Food delivery apps have revolutionized the experience of ordering meals. Once, you open the app to order something, you get the option to order food of your interest from top restaurants nearby. You’ll witness multiple cuisines in a single place. But, have you ever imagined how these apps make money or wondered how engineers build app like Zomato? If yes then continue reading this article and know the secret recipe for creating an on-demand app like Zomato.
However, before we look at how the Zomato clone app is made, let's analyze recent stats related to food delivery.
- According to Statista, the food delivery market is projected to reach US$ 0.91 trillion (meal delivery 0.35 & grocery delivery 0.57) in 2023.
- By 2027, revenue is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.68%, resulting in US$1.45tn in market volume.
- By 2027, the number of users in the Meal Delivery segment is expected to reach 2,644.2m.
These stats are evident that building a food delivery app in 2023 is a good idea only! So, let’s study how to make an app like Zomato and examine its business model, features, cost, etc.
Business Model of Zomato App
Zomato uses the on-demand app business model, and they provide three types of major offerings.
- Place an order online for food delivery
- Table booking
- Zomato Gold – Exclusive offers and benefits for dine-in restaurants
The app runs on major three core units in the business model:
1. Admin
This module is designed for admins or owners of the app. The role of the admin is to monitor and track the deliveries, delivery team, etc. The owners require analytics and an admin dashboard to manage their business.
2. User
The user will be able to make recommendations and purchases based on their specific preferences, as well as discover offers, profile restaurants, and save favorites.
Additionally, this module displays account information, order history, app permissions, payment gateways, and a search box.
If you want to learn more about the Zomato business model, then this guide is recommended for you.
3. Delivery
The focus of this module will be on the delivery part. Some of the must-have features include; contact details, navigation functionality, trip monitoring, and trip logs. All stakeholders - users, admins, and delivery persons - will benefit from this module.
On the basis of these structured modules, we will explain the features and functionalities in the food delivery app development.
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Important Features to Build App Like Zomato
In this section, we will explain the core functionality and features to be included in each module, used in the Zomato clone app development.
Core Functions in the Admin Module:
1. Live Tracking and Monitoring
The owners can track and monitor the delivery persons and the entire delivery fleet across the whole network. The functionality and coding involved would escalate as the business scales up.
2. App Analytics
Analyses are tailored to meet business requirements based on numbers and data. There are a wide variety of analytical operations that can be performed that can help you strategize your operations.
3. Admin Dashboard
The admin dashboard will offer various business-related features for the app. The list of examples includes route management, driver and delivery statistics, restaurant profiles, marketing, and campaigns.
Core Functions in the User Module:
1. Search Option
Users can search for restaurants, cities, food items, etc., using this option. On the screen, the results are displayed, and the user can choose from them.
2. Calling Option
If the user needs to confirm an order or receive late deliveries, they may want to call the restaurant and delivery person. This becomes one of the most essential features.
3. Social Media Integration
Instead of having difficulties registering, users are more than ready to use their social media accounts to use the app. In the UI, users can change app permissions and preferences at any time.
4. Different Modes of Payment
The app must support multiple payment methods, including cash, cards, mobile banking, and UPI.
5. Alerts and Notifications
Emails, messages, and in-app notifications can be used to send alerts and notifications. Several scenarios may be covered, including order status, delivery rating, restaurant rating, ordering experience or app, and getting the latest offers.
6. Real-Time Order Tracking
It is essential that the user has access to real-time animation of their order on their digital devices. Keeping the user engaged with the app during delivery keeps them engaged with the app. At the same time, it keeps anticipation levels high and combats the waiting blues.
7. Rewards/Coupons
Users can find information about their coupons or rewards in this section. You can also provide details about premium benefits here.
Core Function in Delivery Module
1. Navigation
To be aware of the real-time tracking of orders and restaurant areas, a navigation feature is required. It is also used for other location-related functions.
2. Trip Logs and Details
In order to validate deliveries and count work hours, the admin checks trip logs and details to calculate performance based on various KPIs.
3. Route Optimization
The delivery guy can use this feature to choose the best possible delivery route.
4. Start/End Trip
This module allows delivery persons to input information about trips' start and end timings. Using the vehicle for normal or personal travel separates it from order-related travel.
Too many features can create a hassle. To avoid it you can simply go for the prototype app development initially.
Few Additional Features in Zomato Clone App Development
- Customer care
- Order histories
- Transaction histories
- Loyalty Points or tokens
- Review Features
- Map Views
- Photo sharing
- User profile
- Login and Signup
- Surveys
Seems like tiresome work? You can simply hire app developer to avoid such chaos and get started with your mobile app project smoothly.
Cost to Build App Like Zomato
Understanding the different costs involved in making an app like Zomato is quite difficult. Additionally, certificates, compliances, payment gateway integration, etc., add additional costs to the whole process.
Below, we describe the considerable types of costs of developing a delivery app
- The number of features
- App Design ( UX and UI)
- The project’s complexity
- Operating system(iOS or Android or both)
- Development Approach (native or cross-platform)
- Required technologies (languages, libraries, frameworks, AI, VR, etc.).
- Team structure
- Maintenance and support costs.
Estimating the overall food delivery development cost requires considering the number of professionals, which may vary depending on the type of application, the features, and the complexity of the project.
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However, the amount of man-hours necessary to construct the software is also a factor. The hourly rates requested by developers in the regions listed below are approximate.
US Developer $100 – $250 an hourEastern Europe Developer$80 – $180 an hourAsia-Pacific Developer$25 – $50 an hour
Suggestions and Tips to Follow in Food Delivery App Development
Looking to build app like Zomato? Please find some key considerations mentioned below:
- Provide easy navigation to the user
- User-friendly UI
- Provide multiple payment gateways option
- Refer to a friend section
- 24*7 support service
- Rating and feedback section
- Easy-to-manage user profile
Conclusion
Mobile food delivery was a rapidly growing trend in the previous decade, and with the COVID-19 emergency, it quickly became an essential service. Investment opportunities are boundless in the industry, as does competition. Also with a sound business strategy and a quick approach to product development, the odds of winning are massive.
In order to start a successful food delivery business, you will need a high-performance, beautifully designed app. Hire an experienced mobile app development company in Dubai if you are looking for a solution that can compete with industry leaders. It’s important to work with a reliable partner who can share experience and advise you on a high-quality product.
