Postmates Using iPhone App For One-Hour Same-Day Deliveries
Monday, July 1, 2013 at 9:54AM 
Many retailers are currently testing and implementing same-day delivery, not only in the US, but globally. One plus about same-day delivery is it has enabled customers to receive their online products within one day. However, depending on the company, its' same-day delivery could take hours and cost a pretty good penny to use it. Upcoming online retailer, Postmates, is looking to change that and offer customers a same-day delivery service that competitors will have to take notice of.
Internet Retailer reported Postmates is setting out to take mobile commerce to another level, offering product deliveries within one hour. Postmates plans on using an iPhone app to do it. The app will allow customers in San Francisco and Seattle to order goods from local retailers and restaurants to start with. The cost for the one-hour delivery will range from $5 to $12. This one-hour service, if done effectively, will definitely get the attention of shoppers and online retailers.
The service via the iPhone is a premium service and customers will have this option if they so choose. Kristin Schaefer, Postmates Director of Growth stated in the article, “It is an on-demand service. You request a delivery via our iPhone app and a courier—on bike, scooter or in a car—is then dispatched to buy and deliver your item. You can track your courier, get real-time estimated times of arrival and pay seamlessly using your phone.” It appears Postmates will utilize same-day couriers like A-1 Express to perform the one-hour deliveries on their behalf. This is effective, considering Postmates will need a partner that has an expertise in fast deliveries, which couriers do have.
The way the service works is a Postmates courier arrives at the restaurant or store the customer has used the iPhone app and buys the goods just as the shopper would. They then deliver the customers' app purchases to the destination. This eliminates the need to sign up merchants to participate in the delivery service program. Schaefer also stated, “You can get anything you want delivered in under an hour. Food from any restaurant, groceries, beer, wine, Nikes, make-up and electronics.” Shoppers will be able to rate their courier as well, which will help manage an optimal delivery personnel.
Since Postmates use of the app, they have experienced great results. The company has processed more than $1 million worth of deliveries from merchants in San Francisco and Seattle within the last three months. It's delivery volume is growing at 20% per month. Another statistic that is helping the growth is Postmates user growth is at 40% per month as well. This appears will ultimately end in nothing but positive results in the months ahead for Postmates, especially with the holiday season on the horizon.
iPhones, iPads, smartphones, and other mobile devices are going right in line with growth of online shopping. It is easier now than it has ever been to for customers to make purchases online, right from their homes and have an online product delivered their doorsteps. Online sales have increases by 16% consistently over recent years and mobile-commerce increases at the same time. With this type of iPhone app and the popularity of Apple, fast deliveries is sure to continue to grow.
An iPhone with the ability to create deliveries of online products is essentially what same-day delivery is being provided by same-day couriers like A-1 Express. This Dallas Courier is a viable option for online retailers to partner with gain the ground they need to be competitive in mobile commerce. With the continued growth online, A-1 Express can quickly implement a courier logistics solution that will help any online business keep up and soar in the years ahead.
References: 5.30.13, Internet Retailer, An iPhone app enables delivery within an hour
Reader Comments (1)
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