HOW TO START GROCERY APP DEVELOPMENT?
grocery delivery services are expanding not only in popularity but also in technological approaches. Businesses are starting to invest in user acquisition by creating their own grocery apps or/and partnering with grocery delivery platforms.
The first option is a branded application implemented for a single vendor, with deliveries made by company employees or third-party providers. For example, the Walmart Shopping & Grocery app provides services only by involving internal staff, while Publix orders are delivered by another grocery delivery aggregator, Instacart.
The second business model involves the development of a grocery delivery platform that works with many retailers and makes deliveries with the help of part-time or full-time shoppers. Customers can choose between multiple stores and, if necessary, combine items from different vendors in one order. Well-known representatives of the market are Instacart, Shipt.
In both cases, the development is focused on user comfort, personalized experience and streamlining of business processes. Well-planned grocery app development anticipates user needs and creates a robust network for fast grocery delivery. Meeting the needs of all stakeholders, grocery app development starts with creating separate apps for consumers, shoppers, and stores (only when developing a delivery platform).
Therefore, the complexity of the project usually varies according to the outlined business objectives. grocery delivery platforms cover the development of three applications with all the necessary functions to support normal workflows. While single-vendor grocery app development can be limited to custom apps and shopping apps (still optional).
Before we consider the price of each version of the application, the common functions and how it is necessary for the development of grocery applications, it is worth noting that everything must be implemented using the latest technological solutions. If you want to enter the online grocery delivery market, you need to ensure a presence on multiple devices including iOS and Android. Software developers commonly work to create separate applications that are connected to a unified backend to ensure seamless integration between them. With the help of a professional development team, you will choose the technology stack to realize the initial goals. Here are some of the popular technologies selected for grocery application development:
- Databases – MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle
- Back-end development – Node.js, .NET, Java, PHP
- Front-end development – React, Angular, Vue.js
- iOS Development – Objective-C, Swift
- Android development – Java, Kotlin
- Hybrid mobile development – React Native or Flutter
- Each technology has its pros and cons, but the main requirement is to match the needs of the user, consistency of support, great performance and reliability.
GROCERY APP DEVELOPMENT COST
When answering the question “how much does it cost to build a grocery delivery app?” it is important to consider the fact that development costs depend on several aspects. It includes the set of technologies applied, features outlined, grocery delivery software complexity, team composition, and development rate. The process of developing a grocery application usually starts with gathering requirements and finding the most suitable technological solutions to realize business goals.
When developing a grocery delivery app, a company must satisfy the needs of all stakeholders: customers, shoppers, and stores. In addition, the development team will create three separate applications due to user roles, focusing on their specific needs. Breaking down the list of must-have features could help estimate the cost of developing a grocery app. We recommend going through these features to see how much a company could spend to implement them from scratch. Please note that all calculations are made for web and mobile development (both iOS and Android) using average Western European rates for hiring a full team of project managers, business analysts, developers (back-end, front-end, iOS and Android) and QA. So let’s find out, feature by feature, how much it costs to build a grocery delivery app.
GROCERY APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT COSTS CUSTOMER APPLICATION
User Registration
Simple and quick registration is something that every customer will appreciate. Allow users to create accounts with a few clicks. They can use an email address or phone number. In addition, you can offer ways to sign up through social media or Google accounts. Customers typically provide first and last names, and email addresses, set passwords, and choose a location. The latter is rather important because based on the selected area they will start shopping. The average cost to implement this feature is $5,000.
List of stores
Consider the fact that even if your application interacts with a number of stores in different locations, you will need to display the stores due to the customer’s geolocation. Always try to simplify the user experience with specific filters such as store types, service information, opening hours, delivery time, shopper capacity, etc. Development costs start at $10,000.
List of items
By dividing the categories and subcategories, you can present the goods in an attractive and convenient way. Users can select items through various departments, selected brands, items on sale, or special discounts. In addition to an image and product information, each item must include an “add to cart” button and a “change quantity” option. An advanced search engine is a must include in a grocery delivery mobile app, so it could cost $15,000 to develop.
Order location
This feature covers all the necessary steps to complete an order. After customers put items in the shopping cart, they can choose delivery options, available time slots, payment methods, etc. Do not forget to consider cases such as providing additional delivery or purchase instructions, using promotional codes, multiple stores in one order, adding new addresses to already saved or even hiring the same shopper for repeat orders. The cost of developing a grocery delivery app for this feature is about $7,000.
Payment options
grocery delivery apps must support multiple payment options including cash on delivery and online payments. The total order should include the price of the items and, if applicable, the cost of delivery. Always inform your customers of any additional charges and allow them to redeem discounts with promo codes or gift certificates. Payment gateways are a great solution for accepting online payments and delivery costs reach $10,000.
Loyalty programs
Other features that can differentiate your product in the market. Build meaningful and positive relationships with your customers, deliver exceptional service value, offer a special discount system, get constant feedback, and encourage customers to invite new users with free deliveries, additional promo codes or coupons. Moreover, you can come up with the idea of a premium package with exclusive offers and express deliveries. This advanced feature can be developed for a fee of $7,000.
HOW TO MONETIZE A grocery DELIVERY APP
It is worth noting that grocery delivery apps, most of which are free at the time of use, offer so many monetization options. We strongly recommend that you consider this fact and discover different methods from the moment you plan to develop a grocery app. A key point to emphasize is the appropriateness of the monetization used, as there is no excuse for a negative impact on the user experience. This is exactly where a unique user experience becomes the best approach to monetizing grocery delivery software. Let’s look at some best practices that benefit your grocery app development.
Postage
Customers are usually charged a certain fee for each delivery. Its percentage may depend on the total price of the order, the distance or even the urgency. Some grocery delivery apps like Instacart offer monthly/annual delivery plans for a flat fee for unlimited deliveries. Customers may also be encouraged to leave delivery tips, the full amount of which goes to the shoppers who placed their orders.
Commission on orders
Since a grocery delivery app works with various stores and retailers, their business relationships are usually defined by commission-based revenue models. In addition to negotiating fixed rates, some commissions may still vary based on brands, exclusivity or customer reach. Another common practice is to share promotional campaigns to inform consumers about the possibility to order from certain stores. Just like your partners support the supply with your services.
In-app advertising
Although apps are designed to attract more and more customers’ attention, you should definitely eliminate overwhelming and unwelcome distractions. Many methods can be easily integrated into the content in the application. Native ads can provide relevant suggestions that actually improve the user experience. Such advertising through native content is only perceived as a friendly suggestion or idea. For example, by adding some items to the cart, customers will receive in-app recommendations on what is often bought with it or a recipe for a meal with all the ingredients that can be immediately added to the cart.
Special offers
This is one of the best ways to monetize your grocery delivery app and build long-term relationships with your customers. The point is that special offers and premium services add extra to the user experience. Daily deals, express delivery, coupon systems, and birthday discounts are just some examples that can be used. It must be supported by your organization’s marketing campaign and aimed at increasing user interaction with your application. It’s all about building a loyal community in the app where new users also come through word-of-mouth referrals. Many apps reward their customers with coupons or free shipping for inviting a friend or even give them the option to shop in a group cart just by sharing a link for non-registered users.
IN CONCLUSION
A combination of effective business strategies and up-to-date technologies is something that could advance the development of your grocery app. It allows you to create a well-functioning grocery delivery system that manages everything in one place. It’s all about creating an exceptional user experience for ordering, delivery, payment and grocery shopping in general. On the other hand, businesses will receive advanced tools to perform these services and manage daily workflows.
If you have an idea for the development of grocery applications or need professional advice, do not hesitate to contact Moon Technolabs. We are an offshore software development company with extensive experience in web and mobile development. Our team knows how to implement your ideas into a successful product. For more help, just visit our contact page or use the chat widget on the right.
