Trends in On-Demand Service App Development

• By Priyanshu Khandelwal
• 13-07-2022
• Mobile App Development

On-demand service apps have entered our daily lives in a seamless and comprehensive manner. The new wave of on-demand service mobile apps for iOS and Android signaled a significant shift in how businesses provide services to clients at one point. People are so preoccupied with their jobs and families that they have no time for mundane tasks like grocery shopping, cooking, driving, or housekeeping. In recent years, a variety of global socioeconomic shifts have resulted in an increase in the popularity of on-demand services.

Customers who require quick and easy access to services can benefit from these valuable mobile apps. As a result, the market responds by creating an ideal purchasing environment in which customers can have confidence in the quality, convenience, and dependability of the service delivery process.

We've gathered and evaluated recent statistical data and are now ready to give an in-depth on-demand market landscape analysis, as well as some basic rules for developing effective on-demand service apps. We'll also look at what an on-demand service platform is and how it works, as well as what kinds of on-demand service apps are available and what steps you should take to create your own.

What is an on-demand service app?
On-demand service apps are platforms that connect clients with independent service providers or agents that are looking for a quick solution. An app like this acts as a middleman between a company and a consumer, allowing them to find one other in the first place and establish a mutually beneficial customer-provider relationship.

These applications have grown in popularity as a result of their capacity to fit the needs of each individual. Furthermore, as the number of mobile users continues to expand, user expectations molded by this change have escalated to the point that users expect to be able to access what they need at almost any time simply tapping a few times on the screen. The bar has been set so high that there is no way to avoid meeting the requirements.

How an on-demand business model works
Customers can choose which services to use or subscribe to, as well as how much to invest in using them, with on-demand self-service. Everything can be purchased with a credit card swipe or using an internet payment system.

Others who want goods (e.g., a restaurant meal) or services (e.g., video streaming) can connect with people who can offer them with what they want for a set price through companies like Uber or Netflix.

On-demand service apps, such as Airbnb, which helps people locate accommodation, Lyft, which provides transportation, and GrubHub, which allows users to order meals, usually focus on a specific domain area. Sometimes, like with Uber and Uber Eats being two separate applications, specialization leads to a single company starting and running many businesses in different domains. Consumers will find it reasonably easy to browse through a fragmented service marketplace in this manner. They always know which app to use when looking for anything specific, whether it's food, a taxi, housing, or entertainment.

An on-demand service business model is also characterized by strong agent independence and high delay sensitivity. To put it another way, customers expect goods and services to be delivered right away. Agents (service providers), on the other hand, function as independent contractors, deciding if and when to work and receiving remuneration from the platform for each job completed.

An on-demand model gives customers and service providers access to a broader pool of options, resulting in a better customer experience. As a result, on-demand service platforms are typically created as both a mobile app and a web app to allow users to access what they want more quickly and simply. These apps are then administered via the admin dashboard, which allows you to keep track of all current and finished operations.

Types of on-demand service apps
Knowing what people want and how to acquire it in the most important thing for the agent in the on-demand sector. In general, there are three choices. Customers and clients of a company can use services in a variety of ways, including business-to-customer (e.g., Netflix), business-to-business (e.g., Glovo's future B2B logistics unit), and customer-to-customer (e.g., Airbnb).

Within the on-demand business model framework, the types of services and goods supplied vary greatly. Whether it's a B2B, B2C, or C2C relationship, the receiving party will enjoy it if the platform can not only connect them with the supplier but also save them time and make their lives easier. There are various categories in which such advances have become and consistently proven possible as of today.

Categories of on-demand service apps

1. Transportation: logistics & taxi-hailing
On-demand transportation isn't a new concept. The dial-a-ride service has been operating for a long time and is still in use today. On-demand transportation services, on the other hand, have been more available to a wider audience as technology has advanced.

People can order a taxi e-hailing platform at any time and from nearly any location. Furthermore, what distinguishes on-demand ride-hailing companies is their larger fleet size, broader reach, high level of flexibility, agility, and investment capabilities.

It is not as simple as it is with passenger transportation apps when it comes to logistics on-demand applications. On-demand logistics is a contentious industry. Surprisingly, the two industry leaders, UberRUSH and Shyp, both decided to close shop rather than fight for survival. There are numerous pitfalls in the on-demand logistics niche. Transportation services are complex, and there are numerous factors to consider when planning the logistics, including fleet maintenance, labour pool training and development, goods handling, order tracking, and more.

2. Food & grocery delivery
Global Google searches for "food delivery" hit new highs in April 2021. People's shopping habits have changed as a result of the pandemic.

Increased popularity also means increased competition. Nonetheless, in the end, it is not a bad thing. The growth of online grocery shopping and food delivery app providers should not discourage you. Instead, it should motivate you to capitalize on what others have already tested and proven to be effective and launch your own product with a unique feature set. As a result, one of the best food and grocery delivery practices is to develop different products for customers, delivery people, store managers, and administrators. Food Delivery business is growing rapidly with the increase in number of internet users around the world, Food Delivery App Development Company can take your delivery business to new heights with their expertise in app development.

Customers need an on-demand delivery service to get groceries from their favourite grocery stores and food from their favourite restaurants, as demonstrated by apps like UberEats, GrubHub, Instacart, Glovo, and Postmates. It implies that on-demand food and grocery delivery is likely to remain popular among customers, implying that more advancements in this sector are yet to come.

3. Healthcare & telemedicine
On-demand healthcare service apps can help you if you don't have time to see a doctor, are in a remote location, or don't want to expose yourself to the coronavirus.

The telemedicine industry is rapidly evolving, with new technologies being introduced on a regular basis to ensure the high quality of the end products. Telemedicine apps, also known as doctor-on-demand apps, aim to safely, securely, and seamlessly connect people seeking medical consultation with medical professionals.

On-demand apps such as Zocdoc, Healthtap, Doctor on Demand, and LiveHealth Online allow users to find needed specialists, check their ratings and certifications, schedule appointments, and receive consultations online via video call. Telehealth apps offer more than just the ability to call a doctor on demand. Such apps can also be used for remote patient monitoring, health data collection, doctor visit requests, wireless testing, prescription monitoring, and other purposes. The full potential has yet to be realized.

4. Fitness
Workouts on a regular basis are an essential part of living a healthy lifestyle. Fitness apps can go above and beyond in 2021, providing highly personalized on-demand fitness services.

To begin with, having a personal trainer on your smartphone or a comprehensive collection of home/gym workout programs at your fingertips is convenient then to keep finding excuses to avoid going to the gym.

The on-demand model is truly changing the way the fitness industry operates. Customers can use an on-demand fitness app to request both online and onsite training from a fitness expert of their choice. Online fitness marketplaces are poised to benefit both trainers and workout seekers. You will also have access to all of the other benefits that come with the on-demand business model, such as flexibility, dependability, simple booking and payment, ratings, and reviews.

5. Entertainment
On-demand entertainment is booming. With the introduction of on-demand streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, people's preferences for watching TV shows, TV series, documentaries, and movies have shifted dramatically.

Today, numerous video-on-demand services compete for prospective customers' business, and new ones appear on a regular basis. As a result, the number of on-demand consumers continues to rise. According to Statista, the number of Netflix paid subscribers worldwide reached 195.15 billion in the third quarter of 2021.

However, competition in this industry is fierce. Not every video streaming startup is successful. Some of them fail unexpectedly. This is exactly what happened to Quibi, a startup that raised $1.75 billion but failed only 6 months after its initial public offering in April 2021. As a result, there are numerous examples to study and learn from. When it comes to video-on-demand services, success is precarious. People need entertaining content that is tailored to their preferences in some way, and at the end of the day, you never know what idea will turn into the next Netflix.

6. Home services
Online on-demand home services are forecast to grow by over USD 1.5 billion from 2021 to 2024.
All on-demand domestic services can be classified as follows:

House cleaning & repair services
Packing and moving
Babysitting
Pet care
Others

For example, in the Handyman app development industry, Task Rabbit, Handy, and Urban Company offer complete home services, such as maintenance, cleaning, movers, installation, etc., in one place. On-demand home service apps provide users with access to a large pool of registered professionals who will care for their homes, children, and pets. Customers require a simple online booking tool for cleaning and other home services. This tool should also allow for price comparison, assurance of each contractor's credibility, and the ability to check reviews and ratings. As a result of this demand, many new online home services have emerged in the form of web and mobile apps. In addition, users can request assistance from an independent organization that directly employs workers or from a marketplace that acts as a middleman connecting customers with specialty contractors.