A few months ago, visiting a supermarket or store to pick up a few items was, if at all, a matter of mild inconvenience. This changed when the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the globe, forcing many indoors and restricting our movements.

Social distancing in many countries did not allow visits to stores until very recently. Even as regulations are being relaxed to reopen the economy while also containing the spread of the virus, supermarkets and restaurants may only permit a limited number of customers at a time and have several safety measures in place.

Given the risks that many continue to face, there is an understandable reluctance to visit stores and restaurants. However, this does not mean that people no longer require both essential and non-essential items. With a lack of access to supermarkets, people have to instead rely on online platforms to order anything from sugar and flour to coffee and breakfast.

While online shopping has been available for years before the COVID-19 pandemic, in the last few months, there has been a need for on-demand delivery. People no longer want to spend days waiting for a delivery to arrive.

This is especially true regarding household essentials like vegetables, fruits, sugar, and flour. When you place an order for such items, you would expect delivery to take place within a few hours. This is why the need for on-demand delivery businesses has increased during the pandemic.

What is on-demand delivery?

When a web application development company says they are developing an on-demand delivery app, many may not know what this means. An on-demand app gives users access to various services that they require. These services can range from grocery services to food delivery.

While this is the basic purpose of an on-demand delivery business, mobile app developers at a mobile application development company like CodeLantic may include additional features to make the app user-friendly and add value to the platform.

Such features include tracking, which allows the user to know when their order has been accepted, picked up, and how long delivery would take. A wish list can be used by users to create a list of products or services they wish to purchase, while an on-demand delivery app may also include multiple payment methods and booking features.

A user may also leave reviews and ratings and have access to around-the-clock customer service as well as special offers and discounts via the mobile application.

Current context

Mobile app development has focused on such apps during the pandemic because of their importance during current times. Social distancing measures taken to contain the spread of the virus are still in place and even if complete lockdown is being relaxed over time, movement is still restricted. In this context, not many are leaving their houses and are required to rely on apps of this nature to access various services.

Contactless payment is another reason why mobile app developers may have seen an increase in the use of on-demand delivery apps. Since these apps come with various payment options, users can make payments for their products and services via the app instead of cash transactions.

The concept of on-demand delivery is based on instant service and this is one of the key reasons on-demand delivery has become important during the pandemic. Mobile app development for on-demand services focus on the shortest delivery times so that customers need not wait days for delivery.

A web application development company like CodeLantic may also take into account social distancing measures in place and add no contact delivery options to the app. These additional features are extremely important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An on-demand delivery app is also taking into consideration customer behaviour and requirements and connecting customers with local businesses. The different delivery modes and options like contactless delivery can also attract users during the pandemic.

Most importantly, perhaps, is the fact that on-demand delivery businesses are catering to the basic needs of people. They are offering people a much needed service during a time when leaving the house is not an option to many. This is why on-demand delivery businesses are important during the COVID-19 pandemic.