have been tried by food retailers all around the world. Which one(s) you can introduce would be dictated by the demands of your clients, as well as the local environment and competitive environment. 

Is it more convenient for the clients to have their goods shipped to their homes? Will a third-party distribution facility, such as a refrigerated locker, be preferable? May they want to place an online order and pick it up in the store? Will, you accept picking up items at the curb or even from a drive-thru? The more distribution choices you have, the more likely you are to meet everyone’s needs. What if you don’t have the facilities in place to ensure that the orders are delivered and distributed on time? Then you should think about forming a partnership with a delivery agent. Many retailers have also followed this concept, which was popularised by tech giants like Instacart.

Make It All Work Seamlessly

You can be judged on more than just the content of the goods when selling products online. Customers will keep you accountable if your website fails if the delivery service is late, if a product summary is misleading, or if the refrigerated locker where you deliver goods breaks down. Consumers’ decisions to shop for groceries online are largely based on convenience. You risk losing a client for good if they have a bad experience or run into a snag in the process.

It pays to examine and future-proof the entire supply chain, from manufacturing to technology, product information accuracy, and physical distribution, to ensure that every phase of the process is seamless, reliable, and up to code.

The Don’ts Of Grocery Delivery Management

Now that we’ve taught you what to do, let’s look at some typical blunders to avoid:

Not Moving Quickly Enough:

While it’s critical not to jump into grocery e-commerce, it’s also critical to move forward after due diligence has been completed. The most profitable shoppers, such as dual-income families, often choose convenience over price. Since the mobile computer is the future for wired customers, buying groceries on a PC must be followed by a mobile solution. To avoid out-of-stocks, consider adding a quick-response warehouse fulfillment as a backup to in-store picking.

Attempting to Recreate the In-Store Experience Online:

What happens in the shop should remain in the store, while the user experience online should be different. It’s tough to replicate in-store impulse purchases online. Some goods, such as fragile fruit, cannot be safely shipped to the home. 

Making It Difficult for Customers to Make The Purchase:

Weak user interfaces, inefficient order deliveries, and a lack of commitment at all touchpoints would stymie grocers. If customers choose curbside pick-up, consider working with a third-party delivery provider instead. Check to see if the provider is competent in presentation and service, as well as if it has a track record.

Failure to keep data assets up to date and in sync:

Grocers will produce sales sooner, raise margins, and build themselves as an e-commerce pioneer by delivering goods rapidly and easily. Grocers should use a data collection approach to:

• Streamline the method of receiving product data from partners and vendor
• Cleanse and control data from a central location.
• Allow for the branding of the data.
• Both business processes that need to ingest that data should be fed.

Wrapping Up

There are various factors to consider when it comes to successful grocery delivery app development. Keep in mind the tips given in this article to help you build a successful grocery app and draw out an efficient business plan.

You can consult with our expert grocery app developers if you need guidance in bringing your idea to life.

Frequently Asked Questions For Grocery Delivery Management (FAQs)