Offering an instore-like delivery experience

REGIONAL TRANSFORMATION OUTLOOK 2019

In the Middle East region, revenue from the food delivery market is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 13.6%. Hence, it is not surprising that investors will continue to fund food aggregators. Not worried about generating profits, food aggregators are seldom known for playing by the rules and conflict of interest between these aggregators and restaurants owners are common. The question is how does a restaurant compete with these aggregators who are delivering food at cut-throat prices?

There is no easy answer to this but adopting an advanced supply chain and logistics platform can surely solve a lot of problems. An advanced supply chain and logistics software helps businesses increase fleet visibility, boost customer experience and engagement, optimise delivery routes, customise delivery locations, predict communications and so much more.

The incorrect and inadequate postal address is a major problem that supply chain and logistics business face in the Middle East and Africa region. To resolve this inaccurate-address problem, supply chain and logistics companies need to embrace artificial intelligence and machine learning-based platforms that can leverage advanced technologies to geolocate a customer’s delivery address intelligently. Next-day deliveries, customising delivery locations and timing on the fly, paperless billings and more such customer expectations will continue to drive businesses to embrace advanced supply chain and logistics platforms.

Online customers in the Middle East and Africa region want retailers to deliver in-store like buying experience focused on instant gratification. According to Google, in UAE only 53% of retailers offer click and collect as a service, and only three retailers offer next-day delivery. The only way to be on top of the customer experience trend is to drastically improve last-mile delivery with advanced Saas-based logistics and eCommerce platforms.

Key takeaways

• How does a restaurant compete with aggregators who are delivering food at cut-throat prices.
• In UAE only 53% of retailers offer click and collect as a service and only three retailers offer next-day delivery.
• Incorrect and inadequate postal address is a major problem that supply chain and logistics businesses face in MEA.