Cost to build a grocery delivery app like Instacart

The present pandemic of the coronavirus is seriously affecting the world economy. However, since individuals stay indoors to avoid becoming infected, the demand for online food delivery and shopping delivery has risen significantly. Grocery eCommerce firms are on the rise as a result of this unprecedented Covid-19.

Grocery merchants are introducing grocery delivery apps to take advantage of the eCommerce boom brought on by consumers’ move towards an on-demand economy. Although there are a plethora of apps on the market, Instacart is a leader who has completely revolutionized the grocery delivery industry.

Instacart has continued to thrive even after the coronavirus pandemic. As a result of Instacart’s success, many entrepreneurs are motivated to establish their own business or delivery service. However, How to develop an app like Instacart? What is the cost of developing an app like Instacart? what kind of technology to utilize. These are likely some of the questions on an entrepreneur’s mind when they consider the development of an app like Instacart. If you are also from one of them then don’t worry you have reached the right place.

In this post, I’ll guide you through the Instacart introduction, the development of an app like Instacart, and the various factors that determine the cost of developing a grocery app like Instacart. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the details.

A Quick Overview of Instacart

Instacart was founded in 2012 by Apoorva Mehta and Max Mullen. Instacart has grown quickly across the United States. The app is available in a variety of areas and has hundreds of local grocery businesses registered. During the covid-19 outbreak, Instacart’s sales jumped tenfold. Newer versions of the grocery delivery service include two new features. These features will assist customers in receiving their deliveries more quickly. They are quick and flexible, and they allow you to place an order ahead of time.

Instacart, which has its corporate office in San Francisco, California, has a handy delivery window and promises to deliver groceries in less than an hour.

How Does Instacart Work?

• Instacart delivers the order within five hours after placing it. Users can browse the store’s inventory, place goods in their shopping carts, and set up delivery times.
• When you place an order, the enterprise will verify it and send the order to its delivery employees so they can purchase the product from the store you selected.
• The products will be picked up by the delivery person who will then deliver them to the customers.
• Depending on the deliveries they make, they will receive a commission.

Additionally, customers have the option of self-pickups at the shop. All you have to do is make an order for the groceries you need and choose a pick-up suitable time for you. Since the procedure of Instacart is so straightforward, people want to build a grocery delivery app like Instacart.

How to Develop a Grocery Delivery App Like Instacart?

1. Consider the Business Model

It’s crucial to pick a workable business model when creating an app like Instacart because it will assist you to establish the kind of app model your business needs. The key recommended business models are listed below to provide you with a clear notion of the type of on-demand grocery delivery solution you should build.

• Marketplace Business Model

Under this model, owners must have their own product menu, fleets, and delivery personnel to take orders and deliver groceries to customers’ doorsteps.

• Aggregator Business Model

In this model, the app serves as a third-party platform where multiple merchants and buyers can connect on a single platform. The app will list all surrounding stores and their menus. Users can order from their preferred listed stores using the app. The retailer will be responsible for delivering the goods. Instacart employs an aggregator business model.

2. App development from Three Perspectives: Customers, Driver, and Admin

Whatever business model you choose to implement while designing on-demand grocery apps, take into consideration that grocery applications have three sides:

• Customer App

This app version will be available on app stores for downloading and installation. It incorporates all the features and functionalities that consumers desire, along with an intuitive UI/UX design and layout.

• Admin App

The administrator/owner of the on-demand grocery delivery app manages the admin panel. The Admin panel is crucial since if something goes wrong on the admin side, the customers won’t be able to get their deliveries. Therefore, the admin app is crucial for the best monitoring and tracking possible.

• Delivery App

It is essential to have a delivery driver’s app version that connects clients with the delivery person. This app assures seamless services and is essential for the entire app to function successfully.

There are different features in each iteration of the on-demand grocery delivery app development. Keep in mind that you must use every effort to make it simple and enjoyable for your clients to use the app. Consider the types of browsing choices you want to offer, the appearance of your cart, shopping list, and search box, and how easy it will be for your consumers to monitor and place orders.

To ensure that your app has these capabilities, confirm that the app development business you choose is aware of all features and functionalities of on-demand grocery delivery apps.

3. Consider the Design

After everything is determined, it is time to focus on the two most important features of your app: how stunning it appears and how simple it is to use. To modify the app design and guarantee a positive user experience. Verify if the app development business you intend to work with has a professional UI/UX designer.

4. Consider the Techstack

To develop a grocery delivery solution like Instacart, the following tech stacks are the ideal ones to consider:

• Programming Language: Java/Kotlin, Swift, React Native/Flutter
• Cloud Environment: Google, AWS, Azure
• Database: MongoDB, MailChimp Integration, Hbase, Cassandra, Postgres
• Real-time Analysis: IBM, Cisco, BigData, Spark, Apache Flink, Hadoop
• Push Notifications: Push.io, Twilio
• SMS, Phone Verification, and Voice: Twilio, Nexmo
• Payment Methods: Stripe, EWallets, Braintree & PayPal

How Much Does it Cost to Develop a Grocery Delivery App Like Instacart?

The precise cost of creating a grocery delivery app like Instacart relies on several variables, including the complexity of the app, features and functionality, platform type, timeframe, developer’s technical skills, developers’ location, and so on. The price of development also depends on the hourly rates charged by the mobile app development business you work with.

An online grocery app can be created in one of two methods. If you are aware of the functionalities your app will require. The first step is to employ an app development team. This approach is time- and money-consuming. The second approach is to collaborate with a company that has an Instacart clone.

On the first option, the price to create an app like Instacart from scratch will rely on the features you want in your on-demand grocery delivery solution. The number of functions you want in the app will directly impact the price and time.

In the US, it can cost anything between $1,000,000 and $150,000 to design an app from the ground up with the most basic features. Additionally, it will take you closer to six months to complete the development phase.

Conclusion

On the second option, it won’t take long for the deployment to begin. Ownership costs will be approximately $30,000. Within a short period of time, your service can be active. You can quickly get your company up and running.

To make your business stand out, the company that will deploy the clone will be pleased to adapt and add new features. While your business is profitable, you can continue to create the extra features. Only a few thousand dollars will be spent on creating the new functionality.

To conclude, it is safe to say that due to rapid satisfaction and other benefits, online grocery delivery app like Instacart have grown significantly in popularity. With the development of an app like Instacart, businesses can succeed in the market.

If you intend to invest in a grocery delivery app like Instacart, all you need is to hire a dedicated mobile app development company that can assist you in building a grocery delivery app that works flawlessly and offers a unique set of features.