Wondering how to build an app like Uber Eats? Let's take a sneak peek at this topic.
Uber Eats was globally the most downloaded food delivery app last year, with 66 million downloads. Among all the major food delivery apps, Uber Eats stands out due to its rapid growth after the Covid pandemic.
There has been a race against time for restaurateurs to gain a foothold in the online food marketplace. Get to learn the process behind how to build an app like uber eats!
Developing a food delivery app like Uber Eats is a challenging task that involves assembling a lot of resources together. There's no denying that people will always do what's convenient for them.
We all know this applies to nearly everything we do in life, from watching movies to listening to music to playing games to eating food. Before developing, you must have a clear roadmap for creating your food delivery app to succeed in the online food industry.
This blog post will help you get off to the best start in the online food industry by considering the right app developers, business models, features, technology stack, and other factors.
How to Build an App Like Uber Eats?
1. Conduct Market Research
Identifying your competitors, target audience, and the latest food industry trends is the first step when developing a food delivery mobile app. It is easy to build a food delivery app that meets the needs of target audiences once you understand who will use it.
Find answers to the following questions to gain a thorough understanding of the current market situation:
- Learn who are your competitors.
- What are the strategies your competitors are following?
- What are the services your competitors are offering to customers/users?
- How will you target your audience? (age group, gender, interests, etc)
- Are there any potential problems that your app may solve for customers?
- What are the current trends you see in the food industry?
2. Choose Food Delivery App Model
Once you've completed your thorough research, the next step is to decide what food delivery method will best serve your app's business goals and customers. The following are the two delivery models:
- Order-only model: This food delivery platform is responsible for accepting and managing orders. This model is not responsible for the delivery process or offers any support in that regard. Restaurants that have partnered with order-only platforms generate revenue through commission fees. In this model, the user/customer chooses the restaurant, and food and places the order. As soon as the payment is authorized, the restaurant accepts the order. They prepare the food and hand it over to their courier, who then delivers it to the customer. Eg- JustEat app.
- Order and Delivery model: Managing and delivering orders is the responsibility of order and delivery platforms. Small to medium-sized restaurants will benefit from the full logistics support offered by this model. The reason is that new ventures and minor restaurants do not have their own delivery apps and rely on other delivery services. With this model, the user selects the food and places the order. As soon as payment is authorized, the order is received by the restaurant. As soon as the food is ready, the restaurant assigns a courier to deliver it. Delivery is made by a courier after the order is picked up. Once delivery confirmation has been received, payment will be deducted. Eg- Uber Eats app.
3. Select Features Of Food Delivery Apps
To get an edge over your competitors, you should incorporate the following features into your food delivery app:
- Must-have features for Customers: User Account Creation, User-friendly Interface, Nearby Restaurants, and Order cancellation. Payment Options, Tracking Orders, Special Discounts and Offers, Reviews and Ratings, Reward Points, Reorder Options, etc.
- Must-have features for Delivery Partner: Easy Signup Process, Push Notifications, Real-time Tracking, Availability Status, Delivery Completion, etc.
- Must-have features for Restaurants: Signup Process, Menu Edits, Push Notifications, Manage Payments, Ratings, Reviews, Assistance, and Support, etc.
4. Choose Technology Stack
For ordering food online in Dubai, selecting the right technology stack is crucial to ensure seamless user experiences. Your food delivery startup might require different technologies depending on its business model. Learn how to use the next-gen technology stack for various functions in a food delivery app, which includes:
- Logistics control
- Data management
- Authentications and API Integrations
- Database development
For developing a food delivery app, the following technologies are essential:
- Kotlin (Android) and Swift (iOS) for Mobile App Development
- AngularJS and React Native for Web App Development
- PHP for Back-End Development
The option of cross-platform app development is also available, utilizing technologies such as React Native, Ionic, etc. In order to build an efficient application with the least cost, these technologies are best. Development of native apps is also popular where Java or Kotlin experts build the foundation of your Android app. Developing an efficient app this way is a great idea, but it requires a lot of human, financial, and time resources.
5. Hire A Development Team or Company
This is the most critical requirement for your food delivery app clone development. A reliable mobile app development company in Dubai with a powerful agile team, industry experience, and a unique approach will get the work done seamlessly.
It is important that the firm you choose has Android and iOS developers, Front-end and Back-end developers, UI/UX Designers, Project managers, Testers, Business Analysts, etc.
Are you struggling to right source the team to build your food delivery app? This guide on finding the best app development company in Dubai can clear your roadmap.
The Cost to Build a Food Delivery App like Uber Eats
The cost of building an Uber Eats clone cannot be calculated directly since many factors are involved. If you want to skip all the hefty steps and want to get a quick idea of the budget, this app cost calculator is what you need right now!
However, if you are ready to dive deep into the hassle, the choice of features, platform type, functionality, country of development, and others all contribute to this. The following factors must be taken into consideration to estimate the cost:
1. Size Of An App
One of the major factors that affect the cost of your food delivery app is the number of deliveries you make. You can determine the size of your app based on the complexity and features you want to include. The more features you include, the higher the price will be.
2. App Designing
It is also important to consider app design when calculating development costs. Without a user-friendly interface, you will not generate enough attention for your food delivery app. The cost will depend highly on the theme of the app and the eye-catching graphics.
3. The App Platform
Choosing the right platform also affects development time and cost for food delivery apps. The app development market is dominated by two major platforms: Android and iOS. Depending on the platform you choose, your app could cost more or less.
4. App Development Team
The cost of developing a food delivery app will heavily depend on the app development team you hire, whether it is a freelancer, mobile app development agency, or in-house developers.
But if you are unsure about your idea, it's best to first go for idea validation. To get an idea of how this app will look and how it will work, you should go for app prototype development.
What makes Uber Eats App Unique: Features that set it apart from the competition
As we have already discussed how to build an app like Uber Eats and its cost, now it's time to uncover the reason for taking this giant as your reference!
1. Schedule Orders Feature
With Uber Eats' advanced ordering feature, users can place an order in advance. To ensure their orders are delivered on time and at the location they prefer, customers can also track their orders throughout the delivery process.
2. Customized Pick-Up Feature
Uber Eats app has an in-built feature for self-pickup. As per users' convenience, the app allows their customers to place an order and schedule a pick-up in-store.
3. Shorter Delivery Time
The ability to provide quicker deliveries distinguishes Uber Eats from its competition. With the help of the company's tracking system, they are able to provide faster delivery services by monitoring restaurant preparation times.
Bottom Line
The success of Uber Eats has changed the way people receive and order food online. Food delivery apps are rapidly becoming more popular worldwide, opening new opportunities for startups.
Now that you've decided to start a business for food delivery, the Uber Eats app is a worthwhile motivation.
We are a top mobile app development company in Dubai highly rated by Clutch. With years of industry and technology expertise, we have built food delivery mobile apps in the past. So, getting a free consultation from us won't do harm.
