Updated Date: Oct 9, 2023 
The age we live in is the age of comfort and convenience. Believe it or not. The base of hardship has changed forever. No more do we wander the wild of the jungles to hunt for food and ensure one more hunger-free day.
The hunting dogs are a gone name, gone are the bows and arrows. All we need now is an app, an internet connection, and of course, finance. Food and grocery delivery apps have now been pleasing the world for over 2 decades.
Feeling hungry? A few clicks, a few minutes, and you have your food. Not only food but today we can even get drinks and alcohol.
Yes! A delight for the merry-going people. And whom should they thank? Gopuff. Now, what is GoPuff? How does GoPuff work? And how does it earn? Let’s dive deep into the sea of drinks and the company that delivers them.
What is GoPuff?
In the year 2013, two Drexel University students, Yakir and Rafael, came up with an idea for a food, drinks, and grocery delivery app. The result was Go Puff app. The idea behind this unique name was a snack that its founders loved, ‘puff’. ‘Go’ was added before ‘puff’ to resemble their company’s vision – quick and reliable delivery.
Today, GoPuff is an online food and drink delivery giant that covers over 650 US cities. Over these past 10 years, it has expanded its initial start to a whopping market cap of $15 billion in 2021. This was a big leap from its $4 billion cap in the year 2019. One big reason for this big leap is that the company capitalized on the Covid pandemic.
The online food delivery market is projected to generate a revenue of nearly $1 trillion USD.
But what actually is this company? If we were to conclude it with a few key features, it would be this:
- An on-demand delivery app founded in 2013 that focuses on delivering a wide range of products such as snacks, food, drinks, alcohol, etc.
- It operates 24×7. So, no matter if you are awake at the ghostly silent 3 AM, you have it covered. This offers convenience to its customers.
- Over the years, it has expanded its business to cover baby food, OTC medicines, and alcohol. Alcohol delivery was not in its plan in the initial years.
- It has captured a total funding of $3.4 billion in 11 rounds. Its latest investors include Robert Iger (CEO of Disney) and Selena Gomez.
- In the year 2021, it recorded 2.1 million active users on its platform. Most of these were based in the US.
- It uses technology to fuel its Go Puff driver app, which is used by its drivers who work with the company.
But how has this company attracted so many investors and recorded good revenue? How does it work?
How does GoPuff Work? – A Must Know Thing
Now that we’ve understood what is GoPuff, let’s look at how does GoPuff work. GoPuff’s business model is simple – it purchases, stores, and sells products throughout the States for a bare-minimum delivery fee. It has its own warehouses that it uses to store different products. This allows the company to come true to its promise – quick and easy delivery.
To deliver its product, it partners with individuals who use its Driver App. GoPuff driver app is solely made for drivers and allows them to accept, track, and deliver orders, and to contact its customers whenever required.
Apart from this app, its delivery is based on flat charges. The Gopuff delivery fee has been kept at $3.95 for all orders. Apart from it, it charges an additional $3.95 on the sale of regulated products such as alcohol, tobacco, etc.
For its regular customers, it offers subscriptions called ‘Fam’. This membership allows its users to get free delivery irrespective of the type of product. How much is the subscription cost? Currently, it stands at $7.99 per month. This cost covers:
- No delivery fee for any type of product. You want beer? Want it without any delivery fee? At 4 o’clock at night? No worries!
- It offers ‘Puff Points’ that can be redeemed when buying products from its platform.
You May Also Like: Grocery App Development
Now, GoPuff’s Revenue Model
- Markup: It buys products, stores them in its warehouses, and sells them at a higher price from there. This way, it earns profit with the price gap between buying and selling.
- Subscription: Its ‘Fam’ subscription model is doing excellent in the market, earning it constant revenue.
- Delivery Fee: By charging those who do not have a membership, it generates revenue too.
- Advertising: It also capitalizes on brands’ need to advertise themselves on its platform. By charging a basic advertising fee, it generates revenue.
One big reason this app gained popularity was its alcohol delivery services. It was a novel idea in the market back then and not many competitors were there to counter its rise. Today, more and more companies are opting for alcohol delivery app development due to the growing interest in it. When we want booze, we just want booze, not the hassle of going to the market and buying it. But how does it happen? How do companies start-ups manage to make delivery apps and create successful businesses around them?
By the year 2023, around 37.2% of the population will be using online food delivery services.
How to Build an App Like Gopuff?
On-demand delivery apps have become a new favorite of entrepreneurs. Why? We all know this well. Because there is a market gap — We have become busier now and crave our daily needs getting met without having to take the vehicle and go out for the same. Isn’t it wonderful to get snacks, drinks, food, toys, and every other essential with a few clicks on the phone? Of course. But how to build an app like GoPuff app?
Creating an on-demand delivery app is not a complex task, but creating a business around it is indeed a herculean one. Here are some key steps and components to consider if you want to create a similar app:
-
Concept and Market Research:
Every market has a different nature. Its moves are different, its curves are different, and so are its needs. So, the first step in building a similar app is always to have a clear idea about the market you are going to target. Define your concept and conduct market research. Simply, it involves the identification of the target audience and then determining what features and services should be offered to meet their needs.
-
Design and User Interface:
Once the market part is done (that you see a successful business in that market) it is time to create the platform. The user interface of your app is critical to its success. You’d not want your app to be complex, broken, and sluggish. Make sure that the design is simple and intuitive which reflects your brand. The easiest and cheapest way is to get an app clone done. For example, if you have a business similar to UberEats, you should look for UberEats clone app development. This will take the financial burden away at the initial stage of business-doing.
-
Product Catalog:
And of course, the core of any business – product catalog. In digital stores, catalogs work like shelves in superstores. Your app should have a comprehensive product catalog that includes all the items that you plan to offer.
-
Payment and Checkout Gateway:
It is a crucial aspect, not because it involves money, but because it is the last step in their buying process. You would never want to make their exit a harassment. Make sure payment and checkout are smooth and easy. Include multiple payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets, to cater to different user preferences
-
Delivery Tracking System:
Any on-demand delivery app works on the basis of a navigation and tracking system. Your delivery agents must know where to pick up the product from and drop it off, and your customers must know where the product is at. It ensures trust, safety, and reliability
-
Regulatory Compliance:
One of the biggest challenges of building an on-demand delivery app like GoPuff Delivery is regulatory compliance. Ensure that your app complies with all relevant regulations and laws. This could be around food safety, data privacy, transportation, etc
One important aspect to consider when building an on-demand delivery app like GoPuff is competition from other established players in the market, such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats. These are big players. They have a large network of drivers and established partnerships with local restaurants. Surely, they’ll make it harder for new players to enter the market.
Power of AI: Transforming GoPuff-like Apps for Personalized Experiences
Integrating AI into GoPuff-like apps brings a multitude of benefits that enhance the user experience and optimize operational efficiency. Through the power of artificial intelligence, these apps can provide personalized recommendations, improve delivery logistics, and offer intelligent customer support.
-
Enhanced Personalization:
AI can analyze user data such as past purchases, preferences, and browsing behavior to provide highly personalized recommendations. By understanding individual customer preferences, AI algorithms can suggest relevant products, promotions, and deals, leading to a more tailored and engaging user experience.
-
Improved Operational Efficiency:
AI can optimize various aspects of the GoPuff-like app’s operations, such as inventory management, demand forecasting, and delivery logistics. By analyzing historical data and real-time information, AI algorithms can help streamline the supply chain, reduce wastage, minimize delivery times, and optimize routing, resulting in improved efficiency and cost savings.
-
Intelligent Customer Support:
AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can handle customer queries, provide instant support, and offer 24/7 assistance. Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms enable these AI systems to understand and respond to user inquiries, providing quick and accurate information. This reduces the load on human customer support agents, improves response times, and enhances overall customer satisfaction.
You May Also Like: Milk Delivery App Development
How Can aPurple Help You Build an App Like Gopuff?
If you have an idea about on-demand delivery and want to incorporate AI into your app, aPurple is the perfect partner for you. As a leading mobile app development company with a strong focus on AI technology, aPurple can help you build a cutting-edge app like GoPuff, infused with intelligent features.
Our team of experienced developers, designers, and project managers can work with you to develop a customized solution that meets the needs of your target audience. The process indeed is tough, but our expertise makes it look smooth and easier. Here is the portfolio to have an idea of how aPurple works to ensure the success of any business. The time can vary, the cost can vary, but the result and its success will not.
With the right team, strategy, and technology in place, building an on-demand delivery app is not only achievable but can be a highly rewarding and profitable venture. So why not take the leap and start building the next big thing in on-demand delivery today? Contact us, today!
