Hyperlocal eCommerce – Tech Stack and App Features

One of the challenging aspects of eCommerce in this fast-paced world is quick delivery. Hyperlocal eCommerce enables customers to place orders and expect quick delivery from places close to their location. 

Since the pandemic, the eCommerce industry has skyrocketed as people were strictly advised to keep a distance. This was the time people preferred shopping online instead of physically visiting the stores. The contactless, cashless features along with doorstep delivery had made online shopping the go-to solution for all purchasing needs of consumers. 

This is what hyperlocal eCommerce is all about — building a local shopping ecosystem that fulfills consumer requirements on demand. 

Let’s get into the details! 

What is Hyperlocal eCommerce? 

Hyperlocal eCommerce is the practice of buying and selling products and services within a specific geographical area, usually a particular neighborhood or community. This includes online marketplaces and platforms that connect local retailers and consumers, as well as delivery services to fulfill the on-demand needs of the consumers. 

In simple words, hyperlocal Commerce bridges the gap between online and offline shopping experiences. It helps overcome challenges including inventory management, logistics, delivery of the products, payment collections, and communication with the customers. Hyperlocal eCommerce is the mixture of convenience and flexibility of online shopping and the reliability and credibility of physical stores, working for an enhanced shopping experience for the buyers. 

How Does a Hyperlocal eCommerce Business Work? 

As said above, hyperlocal eCommerce connects local buyers with sellers through an online marketplace or platform. the platform allows the sellers to list products or services, as well as schedule the delivery or pickup option. 

One of the key features of hyperlocal eCommerce is its ability to search and browse products based on the location of the consumers. This is done with the use of geolocation technology integrated into the platform that allows the operator to determine the consumer’s location and display the listings of nearby sellers. 

Hyperlocal eCommerce platforms don’t only connect users with the retailers, but also include features such as payment options, customer reviews, and product ratings to help build trust between the retailers and the consumers. 

Connect with experts at CODUP for top-notch eCommerce development services.

Hyperlocal eCommerce — Examples

There are several hyperlocal eCommerce businesses that have been successful in business. Here are a few examples. 

GrubHub 

GrubHub is a popular food delivery service connecting customers and local restaurants in close geographical locations to the user. The success of the company is due to its user-friendly website and app that allows customers to search and order food from their favorite restaurants. 

Etsy

It is an online marketplace specializing in handmade and vintage goods. The company’s success is due to its large customer base as well as the large community of artists and creators selling their products to consumers. It is a user-friendly platform supporting local businesses and connecting them with buyers looking for unique and high-quality products. 

Postmates

It is a local logistics service enabling customers to order and get delivery from local merchants including grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants. The platform connects customers with a wide variety of local merchants and services to provide fast and reliable delivery service. 

Instacart 

It is an online grocery store that partners with local supermarkets enabling customers to order groceries online and get same-day delivery. The platform’s user-friendly interface makes it easier for users to shop for groceries online and get fast delivery. 

Tech Stack You Need to Build a Hyperlocal Delivery App

Navigation 

Driving to the right location is a critical aspect of hyperlocal delivery apps. Customers as well as delivery executives have to reach the exact location. Hence apps such as Google Maps, Maps.Me, MapQuest, and more must be integrated for the smooth delivery of the products/services. 

Payment Gateways

Any eCommerce app feels empty without a payment gateway integrated into it. therefore, it is a must to integrate various payment gateways allowing customers to pay for their order in their preferred payment method. 

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) 

Supplier Relationship Management is an approach to evaluate vendors that supply goods, materials, and services to an organization, determining each supplier’s contribution to their success. In other words, it allows retailers to list their products on the platform and connect with the audience. 

Customer Relationship Management

The ultimate for any local delivery app development is to cater to the needs of the customers. the CRM helps you in setting up a connection between customers, vendors, and delivery executives. 

Core Features of a Hyperlocal Delivery App 

Since you already know the tech stack of a highly functional Hyperlocal delivery app, let’s get into the features that are necessary for an on-demand hyperlocal delivery app. 

Selection of Featured store, Service Provider, or Product Seller 

Just like in any marketplace, many stores, sellers, and service providers will be listed on the hyperlocal eCommerce app for the customers. So, the customers should be able to select the store or sellers and view the products or services specifically as per their requirements. besides that, the app should display the sellers or service providers close to the customer for fast delivery. 

Fast Shipping Method

On-demand or hyperlocal eCommerce businesses, both are built around the concept of providing fast delivery. That means, the customers don’t have to wait for a day or two to receive the products because they are shipped to them from a warehouse or store close to their location. You can provide your customers with fast shipping options with date and time selections to make shopping more convenient for the users. 

Mobile Wallet Cash 

Where a third-party wallet account integration is a necessity, having your wallet system can make it even better. With this, the customers can load wallet cash into their store wallets and use it later for shopping. Moreover, service providers can also offer store credit for any refunds made for the products. it is much faster to check out of the store as it doesn’t require filling in card details and waiting for the payment gateways for authorization and process redirects.

Seller Dashboard 

The service providers and sellers must have a seller dashboard to manage tasks and business activities. It must be able to register new sellers and service providers by creating an account, managing products or making quick changes to the listed inventory, view orders to assign them to the delivery agent, and analyze their revenues, all in one place.  

Customer Chat Support 

Within the app, the customers and service providers should be able to communicate with each other. This helps in improving customer shopping experience as it is easier to resolve problems that may occur. 

Customer Reviews and Ratings

Getting reviews from customers is important to build credibility and trust among the audience.

 

Summing it Up

Wrapping up, hyperlocal eCommerce is a rapidly growing trend that is changing customer shopping behavior as well as how businesses operate. Since the pandemic, hyperlocal eCommerce businesses have provided a valuable solution to the needs of the customers i.e., quick delivery of ordered products such as groceries. 

It can be said that the future of hyperlocal businesses is filled with vast opportunities. The time to invest is now! Make sure to connect with the experts to build a credible hyperlocal eCommerce app.  

Read Also:

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• Multi-Vendor eCommerce Marketplace: The Definitive Guide
• Click and Collect 101: Getting it Right to Drive eCommerce Sales