How to Build An Online Fruits and Vegetables Delivery Marketplace?

According to Statista, the hyperlocal fruits and vegetables delivery business is anticipated to reach $81.5 billion by 2032. This is due to the convenience of time and place of delivery offered by grocery eCommerce marketplaces to consumers. With several businesses springing up to capitalize on this rising trend, launching an online fruits and delivery marketplace is the way forward. In this post, we cover the steps to build an online fruits and vegetables delivery business, but first, let us go through the benefits of starting one. 

Benefits of Starting An Online Fruits and Vegetables Marketplace

Before diving into how to build a successful online fruits and vegetables delivery marketplace, let us understand some of the major benefits of launching the marketplace.

1. Increase in Sales and Overall Revenue

Unlike conventional brick-and-mortar establishments, online fruits and vegetables marketplace reach a considerably larger audience. The broader the spectrum, the greater the likelihood of an increase in sales and revenue. 

2. Advanced Inventory Management

Owning inventory is not a need to launch an online fruits and vegetables marketplace. You may simply collaborate with local vendors to get fresh produce delivered to you or your logistic partners without the hassle of inventory management. You can effortlessly manage all the intricate procedures with the automated store. 

3. Brand Building

An online fruits and vegetables delivery platform assists local vendors in gaining traction, becoming more visible, and reaching a larger audience. As the marketplace becomes accustomed to effective marketing plans it simultaneously helps local vendors to establish a name for themselves.

4. Easy Vendor Management

One of the primary advantages of using a marketplace is the ability to handle multiple sellers without having to do so, manually. Marketplace vendors just need to fill out the registration form to be listed on the marketplace and start listing items on the newly organized store for buyers to shop from. 

5. Flexibility and Scalability

In contrast to brick-and-mortar stores, the online market for fruits and vegetables is very flexible and scalable since it can adapt and develop as the business grows. Scalability allows clients to register as many vendors as they need. Consequently, there is no need to switch to another online marketplace as the business grows.

6. Customer Service and Experience

Improved customer service boosts customer satisfaction, which adds value to the company. As you connect with customers, you will have a deeper awareness of the problems they encounter and be able to address them more efficiently. Additionally, it fosters brand loyalty and improves consumer retention.

How to Build an Online Fruits and Vegetables Delivery Marketplace

To establish an online fruits and vegetables delivery marketplace, there are a few factors to consider that will aid in both the planning and execution of the business operation.

Step 1: Market Research And Understanding Your Target Audience

Market research reduces confusion about demand, market trends, competition, and the target audience. It aids in the development of a marketplace based on customer preferences and market demands. You must assess the necessity for the marketplace and why people will utilize it. Market research and understanding your target audience will assist you in developing efficient marketing tactics for your company. Through surveys, you can acquire a broad idea of how people satisfy their needs and market demand.

Step 2: Getting inspiration from the prominent players in the industry

Some of the industry’s leading players generated significant value and were able to recognize and address customers’ challenges.

Below mentioned are some that you can get inspired from and create a look-alike business model. 

1. Amazon Fresh

It is an online grocery store that was designed to provide seamless supermarket delivery services. It is a subsidiary of Amazon and was founded in 2007 in Seattle, Washington.

2. Instacart

It is an online hyperlocal grocery delivery marketplace. It has expanded to other verticals like electrical, beauty, and pets. It was launched in 2012 in San Francisco, Bay Area. 

3. Pea Pod

Founded in 1989 in the US pea pod is an American Grocery Delivery Platform. It is a subsidiary of Beacon Home Direct.

Step 3: Strategizing a Business Model

Any business that wants to expand and succeed needs to have a well-thought-out plan for selecting a business model. A hyperlocal business strategy will guarantee the timely availability of fresh food following standards while taking the niche into account. Consequently, the Hyperlocal Business Model will guarantee that the customers receive smooth and prompt delivery from the closest vendor.

The Business Flow

• The marketplace is managed by the admin.
• The seller registers to create a store on the marketplace and lists the fresh produce.
• After signing up, buyers select the required products from the store based on their region and add them to their cart.
• Once the items are in the shopping cart, customers choose a delivery time and provide an address to have the things delivered.
• At checkout, the consumer can select their preferred method of payment.
• Based on availability, the seller accepts the order.
• The admin deducts the predetermined commission as soon as the payment is received. 
• After the order is processed, a delivery person is assigned to ensure that the delivery is completed on time.

Step 4: Choosing the Possible Revenue Streams

The ultimate goal of any business is to create revenue. There are multiple revenue streams a business can choose to maximize revenue. Some of the revenue streams you can consider are as follows:

1. Commission on every transaction

A fixed amount can be charged to the seller on every complete transaction. The marketplace monetizes every time buyers pay for the product.

2. Commission on every delivery

A predetermined price is charged to the buyer and the driver for each delivery that is successfully made.

3. Banners, Ads, and On-site Promotion

Allow vendors to use banner adverts and other internet advertisements to promote their store and product line.

4. Vendor Subscription

With the help of subscription plans that you offer, vendors can list their store(s) on your online food marketplaces.

Step 5: Choosing Necessary Features to Build an Online Fruits and Vegetables Delivery Marketplace

When creating an online marketplace for the delivery of fruits and vegetables there are some key features that are a must-have. Below we have listed a few:

1. Auto Order Completion

You can specify the number of days before an order is automatically marked as finished using this feature. The customer will be unable to submit a return request once the order has been automatically completed.

2. Single Item Cancellation

If a buyer wants to cancel a specific item from the ordered list, the seller can authorize it or the admin can turn on the setting for automatic approval and let the buyer do it. Thus, there is a lower likelihood that the entire order would be canceled. 

3. Multiple Payment Gateways

Every business relies heavily on payments. In addition to being able to make income, multiple payment options enable customers to have a smooth checkout process. This is important since there are cases where customers would cancel an order if there is even the slightest difficulty making the payment. 

4. Real-time GPS Tracking

When a customer places an order, GPS enables location monitoring so that the fruits and vegetables can be delivered to the exact location. Furthermore, it tells the customer where the delivery team is exactly. One of the essential components of any delivery marketplace is real-time GPS tracking, which reveals the whereabouts of the order in real-time.  

5. Push Notifications

It’s normal for users to have multiple delivery apps installed on their phones. You can keep up with the competition and stand out more by using push notifications. Push notifications make it easier to stay in touch with customers and give them all the information they need about the deals and discounts that are offered on the marketplace. This will significantly aid in the expansion of the company.  

6. Search Filters

Adding smart search criteria to your marketplace allows for a more efficient search, eliminating the need to spend hours looking for the item. The buyer will find it more convenient to place their order if the search criteria are made easier and more specialized.  

7. Social Media Integration

Social media has unquestionably helped Internet marketing. This feature will help your business become more visible as social media has become the new standard. Social media integration on the site will increase the audience and aid in targeting on a wider scale.

8. Order Scheduling and Pickup

When there is no one available to receive at the time to receive fresh fruits and vegetables, order scheduling and pickup come in helpful. With this function, you can easily plan the order for pickup from the shop or delivery when it’s convenient for you.

Step 6: Launching the marketplace

Below discussed are the types of approaches to launching your online fruits and vegetables delivery marketplace:

1. Custom Development 

Custom development is the process of creating the marketplace from scratch; it is an exclusive investment. This strategy necessitates a team of developers committed to the development of a custom marketplace based on business requirements. However, building a marketplace for a single online delivery business can be costly and time-consuming.     

2. Readymade Software 

Readymade software is generic and has pre-built industry-specific features. It is time-tested and so there is no development cost. One just needs to buy and install it. Hence, purchasing ready-made software is an economical and time-effective way to launch a fruits and vegetables delivery marketplace. 

One such hyperlocal delivery software is Growcer, designed and developed by FATbit Technologies. It comes with readymade grocery apps for buyers and the delivery staff. Growcer is a white-label solution with a lifetime license. It is a highly scalable and fully customizable solution to build your online fruits and vegetable delivery marketplace. Growcer also has inbuilt marketing features which can help the admin to promote the platform more effectively such as CMS, SEO-friendly tools and so much more.

Step 7: Marketing Strategies

An effective tool to help your business expand and establish your brand is marketing. With the correct marketing methods, your online fruits and vegetables delivery marketplace will thrive without a hitch. Marketing is the most crucial aspect of any online delivery business. Below mentioned are some of the marketing strategies that you can consider:

1. SEO Content Marketing
2. Video Marketing
3. Digital Marketing
4. Social Media Marketing
5. Email Marketing

Conclusion

Online delivery of fresh produce is a lucrative industry, but it necessitates a digital marketplace with market-oriented features. To create a successful online fruits and vegetable delivery marketplace, you need a hyperlocal solution. To learn more about Growcer, a hyperlocal delivery marketplace, contact us.