With the advent of the perfect virus, the locks on our doors are firmly in place with the keys in the hands of Mr. Covid-19. From the time that WHO reported Corona virus as a pandemic, the extent of fear among mankind has been growing manifold.
Since January 2020, Covid-19 has made its presence felt across the globe. The positive cases are on the rise at a breakneck speed more so as a preventive cure is not yet available.
Unquestionably, governments and research organizations are working round the clock to come up with a vaccination that will ensure people are safe from this contagious virus.
That said, people are co-operative and are doing their bit by staying indoors to protect themselves and the entire nation. Initially, it is going to be fine, but you cannot lock up a global population inside their homes indefinitely.
And that can be fully encapsulated in a quote by Jenova Chen, “Humans are lazy but not stupid.”
People are going to start looking into ways that can offer them comfort with convenience. And they also will start looking at how to reach out to essential services during these times of uncertainty.
Welcome on demand apps, your one-stop destination to access everything you need when you are compelled to stay home during corona virus outbreak.
#1. Why Are On-Demand Apps the Need Of The Hour?
Covid-19 has attacked global citizens mercilessly and has crossed the 36 million mark in the total number of recorded cases and resulted in 2.5 million casualties worldwide.
Let’s see why on demand apps are the most used apps during corona virus outbreak:
- People are simply afraid to venture out and on demand apps offer a way out in availing essential services.
- People are avoiding contact as much as possible since Corona virus is known to spread as a result of physical contact.
- People are maintaining social distancing by opting for contact less doorstep deliveries.
- People are restricted in their movements as governments globally have imposed lock-downs.
- People are able to order in from their favorite food joints as many on-demand apps have connected restaurants and their patrons via their platform turning them into home delivery outlets
- People are unable to find all the essential items at grocery stores as panic buying as led to many shelves remaining empty for days.
Even in times like this, the business has been great for businesses that are into retail, pharma, groceries, and anything else related to essential services.
Having said that, the story has not been so great for other types of on demand apps like Uber and UrbanClap which have witnessed a severe downturn in the corona virus pandemic.
#2. Why On-Demand Industry is Facing the Least Downfall in the Corona virus Situation?
The very essence of the idea of on demand is about delivering solutions to people at their doorstep. With the ease of accessibility, it is what people have come to expect of service providers during the Corona virus outbreak.
Obviously, we will have to look at the overall positive impact that on demand apps have had as people are battling against Corana virus outbreak. But before that, let’s dig deeper into the reasons why so many on demand apps have seen rising success.
Lower Costs: Compared to traditional service providers, on demand apps offer lower prices which contribute to their rising popularity among new and existing customers.
Availability: On demand apps are available across devices such as smartphones, tablets, desktops which makes the platform more accessible and one-click easy to get.
Adjustment to User Preferences: Analytics and insights allow on demand apps to assess user needs and preferences in a more in-depth manner. This enables them to understand what their users want and then ensure that the service is delivered to them.
Multiple Payment Options: The majority of on demand applications will offer the consumers multiple payment processing options. These payment gateways adhere to all security norms and are highly fast and reliable.
Minimum Effort: Customers who are frequent users of on demand apps can save their information such as payment info, delivery address, and so on. This means that they do not have to input these details every time they make a purchase.
Variety: On demand apps offer customers a one-stop-shop for multiple categories of services and products. This is not possible for any brick and mortar establishment to offer from a single destination or storefront.
Read Also : 15 Best On Demand Service Apps 2020
#3. How Are On-Demand Apps Developed?
Many businesses are considering venturing into developing on demand apps to extend their services to a larger user base.
App Development:
Take a look at the possible methods that can be used to develop on demand apps.
- Development From Scratch: An extensive market study is required to build an on demand service app from scratch. This is because the stakes for such an undertaking is quite high. You should have an expert development team at your disposal. The time frame required to take on such a highly complex project can range anywhere between 3 to 6 months.
- Approaching For Clone Apps: A number of app development agencies are replicating popular applications so that launching news apps is a faster process. In fact, the cloning segment of mobile apps is a far more booming sector in comparison to developing apps from scratch. For new start-ups, cloning apps is a wiser investment to opt for.
Choose a Technology Stack:
Developing a complex app will require the integration of a number of technologies and platforms. The recommended technology stack for an on demand app includes:
- Backend:
- Programming languages: PHP, Go, NodeJS
- Frameworks: Symfony, Phalcon
- Caching system: Memcached, Redis
- Queue server: German
- DBMS: MySQL
- NoSQL DB: MongoDB, RethinkDB
- Frontend:
- Programming languages: JavaScript, TypeScript
- Markup Languages: HTML5/CSS3
- Frameworks: Angular, EmberJS, Vue.JS
- Preprocessors: SaSS
- For Android:
- Kotlin programming languages, Java,
- Room databases, Realm
App Features:
It is best to go with an MVP model as it will allow the business to keep adding features and functionalities later on. That said, you should be working on with the list of following features:
- Customer App:
- Registration & profile management
- Geolocation
- Notifications
- Payments
- Feedback system
- Help & support
- Service Provider App:
- Registration & profile management
- Push notifications
- Accept & reject buttons
- ‘My earnings’ page
- Online/offline button
- Administrator Dashboard:
- Admin dashboard
- User management
- Service provider management
- Change prices and fees
- Analytics & reporting
#4. Cost of On Demand App Development
Here is a cost estimate of developing a customer-facing on demand app:
| Features |
Cost Estimate in USD |
| User Profile |
3,000.00 |
| Marketplace |
11,000.00 |
| Map |
7,000.00 |
| Chat |
3,000.00 |
| Cart |
5,000.00 |
| Order Details & History |
6,000.00 |
| Settings |
2,000.00 |
The total estimate stands at roughly USD 37,000.
For a Service Provider Facing On-demand app, the cost is estimated to be:
| Features |
Cost Estimate in USD |
| User Profile |
2,000.00 |
| Marketplace |
13,000.00 |
| Active Order & Orders History |
12,000.00 |
| Chat |
1,500.00 |
| Settings |
1,500.00 |
According to the given figures, the cost estimate stands at USD 30,000.
For the Web Dashboard component of an on-demand app, the expenditures are estimated to be around USD 24,000.
Summarising all of these together, you should budget for around USD 91,000 to build an on-demand application with a good mobile app development company.
Read Also : How to Hire an App Developer in 2020
#5. Strategies To Be Followed By On-Demand Delivery Apps In This Pandemonium Season
Looking to break into the space of on-demand delivery? Here are some strategies that you should keep in mind to ensure that your application functions efficiently.
Adopting ‘Contact less’ Delivery Options: The transmission chain of this contagious disease can be broken by preventing people from coming into contact with each other. Therefore, the focal point of your app’s strategy should be to adopt a ‘Contact less’ Delivery option.
Hiring Delivery Professionals: Delivery professionals will have to hire in order to meet rising consumer demand. The stalwarts of the industry have already taken to this strategy where even the likes of Amazon are contemplating employing at least 100,000 delivery executives during the outbreak.
Uniting With Local Business: There will be times when the supply chain will be affected. Hence, partnering with local businesses is the strategic move that you should consider. This will help in coping with the demands of your existing user base when restocking essential commodities may be an internal issue.
#6. Advantages of These On Demand Delivery Apps
On-demand apps come are accompanied with a number of advantages. Take a look.
Customer Satisfaction: During the Covid-19 outbreak, individuals are hesitant to go out into the streets. They are especially keen to avoid crowded marketplaces. With on demand apps, reaching out to purchase essential products have become extremely convenient. This instant gratification of availing services has added to increasing customer satisfaction.
Delivery Through Bots: Businesses are looking at different avenues of enabling services to ensure that the pandemic does not intensify further. Towards this, one step that is being considered is implementing delivery via bots. This essentially nullifies the involvement of human contact in any form whatsoever.
Increased Revenue To Business Owners: With a rise in demand for these on demand applications has translated into increasing revenues for businesses during this lock down season.
In fact, consumers are expecting more and more services to be offered from these platforms. With a rapidly growing user base is converting into generating greater revenues for these pockets of business owners.
#7. What Are The Popular On Demand Services During This Quarantine Season?
Let us look into the different on demand branches that are contributing to the fight against Corona virus.
On-Demand Food Delivery Services: On demand foods have always generated good business. But their popularity has in no way diminished during the Corona virus outbreak.
In fact, it has only increased further as individuals are confined to their homes. With limited things to keep their minds occupied with, people are inclined to ordering food of their choice with simply a few clicks.
On-Demand Grocery Apps Solutions: When going out is not an option, groceries have to be brought to your doorstep. Therefore, next in line is the on demand grocery apps that are assisting in the fight against Corona virus.
Rather than venturing out into crowded markets, getting your grocery essentials home delivered is the way a better method of adhering to social distancing.
On-Demand Laundry Apps Solutions: Laundry services via on-demand apps have also seen a rise in popularity as people are making a conscious effort to conserve water.
Online laundry services are operating on a home pick up and drop mechanism which is working out well for a number of people who do not have washing machines at home.
Doctor On-Demand Services: Since the majority of locality clinics are not operations, on demand doctor consultation services have been in high demand in the Corona virus season. Those with minor ailments are actively engaging in online consultations with medical practitioners of their preference to get their medical queries answered.
Hospitals too are proactively ensuring that OPD patients are able to consult with their long-term doctors via these on-demand medical services.
Pharmacy On-Demand Services: Just like groceries, you can get your medicines home delivered by using an on demand pharmacy apps. This ensures that there is less crowding in brick and mortar pharmacies, thus ensuring a lower transmission rate of this virus.
Video On-Demand Solutions: Sitting at home 24/7 can be boring. Even if you are a workaholic, getting your job done, you will not be working round the clock. And getting your entertainment outside is not a possibility at the moment.
Therefore, video on demand apps such as Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu, etc. are a ray of hope for all those who are self-isolating.
#8. Why On-Demand app is essential for your business?
Corona virus has stopped people from going out. However, it has not stopped people from getting their supplies.
Times during this pandemic seem extremely uncertain and no one really knows when things are going to return to their normal state. The only way out for all businesses that work in the space of essential services is to invest in developing on demand apps.
More importantly, on-demand apps can effectively be a replacement for physical storefronts where transactions are paperless. This also prevents people from making panic-driven purchases as they are assured that service providers will be frequently restocking essential items. Plus, it also adds to the overall customer experience.
Read Also : Did the Corona Virus Outbreak Boost the Online Delivery Business ?
Final Thoughts
To deal with corona virus outbreak effectively, you need on demand apps so that you can ease your customers in such times and restricted movements to the best of your abilities. It also makes certain that you do not lag behind, as other good providers succeed in reaching customers with similar offerings.
Other sectors that are also catching up include education, video conferencing, health and fitness, etc. as a result of this online shift caused due to the corona virus outbreak, bringing in more business opportunities for on demand apps. Whilst the future is unpredictable, a strong digital front is vital when planning to reach out to a wider audience base.
So, are you ready for the on-demand app development?
