Grocery delivery app development

Grocery delivery applications are undoubtedly going to dominate the market. The demand for grocery delivery apps has increased in recent years. With busy schedules and limited time, customers prefer the convenience of having their groceries delivered to their doorstep. 

An online grocery delivery app is important for any grocery store that aims to meet customers’ expectations of the modern world.

By 2029, it’s expected that the market for online grocery delivery services will be worth US$455.20bn. Therefore, investing in white-label grocery delivery app development is the best decision to help you boost sales and reduce costs. 

So, do you want to create it for your grocery business?

Check this blog and get all the information from its working to the development cost to help you build a great grocery delivery app. 

What is a Grocery Delivery App and How Does it Work?

A grocery delivery app is like other shopping apps but with a different category. It allows you to order groceries from different stores and have them delivered to your doorstep. These apps eliminate the hassle of standing in long queues and bargaining with the grocery shopper.

Here is the workflow of how the grocery delivery app works.

Workflow of grocery delivery app

1. Download the Application

First, customers download the app from the Play Store or App Store. Create an account on the app with their email, and password, or use a social media account. 

2. Set Location 

After the account creation, set the location manually or use the GPS. The location will be used for delivering the groceries. 

3. Browse and Add Items to Cart

Users browse through a variety of grocery items, categories, and promotions, adding desired products to their carts. In addition, they also use the search filter and easily find what they need.  

4. Select the Delivery Options

Users select their preferred delivery time and method (same-day, scheduled delivery, etc.) according to their availability. This feature gives users peace of mind by allowing them to plan their grocery shopping according to their schedules.

5. Order Confirmation

Once the order is placed, users receive an order confirmation, including details about the delivery time and items purchased. 

6. Order Delivery

The rider will pick up the items from the store with all the customer information. 

7. Order Received 

The rider delivers the order to the customer location and they will receive updates via notification at every step.

8. Post-Delivery Feedback

Customers can rate their experience, provide feedback, and tip the delivery rider if desired.

Schedule a Call

Business Model of Grocery Delivery App 

Selecting the right business model for grocery delivery app development services will help you boost your sales and revenue. There are several grocery delivery app business models, but choose the one that best fits your needs. 

Below are some business models to help you make a better decision for your business. 

Inventory Model 

In this model, an online retailer purchases inventory items from other businesses and keeps them in its warehouses. 

The BigBasket grocery app, which is the top online grocery delivery app in 25 Indian cities, is a notable example of this model. It uses twelve warehouses to hold the inventory it purchases in bulk from vendors like P&G and HUL.

Subscription-based Model

The subscription-based model allows businesses to charge customers a recurring fee in exchange for ongoing access to products or services. AmazonFresh and Walmart+ are the main examples of this model. 

Hyperlocal Model

The hyperlocal model focuses on delivering products from local retailers within a specific area. This approach emphasizes speed and freshness, often resulting in same-day delivery.

Local grocery apps that partner with nearby stores to fulfill orders quickly use this model. It supports local businesses while providing customers with timely access to groceries.

Benefits of Grocery Delivery App Development  

Building the grocery delivery software is a very profitable move for the grocery business to stay competitive. It has made grocery shopping much easier. 

In the US, online grocery shopping market sales are increasing and are projected to reach $187.7 billion by 2024. The various advantages that grocery app development provides to businesses can be the reason for this exponential rise.

So, let’s discuss the benefits that a grocery delivery app provides to businesses.

Advantages of Grocery Delivery App
Sales Opportunities: It is one of the primary benefits of grocery delivery app development. Online ordering expands sales opportunities by delivering a personalized experience tailored to customers’ previous purchases. 
Grocery delivery apps appeal to even the busiest people, allowing them to place orders from anywhere and select delivery time slots that fit their schedules.
Expand Customer Reach: Developing a grocery delivery app can attract more customers by providing convenience, personalization, and accessibility. By delivering a comfortable and seamless transaction experience, businesses can build customer loyalty, long-term relationships, and expand their geographic reach. 
Competitive Advantage: By developing a grocery delivery app, businesses can differentiate themselves in the market. This technology allows for providing a better experience to customers.
Time and Cost Efficiency: Developing a grocery delivery app saves time and cost efficiency for businesses. Businesses that automate their sales order processing can achieve productivity improvements of 20% to 30%. 
Additionally, studies show that businesses with mobile ordering capabilities see a 15% increase in order frequency. 
Better Inventory Control: This is another advantage of a grocery delivery app. Efficient inventory management is vital for the success of the grocery business.
Grocery delivery applications provide businesses with the capability to monitor stock levels in real-time, ensuring accurate inventory data collection for automated reordering. They also facilitate expiry date management to help reduce waste. 

How to Make an Online Grocery Delivery App?

Learning how to create a grocery delivery app will help supermarkets to take their business to the next level. To compete in this industry, grocery stores need to build an app that benefits them and their customers. 

Below are some steps to help in custom grocery delivery app development. 

How to Develop a Grocery Delivery App?

1. Market Research 

In this phase, you have to do these things:

  • Study existing grocery delivery options available in your target area. Understand what consumers like and dislike about them. 
  • Analyze competitors to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Look at their pricing, customer service, delivery options, and user experience.
  • Conduct surveys or interviews with potential users to gather information about their preferences and pain points related to grocery shopping.
  • Stay updated on industry trends, such as organic products, eco-friendly packaging, or technology integrations (like AI and machine learning), that could influence customer choices.

2. Select the Unique Value Proposition

Based on your findings, define what will set your app apart. This could be faster delivery times, a wider selection of local products, or improved personalization features.

3. Decide the Business Model

In this phase, decide the business model that not only meets your business needs but also positions your grocery delivery app for success in a competitive market. 

4. Decide Grocery Delivery App Features

Selecting the right features for your grocery delivery app is vital for attracting customers, enhancing user experience, and driving engagement. 

Here are key features to incorporate in your grocery delivery app. 

Customer AppStore AppRider AppAdmin Panel 
Login/Registration Registration Easy loginInventory management 
Order tracking Order history Accept or reject orders Rider management 
Flexible payment methodsCheck earnings Chat with customers and store Payment management 
Scheduled deliveries Menu creation Set availability Manage customers and providers 
Feedback and ratingEarning reports 
Contactless delivery GPS navigation 
Push notifications 
Search and filter 

5. Choose the Technology Stack

Choosing the right technology stack is important for the development and scalability of your grocery delivery app. The technology stack influences not only the app’s performance but also its flexibility, maintainability, and security. A carefully selected stack can make the development process smooth. 

6. Start Grocery Delivery App Development

Once you have chosen the technology stack and defined the features for your grocery delivery app, the next step is to initiate the development process. This phase involves these steps:

  • Wireframing: Create wireframes to outline the app’s layout. This helps visualize the user experience before development begins.
  • UI/UX Design: Develop a visually appealing interface that prioritizes user experience. Use tools like Figma or Adobe XD to design the app’s look and feel, ensuring it is intuitive and user-friendly.
  • Frontend Development: Start coding the frontend using your chosen framework (e.g., React.js or Angular). Focus on creating responsive layouts and interactive elements.
  • Backend Development: Set up the server, database, and APIs. Use your backend language (e.g., Node.js or Python) to handle data processing and business logic.
  • Integration: Connect the front end and back end, ensuring that data flows smoothly between the two. Integrate third-party services, such as payment gateways and geolocation APIs.

7. App Testing 

Never forget this step. The app testing phase ensures that the app works well with functionality, performance, and security. Remove all the bugs and issues before the app goes live.

Grocery Delivery App Development Cost 

The development cost of a grocery delivery app can vary widely based on factors such:as: 

  • App complexity
  • App features
  • Number of platforms 
  • Location of the development team, and more

For a better understanding, check the table below, which shows the costs of developing a grocery delivery app. 

ComponentEstimated Cost (USD)Description
Market Research$1,000 – $5,000Analyzing competitors and target audience.
UI/UX Design$2,000 – $10,000Designing user-friendly interfaces and experiences.
Frontend Development$5,000 – $20,000Building the client side of the app (iOS/Android).
Backend Development$5,000 – $30,000Server-side development, database management, APIs.
Admin Panel Development$3,000 – $10,000Creating a dashboard for managing orders and users.
Payment Gateway Integration$1,000 – $5,000Integrating secure payment options.
Testing & QA$2,000 – $7,000Ensuring the app is bug-free and user-friendly.
Deployment$500 – $2,000Launching the app on app stores.
Maintenance & Updates (Annual)$1,000 – $5,000Regular updates and technical support.
Marketing$2,000 – $10,000Promoting the app to attract users.
Total Estimated Cost: $18,500 – $94,000

Popular Grocery Delivery Apps

Grocery shopping has never been easier with online grocery apps, and they are spreading around the world. Without a doubt, this sector will soon generate a huge revenue. 

Below is a list of popular grocery delivery platforms that you can use to order groceries online. 

Instacart

Instacart

Instacart is an American online grocery delivery company that has more than more than 300 retailers and grocers. It is based in the US and serves 5,500 cities in the US and Canada.  The service continues to expand, reaching new locations and partnering with additional retailers. 

Moreover, the company allows customers to place orders from a variety of local retailers, including warehouse clubs and supermarkets. 

Main Features

  • Order tracking 
  • Wide-store selection
  • In-store pickup
  • Scheduled delivery 

Shipt

Shipt

Shipt is another well-known grocery delivery service that is available in more than 5,000 US cities. It allows customers to order groceries, household essentials, and more from their favorite stores and have them delivered to their doorstep in as little as one hour.

The company offers options for substitutions if an item is out of stock, allowing customers to select acceptable alternatives.

Main Features

  • Push notifications
  • Feedback and ratings
  • Delivery tracking 
  • Multiple payment options
  • Cart sharing  

Amazon Fresh 

Amazon Fresh

Amazon Fresh is an online service that delivers groceries and home essentials to customer’s doorstep. With more than 500,000 products, it offers a wide range of options, including dairy products, fresh vegetables, meat, fish, canned and packaged foods, as well as necessities for the home like cleaning supplies and toilet paper.

Main Features

  • Same-day delivery 
  • Scheduled delivery
  • Local, organic, and seasonal groceries available
  • A large variety of products

Tips to Develop Grocery Delivery App

Online grocery delivery apps are becoming popular across the globe. Therefore, If you want to create a grocery delivery app that’s as effective as possible, follow the tips that are mentioned below to help you in the grocery delivery app development phase.

  • Incorporate relevant features in your app that make it useful.
  • Make sure the app is well-optimized in terms of speed, responsiveness, and stability.
  • Focus on providing a visually appealing user interface. 
  • Integrate multiple payment methods to attract a large number of customers. 
  • Implement strong security tools and practices to protect customer’s information.
  • Conduct regular security audits to identify and address potential weaknesses in the system.
  • Design the app architecture to be scalable, allowing for easy expansion as the user base grows or as new features are added.
Schedule a Call

Conclusion

On-demand grocery delivery app development solution allows grocery owners to better serve their customers and operate their stores more profitably by attracting more customers. 

So, after knowing all the benefits, if you want to create an app for your business, consult Enatega. 

We are a leading grocery delivery app development company that has successfully built more than 100 grocery apps across the world like Instacart clone. Our team of grocery delivery app developers has expertise in delivering the best solution that meets the client’s needs.

So, why wait? Book a free demo with us and launch your online delivery business with a tailor-made solution.


About the author

Author

Hudaibia Khalid

Copywriter & Marketing Assistant

Hudaibia Khalid is the creative force behind the blog—a maestro of words and ideas. Her distinctive style not only imparts wisdom but also leaves an indelible mark, transforming each post into a captivating journey through her unique perspective on the world.