E-commerce in Pakistan is an emerging sector and currently, it’s in the nascent stage. The increasing number of mobile and internet users is directly impacting e-commerce and online sales. Now people prefer to purchase things directly from their smartphones instead of visiting supermarkets. As a regular shopper, you must be already aware of the e-commerce concept but do you know hyperlocal business? Probably not. Well, in this article we will not only tell you about hyperlocal business but will tell you how it’s different from e-commerce.
What are Hyperlocal Businesses?
Hyperlocal businesses follow an advanced business model in which local customers can buy groceries and other products from their local stores and outlets. It covers all neighborhood businesses in a specific area including grocery shops, pharmacies, bakeries, fast food restaurants and supermarkets etc. With Hyperlocal on-demand delivery system, it facilitates customers by immediately supplying things that they need in-time from the nearest shops.
E-Commerce Businesses
Unlike hyperlocal businesses, e-commerce businesses include those brands that operate on a national and international level and sell products online. Usually, e-commerce businesses have a large setup and operations to deliver products all across the country and across the border. However, e-commerce businesses are not obliged to instant delivery rule as they give time of three or more working days to customers for the final delivery of the product. In the case of e-commerce shopping, customers have to wait for their shopped item to reach their doorstep.
Why Choose Hyperlocal?
Hyperlocal is a new business model and it’s been adopted fast because it offers great advantages that common e-commerce platforms can’t.
- It enables fast delivery of goods to the customer’s home.
- It has more credibility as products are supplied from local shops to local customers.
Moreover, hyperlocal businesses have their own physical location before they set up an online platform and customers can visit them_ that is what makes hyperlocal markets trustworthy.
Hyperlocal Operations
The hyperlocal business has the biggest advantage that they operate near to the customer’s location. Conversely, e-commerce businesses may be located in some faraway location that is the reason they deliver products in days and sometimes in weeks. But Hyperlocal business delivers well-packaged products to your doorstep at quick timelines. Thus, the main differentiation of hyperlocal is that its complete supply chain is formed near to merchandiser and customer.
Fast Delivery
With its fast delivery to customer’s homes, hyperlocal models have handled the issue of quick demand in an efficient manner. For instance, if you need fresh and quality meat at home urgently, just download an app of hyper local mall and get it delivered instantly.
Accuracy in Information
For both sellers and buyers, the hyperlocal market is helpful. By using a hyperlocal online platform, the merchant can add a location where products will be delivered. Similarly, the customer can enter his location and find merchants selling their desired products in the nearby area. Much more, the merchants can update the delivery charges and other conditions. This way communication between seller and buyer becomes accurate.
Better Customer Service
Despite the fact that hyperlocal businesses do not own a brand or a large name in the market, they develop great trust with the passage of time. All this is because of the hyper delivery model in which customers can track the product at every stage from packaging to last-mile delivery. As hyperlocal models give freedom to customers to track the entire supply chain, it builds trust and a greater level of satisfaction.
Hyperlocal e-Commerce Businesses: Advantages
Going online with your current business setup in the same region is easy in comparison to a new location. If you choose a new place, first you need to study its dynamics and understand the behavior of customers as well as their needs that will be difficult. With less spending on your existing setup, you can expand in your present region while controlling the quality of products and delivery services _thanks to hyperlocal model.
Filling the Offline & Online Gap
When shifting from offline to online shopping, the customers demand instant satisfaction that is a great convenience. Presently, the offline shopping experience and online are not connected that creates a gap. In order to enhance the customer experience, the retailers should adopt location-based technology that makes switching between offline to online personalized and easy. Moreover, the hyperlocal business can benefit from this technology to improve interaction with customers, speed up deliveries and boost operational performance.
