Somehow everyone in the world has had to change their daily habits and lifestyle in recent months to comply with lockdown rules, including working from home. For those who are forced to stay at home, due to vulnerable health conditions or caring for loved ones, demand-side delivery companies have become an essential service to provide us with essential items like food and produce. pharmacist. About the Author Bartek Kunowski, Vice President of Product, Glovo. But consumers aren't the only ones benefiting from the delivery industry during COVID-19. With many local stores and restaurants closing, the ability to provide fast and efficient delivery to customers has become vital for businesses large and small to continue operating during the pandemic.
On-demand delivery operations
Technology is the backbone of all on-demand delivery operations. COVID-19 was the ultimate test to see how quickly systems and partners would handle growing customer demand. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics and predictive tools play a key role in keeping businesses and everyday life connected. And thanks to these innovations, we can be more efficient than ever; Save time, reduce waste, and make better use of messaging services. This is a trend that should continue as we begin to emerge from this pandemic. We have only mentioned the service of the opportunities that technology can bring to on-demand delivery. Here are three ways we've seen technology evolve since COVID-19. The concept of "contactless" is not a new innovation, but since COVID-19, it has become an essential means for businesses to securely accept payments from mobile payment apps. Some smaller vendors have been slower to adopt contactless and this is mainly due to the cost to the merchant of credit card processing fees, especially when purchases are small. Before COVID-19, the UK, Europe and Asia had accepted contactless payments in stride, but in the US, the "tap and pay" culture was difficult and slow to implement. Many customers and SMBs are still attached to cash and swiping a credit or debit card. Although the UK and Europe are among the biggest adopters of contactless payments, older generations are known to use this innovation just as much as the younger population. COVID-19 has been a catalyst for this older demographic to embrace contactless payments, as many vendors do not accept cash due to their health and safety. Not only is it safer for them to buy goods, but it's also safer for the couriers and the employees who serve them. Payments in this sector have not stopped growing. PayPal recently announced that it will be releasing a new addition to its mobile app that will allow customers to use QR codes to make payments almost anywhere customers can purchase items. This will allow those who do not want to use cash to easily pay others. This innovation will greatly benefit on-demand delivery drivers, as they can now accept payments in person without touching money or risking their health.
Drone and robot delivery presentation.
Drone and robotic delivery has been a hot topic for several years, but it has not yet been fully accepted as a routine means of delivering and receiving orders. The need for completely contactless delivery in recent times has pushed this technology into overdrive. Drone delivery during the pandemic was a lifeline for more remote and hard-to-reach regions. For example, in the UK, drones have been used as a safer way to deliver medical supplies to hospitals on the Isle of Wight, as they limit human contact. Beyond COVID-19, drone deliveries can also help reduce emissions. Congestion in our cities is a serious problem and governments around the world are increasingly committed to reducing it. Recent events have shown the positive effects that reducing carbon emissions can have on our planet, as pollution levels have dropped dramatically. Electronic drones offer companies a way to reduce carbon emissions without compromising speed. Although drones travel more regularly, they have been found to produce fewer emissions than a delivery truck. Robotics was also in the spotlight during the pandemic, as supermarkets and pharmacies struggled to keep up with the huge demand online. Obviously, delivery companies need to be more efficient, and robots can offer these extra pairs of hands. Ocado, for example, has announced plans to raise €1 billion to deal with the huge increase in orders and help its partners. Much of this investment will go into automated warehouses with robotic hands, to speed up processing and delivery. Since social distancing must be implemented in the long term, these types of robotic assistants will also contribute to health and safety and reduce the spread of the virus between humans.
Increase efficiency with dark deliveries
The use of dark kitchens and supermarkets has seen great success in Europe in recent years, and COVID-19 has only amplified it. With restaurants and stores closing, business owners will feel pressure to pay rent but not be able to use the space. More and more delivery companies are offering dark kitchens and shops to members at no cost for rent, eliminating the need to rent physical space and allowing those still looking to trade while on lockdown. Dark delivery not only saves partners money, but also a lot of time. Combined with artificial intelligence and predictive analytics, dark kitchens and stores can tailor their menu and product lines to meet the needs of customers in a specific area. For example, in London on Friday nights it would not be uncommon to see an increase in demand for pizza delivery, so restaurants need to have food and ingredients ready to go. Algorithms will learn the pace and patterns of the city to ensure that merchants have the correct stock to meet demand. The coronavirus has been eye-opening for many industries and delivery has been key for many of us during lockdown. And it's fair to say that the industry would now be in a very different place without technology and innovation. Invention came from necessity and COVID-19 was the ultimate test for delivery. It has enabled companies to innovate faster and set them in motion to do even more development to meet demand.