At the time, developing an on-demand service app for iOS and Android was considered one of the most significant transformations in the tech industry. Today, we see these apps in large numbers. They have become so popular that we use them every day. For example, apps like Uber, Netflix, and Instacart are found on most devices. These apps have revolutionized the way businesses provide services to their customers. So, what exactly are the on-demand service apps, and what change have they brought to the environment? Let’s find out.
On-demand Service Apps: A Booming Trend
As the name suggests, on-demand service apps are designed for time-sensitive customers who need immediate access to specific services. These apps build a connection between a customer and a service provider, allowing the former to book an independent agent who can cater to their unique requirements as and when needed. It’s a fast and cost-effective alternative to the traditional setting where a user has to wait at the physical store for the service provider to be available. The demand for such services has risen significantly as more users rely on smartphones to get the required services with a few taps on the screen.
The platform is designed to create an environment where people can assess the quality of the service, complete the booking, use the service, rate the company, and leave genuine feedback. On-demand service apps have seen an uptick in popularity and usage in the last few years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. This post will discuss how on-demand service apps have transformed the online business and buying landscape and how they encourage sustainability. Keep reading.
How On-demand Service Platforms Drive Sustainability?
On-demand services have been in the market before the pandemic, but it wasn’t until COVID-19 that these applications gained traction. Undoubtedly, these services greatly help customers by fulfilling their requirements almost immediately, saving them the waiting time. However, this comes with a price.
Although it saves you significantly on the cost of commuting, more on-demand delivery apps mean more packaging requirements, more vehicles on the road, and increased pollution. On the plus side, it creates many opportunities for restaurants, beauty salons, healthcare companies, and other on-demand service providers to optimize their services for sustainability. Let’s check out how the on-demand service marketplace helps you achieve sustainability goals.
Clean Transport
The biggest challenge of an on-demand delivery app is transportation. It engages many vehicles that deliver small to large orders to the customers’ doorsteps. While that offers ultimate convenience to the customer, it creates a negative environmental impact. More vehicles on the road mean a higher level of pollution and traffic. Fortunately, innovation in the transport industry has helped mitigate the environmental impact of excess fuel consumption, traffic, and pollution.
Businesses are switching to green and clean transport systems, i.e., electronic vehicles for deliveries within the city. The e-vehicles operate on batteries, consume no fuel, and do not emit harmful gasses, making them a safer, cheaper, and more practical choice for transport. Another trend we expect to see in the transport industry is using robots for delivery. Amazon has already embraced this trend by using autonomous drones for delivery. We are going to see more of this in the coming years.
Sustainable Packaging
Another area where on-demand service apps can help achieve your sustainability goals is packaging. According to the ZWF report, McDonald’s uses only 2.8 tonnes of packaging per minute. Not just the food industry but every sector that delivers goods and services on-demand utilizes packaging to protect the product, especially perishable items, from the weather and other issues during transport.
The good news is many restaurants and other on-demand service providers have embraced sustainable packaging options. The main goal is to reduce plastic consumption by replacing plastic bags with paper and cloth bags. With more and more businesses using sustainable packaging materials, the sustainable packaging approach is projected to witness a considerable demand in the future.
Achieving Balance in Supply and Demand
On-demand service app algorithms predict customer demand based on historical purchase data, customers’ preferences, current trends, and peak hours. Based on this data, the algorithm predicts the number of agents needed at certain hours to fulfill customers’ demands. This bridges the gap between supply and demand.
Businesses can use incentives and bonuses to convince service providers to be available in specific areas at predetermined times to cater to the surge in demand. This predictive analysis helps allocate resources efficiently and ensures that each service provider is assigned duties they best fit for.
Reduce Wastage
Wastage is one of the common problems reported by the food and restaurant businesses. Predicting how many customers will dine in your restaurant on certain days is hard. With an on-demand food delivery app, it’s easier for restaurant owners to make and deliver food that customers demand instead of preparing meals in large quantities.
As mentioned above, predictive analysis can help you determine the demand for food, preventing wastage due to excess production. An on-demand service platform can also be used to manage your inventory and reduce wastage due to the items getting expired. You can get a precise inventory estimate with an intelligent on-demand service app. Some apps send notifications for inventory replenishing. You can also track the list of the items consumed the most and those that aren’t in demand.
Conclusion
On-demand service platforms are designed for businesses that need to launch applications that offer quick and easy delivery of services. These apps target customers who need fast access to routine tasks, such as cooking, delivery, spa, healthcare appointments, and more. On-demand service apps have brought a positive change in the environment. Technological advancements in the industry have helped improve transport, packaging, production, delivery, and other steps in the supply chain.
