1)Overview of Hyperlocal Delivery Companies for eCommerce
Hyperlocal Delivery is a specialized delivery service offered currently by only a limited number of courier partners. Hyperlocal delivery enables faster delivery to more customers because it operates exclusively within a small geographical area. What started with housing and taxi-aggregators like Uber, Airbnb, etc. only a couple of years ago has now become a worldwide phenomenon. The introduction of on-demand hyperlocal delivery management software and services has proved to be an enormously viable and cost-effective business model for the ecommerce industry.
Although hyperlocal delivery is a fairly new idea in India, as well as the rest of the world, a lot of eCommerce logistics providers are quickly shifting gears to incorporate this specialized service in their shipping solution range. Today, we are going to discuss the best hyperlocal delivery services in India.
These courier partners make use of on-ground delivery agents and local suppliers, stores, and warehouses to fulfill the customer orders within 2-3 hours after being placed. But before that, let's dive in a little deeper to gain a better insight into what hyperlocal delivery is, and how it can be differentiated from courier partners offering last-mile delivery solutions.
2) Hyperlocal Delivery Vs. Last-Mile Delivery
Hyperlocal deliveries, as is clear from the name, happen at an extremely local level. In the case of tier II and tier III cities, delivery operations are usually carried out from a local merchant or seller to the end customer. In such smaller cities, orders can usually be placed from one corner of the city to another. However, in bigger metropolitan cities, order fulfillment is done by sellers and merchants from the customer's own locality. Due to the constraints of time and distance, order delivery cannot be carried out by brick-and-mortar shops from across the town.
Hyperlocal deliveries are usually very time-sensitive and the time taken ranges from 45mins to 2hours. Last-mile delivery, on the other hand, is just the last leg of any normal intercity or intracity delivery. For instance, if an order is shipped from Delhi to a customer in Mumbai, then the final part, which consists of a delivery boy picking up the order (usually on a two-wheeler) from the Mumbai warehouse and delivering it to the end customer is called a last-mile delivery.
Since it's the last part of the journey after a shipment arrives at your city's hub, the time taken usually ranges between 12 to 24 hours. Another major difference between hyperlocal and last-mile deliveries is the weight allowance for each. Last-mile deliveries usually allow for bigger shipment volumes of 30kgs and above, but for hyperlocal deliveries, the cap is usually at 10-12kgs. These figures are entirely variable and you should always speak to your shipping partners to see what they offer.
3)Top 10 Best Hyperlocal Delivery Companies in India [2022 Updated List]
We understand that selecting a courier partner is not an easy feat. With that in mind, we have looked high and low to find you the best courier companies for hyperlocal delivery services. So, go ahead and check the below-compiled list of the top 9 best hyperlocal delivery companies in India for your online eCommerce business and delivery services & solutions.
3.1) Dunzo Hyperlocal Delivery Company
Dunzo was founded in 2014 and today works with 6000+ delivery partners to deliver over 2 Lakh orders a month across 7 major metro cities. 37000+ businesses across India use Dunzo’s hyperlocal delivery services, including big brands like Fipola and Blue Tokai, to deliver orders to customers within 45 minutes.
3.2) Blowhorn Hyperlocal Delivery Partner
Blowhorn offers intra-city logistics solutions with on-demand transportation, using a fleet of vehicles enabled to carry different load sizes. Over 30000+ drivers are employed delivering 50 million orders a month, 86% of which are same-day deliveries. Blowhorn is on track to make 90% of its transportation fleet green by 2025.
3.3) Shadowfax Hyperlocal Delivery Service
Shadowfax is a 2015-launched logistics company that is used by 100+ major Indian eCommerce enterprises and businesses. It offers its business partners on-demand reliable transportation options, slot-based same-day delivery and even express hyperlocal delivery, completing orders within 45 minutes. It is fast becoming a favourite for retail deliveries.
3.4) Wefast Hyperlocal-Delivery-Company
Founded in 2016, WeFast is a courier company that specialises in urgent deliveries and employs both walking and riding delivery agents to fulfill orders quickly. WeFast also offers COD services for hyperlocal delivery orders. It also offers special services like store selection and multipoint drop-offs.
3.5) Grab Hyperlocal Service Company
Launched in 2013, Grab was India’s first exclusive hyperlocal delivery logistics startup, and continues to offer on-demand and same-day delivery solutions. It uses its well-connected fleet of drivers to enable pickup in under 15 minutes and delivery within 2 hours in a certain range. It also offers intra city delivery services making it ideal for growing retailers.
3.6) Pidge Hyperlocal Delivery Company & Partner
Pidge is among the youngest of the courier companies in India and offers hyperlocal delivery services in 5 major cities. It is known for its radius-free on-demand and same-day delivery services. Businesses can opt for use of tamper-proof bags, temperature-controlled deliveries and special handling for fragile items.
3.7) Dropr Hyper-local Delivery Startup
Dropr is another young logistics company, also founded in 2019. Dropr offers multi-location delivery services, including both on-demand and same-day delivery. It specialises in providing customers with safety packaging solutions and provides real-time tracking for all deliveries, including bulk orders & corporate delivery solutions.
3.8) Xpressbees Hyperlocal Delivery Service Provider Company
XpressBees is a logistics company launched in 2015 that handles end-to-end logistics solutions for eCommerce. Xpressbees uses SMART transportation and planning to handle both B2B and B2C logistics. This also streamlines services for on-demand and same-day delivery services, optimizing hyperlocal delivery for eCommerce.
3.9) Bikxie Hyper Local Delivery Firm
Bikxie is a 2016 company that began as a bike-taxi startup and has emerged as one of the leading hyperlocal delivery and logistics service providers in India. It handles hyperlocal delivery for multiple cities and various different eCommerce companies in India . Bikxie primarily offers its services in Gurugram and Faridabad but is steadily expanding its services.
3.10) Holisollogistics
Holisol Logistics founded in June 2009 offers customised supply chain solutions. With +200 supply chain enthusiasts, 35 fulfilment centres, 2 mn. sq. ft. Warehousing Space, 150 Pickup Centre, we are serving more than 20k zip codes and +80 no. of customers from e-grocery, beauty & personal care, healthcare, fashion & apparel and auto spare parts industry. Holisol has set up +100 hyperlocal fulfilment centres PAN India with a set-up speed of as low as 1 week. Currently, we are opening 8-10 dark stores per month and have a plan to increase the numbers with an aim of opening 800 dark stores in next 2 years.
https://holisollogistics.com/
4) How to Choose the Best Hyperlocal Delivery Company or Service Partner?
Choosing a logistics partner is already a difficult task, with numerous criteria to be considered. Choosing a hyperlocal delivery partner is an even more herculean feat, because of the nature of this service. Hyperlocal delivery enables your ecommerce business to supply a larger number of orders in areas where your stores and warehouses are located.
You can reach customers at greater speeds with the help of courier partners that specialise in hyperlocal delivery services. You already have the list of the top hyperlocal deliveries for online businesses. Below, we discuss the most important factors that every online business entrepreneur should consider before hiring any of these hyperlocal delivery companies.
4.1) Delivery Range
For every eCommerce business, widening their network by integrating with as many e-marketplaces and virtual storefronts as possible is the best way to increase their reach. The same goes for geographical coverage.
Before partnering with any hyperlocal delivery courier partner, you must make sure which pin codes and areas they cater to. Generally speaking, the larger the number of pin codes a logistics company covers, the better it is for your business. However, more does not always mean better. You need to determine that the hyperlocal delivery company you pick makes deliveries to all the regions that your customers come from.
4.2) Shipping Rates
Don't fall for cheaper delivery rates. You might be tempted to opt for the courier partner offering the best deals, however, lower base prices do not always translate to overall lower shipping expenditure. Shipping costs in eCommerce can suddenly become high. This happens mainly because of hidden costs, extra charges, or the addition of value-added items. Many courier partners offer specialized services like cash on delivery (COD) or hyperlocal delivery at an added cost. Talk to your provider directly to avoid any last-minute surprises.
4.3) No. of Delivery Agents
The number of delivery agents a shipping company employs can greatly affect the delivery speed of your shipments. Since hyperlocal deliveries are extremely time-bound, having a greater number of delivery agents at your disposal can ensure that customers always receive their shipments within the stipulated time limit.
4.4) Customer Support
Customers will want to contact the courier partner or the online seller as soon as anything goes wrong with their order. It might include issues like where is my order (WISMO), can I change my delivery address, etc. You need to have a responsive customer support team to address such queries. Check if your delivery partner offers customer service before settling on one.
4.5) Flexibility
Emergencies are an everyday part of life. A good hyperlocal delivery company is one that moves swiftly in the case of an unforeseen event. Shipping mishaps can mean anything from order delays to delivery exceptions or RTOs (Return-to-Origin). An eCommerce business needs to tie up with a courier partner that gives first-class service despite emergencies.
4.6) Careful Handling of Goods
How your shipping partner handles goods reflects on your business. Mishandling fragile items or using multiple carrier vehicles often leads to items being found broken on delivery. To save yourself the added trouble, go for a logistics provider that handles orders with care and also gives insurance on the products being delivered.
4.7) Total Experience of the Courier Company
It might not seem like much but the number of years a courier service provider has been in business says a lot about their services. A shipping company that is well established and works with companies like yours is the best bet. Browse through the customer reviews to have an in-depth understanding of the quality of their service.
4.8) Other Services
When looking for a shipping partner for hyperlocal delivery, you must also consider what range of services they provide beyond hyperlocal delivery that could be beneficial to you. A shipping partner that provides excellent all-around service is the best one to have. You must also look into any specialty shipping services a courier company offers like cash-on-delivery (COD), returns management, packaging and warehouse management, etc.
5)Final Conclusion
We have provided you with the list of the best courier companies in India that offer hyperlocal deliveries. The next question to ask yourself is, if hyperlocal delivery as a business model really suits your online business. How important is it for your company to deliver goods to your customers within the shortest span of time? If you are an ecommerce food business or deal in medicines or groceries, then hyperlocal delivery is probably a great option for you.
But even if you don’t belong to these industries, investing in courier companies that make hyperlocal deliveries will only make your customers happier. The only thing is to talk to your shipping solution providers and figure out the total expenditure for availing hyperlocal deliveries. If you want to find out more about returns management in ecommerce, check the ClickPost blog!. That’s it, you are all set!