What is a Flower Delivery App: here's a Detailed Guide!

Introduction

Who doesn't like receiving flowers from their loved ones in the middle of a hectic day? Or on special occasions, along with little gifts and hampers? People love this cheerful and vibrant gifting style, so on-demand delivery services in this field are gaining traction.

The Flower Industry has become a new bandwagon in the global business market. Flower delivery apps have entirely transformed the buying-selling paradigm by providing complete flexibility and comfort when purchasing flowers online.

“According to a recent IBIS report, the florist industry has reached around $800 million in the last five years. It is expected to grow to a billion-dollar industry in the coming years.”

Creating an on-demand flower delivery app is a great way to get a piece of this flourishing industry. You're throwing money away if you own a flower store and don't have a flower delivery app.

Are you still confused? Read this blog to learn everything about flower delivery app development.

What is a Flower Delivery App?

Simply put, a flower delivery app is a specialized application developed for a florist shop or vendors, enabling people to order their products online. People can order plants and flowers of their choice, personalized bouquets for special occasions, along with little add-ons from the comfort of their homes.

The product would then be delivered to the mentioned address at the time and date of delivery. 

Let's look at the working process in detail.

How does a Flower Delivery App work?

Although different apps have different sets of features which impact how it is seen and used, some standard steps are involved in their functioning. 

Here's how a flower delivery app works :

1. Registration

When someone downloads your app, they first see a login/signup page. Your user can register on the app by adding their credentials and setting a password for their account. This information is end-to-end secure and can be used for marketing purposes.

2. Order Selection

Your user can now search for the desired product or select filters to see what fits their needs the best. They can surf your app based on the categories you list on your app. They can add personalization requests according to which you'd show an estimated delivery time. 

3. Order Received at the Seller's end

Once your customer has placed an order, you can approve it. You can then start working on it as per your customer's instructions. Once done, you can change the order's status and wait for the delivery driver to pick it up.

4. Dispatch and Delivery

Once the delivery driver reaches you, you can dispatch the order with them. They will use the in-app navigation (if you add that feature) to track the delivery address or use Google maps to make the delivery. 

5. Payment

The delivery driver, once done with their job, collects the payment. Now, this step may come before delivery if the customer pays online. If the customer has chosen COD, they will hand over the amount to the driver, who will then send it to the florist. 

As on-demand flower delivery businesses grow in popularity, there is an excellent opportunity for your startup or established business to seize and introduce your on-demand delivery services in this sector. 

Why should you invest in Flower Delivery Apps?

The on-demand flower delivery app is a beneficial startup as it is easy on the wallet and affordable. The flower delivery business has experienced rapid growth, as evidenced by the following statistics:

The online flower shop application industry is flourishing. The floral gifting market in the United States was worth $11.91 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to $17.02 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 6.13%, according to Arizton.

Men spend more money on flowers than women, according to a report by the International Mass Retailers Association (IMRA). Men spend about $95 on flower gifts, while women spend about $60. The average household spend is $94.50, indicating an upward trend.

These stats show potential, and one can grab the opportunity with open hands. 

Let's now discuss, in-depth, the benefits of having an on-demand flower delivery app for your business.

Benefits of a Flower Delivery App for your offline Store

More consumers are interested in purchasing online, and customer convenience is a significant factor determining online business success. As an online retailer, you should follow certain marketing strategies that may be beneficial. Developing an app is one of the requirements for remaining competitive and successful online. 

Here are some advantages of developing an app for your flower store:

1. Global Presence

An app allows your brand to have a global presence. Customers can reach you at any time and from any location. This expands the customer base, which boosts sales.

2. Customer Convenience

Customers can use your app to request same-day or custom delivery and select from a wide range of products. An app fosters customer loyalty and provides a positive customer experience.

3. Cost Savings

Having a delivery app eliminates the need to invest in inventory or infrastructure, lowering costs. When customers place orders, you can fulfill them directly from your home or shop without needing a large inventory.

4. Monetization 

Charge commissions, sell ads, and feature listings to monetize your delivery app. Other companies may pay you to sponsor their products or place advertisements on your app, and you may earn commissions, generating a passive income.

5. Customer Base and Data

When people order flowers through your app and share their feedback or arrangement on social media, the business's visibility grows, resulting in a large customer base.

Flower delivery App: Types of Business Models

Depending upon your needs and, most importantly, motive, you can choose the kind of business model you would like to have your app based on. 

Broadly speaking, there are two major types of business models you can opt for depending on your motive and business size.

1. Dedicated/Store owner Model

This app is designed specifically for a store that you own. You'd be packing, dispatching, and delivering the order the customer places on your own. They'd be able to see all your products, available offers, and customization options you offer. 

This model is suitable for all scales of businesses. Whether a small business (own a single store) or a large-scale business (own multiple branches), you can efficiently manage data and track your sales. You can also decide on features based on your specific requirements.

2. Aggregator Model

Here, you won't own a store or an outlet, but you'd offer other vendors to list under your app. Simply put, your app would allow other florists and vendors to expand their business. 

Users of your app would have a chance to look at services provided by different stores. They can then choose based on their preferences and budget. You'd earn through commission received on every order. Your delivery drivers would go to the store, pick up the order, and then deliver it to the customer's doorstep. 

Must-have features for your Flower Delivery App

You must integrate features into your app based on your business plan. These tools will make it easier for your customers to access your products and services. 

Here's a list of the few most important features to help your app achieve on-demand status.

1. User Panel

This panel allows users or customers to order, pay for, and receive their ordered products at their doorsteps. Let us take a look at the essential features.

2. Registration and Verification

This feature allows users to sign up for your on-demand flower delivery app using contact information such as an email address, phone number, or social media account. The credentials are validated using the OTP verification process, which is sent to the user's contact IDs. 

3. Search and Filter

Flowers and floral products come in a wide variety; more importantly, different people have different tastes and preferences. Your flower delivery app must include a search and filter feature to meet these two requirements. Users can choose their preferred products by filtering their collection based on type, price, or availability.

4. Delivery Schedule

Flowers, as we all know, are typically purchased for gifting on special occasions. Aside from that, customers may wish to have their ordered products delivered at a specific time or date based on their availability at the delivery point. To meet this requirement, your flower delivery app must include scheduled delivery features that allow customers to specify their preferred time and date for receiving the ordered products.

5. Personalization Requests and Notes

Allowing users to include a personal message with their flowers is an intriguing feature to consider for your on-demand flower delivery app. Users can write a note while placing an order, which will be printed and delivered along with the flowers or bouquet. This feature adds a personal touch and allows users to communicate more effectively.

6. Tracking the order in real-time

Another essential feature is the ability for your customers to track their orders in real-time. They must be notified of each step, beginning with 'Preparing the order' and ending with 'Order delivered.' Customers can track the delivery executive's movements while they are on their way to deliver the order by using the app's GPS feature.

7. Order History and Reordering

The order history feature on the customer panel must allow them to view previously booked flower delivery details such as date and time, flower type, quantity, cost of service, and others. Customers can easily view previous order details and tap "reorder" for instant or scheduled booking to save time.

8. Secure Payment Options

As an online digital interface for ordering and delivering products, a flower delivery app must provide secure multiple payment options. Customers must be able to pay using various payment methods, such as a credit card, debit card, or online wallets. This adaptability will make your app more appealing to customers.

9. Delivery Person App

This panel is responsible for all automated actions, from recruitment to payment to your delivery staff. Check out the following points to gain knowledge.

10. Verification, Authentication, and Registration

Once downloaded the flower delivery app requests all information from the delivery person to complete their recruitment process. The contact information is verified via OTP, and you can view the documents they have uploaded directly on your dashboard.

11. Manage Orders and Set Availability

Delivery personnel can set their availability at work and accept or reject orders at leisure. If they reject an order, it is passed on to the next available delivery personnel. They can manage multiple orders in the order in which they were placed via your flower delivery app.

12. GPS for delivery

Your on-demand flower delivery app uses precise GPS technology to direct your delivery staff to the delivery location without error. This feature also provides route guidance, allowing your delivery staff to take an alternate route to the delivery point if the main route is disrupted.

13. Control Earnings and Payments

Earning and payment management features are available for the delivery agent in the flower delivery app. There is an in-app wallet where they can receive payment after delivery as agreed upon with the owner. They can link their bank accounts to the wallet and transfer money wherever they want.

14. In-app calls and text

The app's communication interface allows delivery personnel to communicate with customers and the store owner. They can call the person in question or communicate with them via text messages. When a delivery person accepts an order, they gain access to the customer's contact information, allowing them to communicate more effectively.

15. Admin Panel

This panel will keep you updated on all activities related to your business operations, revenue status, and managing users and delivery staff. The following are the must-have features for the admin panel.

16. Control Multiple Stores

A flower delivery app will allow you to manage your stores' operations directly from the dashboard. The admin panel dashboard enables you to manage customers and delivery staff and check daily sales status.

17. Order Administration

From the admin panel dashboard, you can view the orders you receive at your store, order deliveries up to a certain point, and manage undelivered orders. The app saves your entire order history, which you can access anytime by filtering by date, delivery status, or delivery staff.

18. Revenue Management

You can keep track of your flower shop application's income and expenses. The admin panel's dashboard displays details of payments received and costs incurred, providing you with all analytics related to your business's revenue generation. You can also pay your employees using the in-app wallet, which receives all payments made by your customers for their purchases.

19. Workforce Management

The admin panel's highly interactive dashboard allows you to manage your staff effectively. You can verify the documents they upload when registering for the app. You can keep track of their activities, set payment schedules, and track their performance records whenever you want.

20. Inventory Control

An up-to-date flower delivery app can always assist you in keeping track of your store's products' stock and inventory status. Your inventory and stock values are always adjusted with each delivery to provide you with a regular update on their current status. The app automatically informs customers about the status of the goods' availability.

21. Management of Complaints

During any order transaction, customers or delivery personnel may encounter problems. The flower delivery app allows you to manage complaints that arise as a result of such issues. You will receive customer or staff complaints on your dashboard, which you can review and resolve at leisure.

How to develop a Flower Delivery App

If you wish to develop a flower delivery app for your business, you first need to look for an app development company to guide you through the steps. 

You can even hire developers solely for your project. Whatever you choose, the steps would remain identical, the only difference being that an app development would do everything for you. At the same time, the outsourced developers would assist you with the design, development, and testing part.

Here are the steps involved in flower delivery app development.

1. Conduct research

The first step in answering the question, "How to Develop an On-Demand Flower Delivery App," is to conduct extensive research. Before you dive into the pool, you should understand what you're getting yourself into. So, before launching your startup and its mobile app, it is always a good idea to research the various aspects of the flower delivery business.

2. Understand your competitors

You will learn about the main competitors from your extensive research. If you go into it blind, you will almost certainly make many mistakes. The adage "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" applies perfectly here. Understanding their marketing strategy will help you decide what you can take up from their plan and what mistakes you can learn from.

3. Keep an eye on the trends

Keep an eye out for new and emerging trends. Trends drive the world, from technology to fashion to flower delivery services. Conduct trending flower research to attract young people to your flower delivery app.

4. Customer Segmentation

You must decide which user group you want to target. One app cannot appeal to people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. So your best bet is to target potential customers who are more likely to use on-demand flower delivery apps and work hard to satisfy them.

5. UI and UX Design

The user interface should be user-friendly. The UI/UX defines the fit ratio of your flower delivery app. Design your app from the user's point of view and test it from start to finish. Your customers should always find it convenient and simple to use.

6. Make a list of your must-have features

Make a list of the features that must be included in your on-demand flower delivery app and prioritize them based on their functionality. This will assist you in developing your MVP for your business.

7. Begin actual development

After completing all of the above-mentioned steps, you are ready to begin the actual development of your app. Choose the best app development company based on their expertise and experience to meet your needs and specifications.

Conclusion

On-demand flower delivery is becoming a billion-dollar industry with a massive potential customer base. Customers' behavior has shifted dramatically recently, and they increasingly rely on online ordering systems. With an online flower delivery app, you can reach a larger audience and increase your sales significantly.

You now have all of the information you need to move forward with the development of an on-demand flower delivery app. It is now time to start planning your finances. Remember that developers will only give you a ballpark figure. The costs may exceed their estimates. As a result, always keep some emergency funds on hand.

To create an exceptional flower delivery app, you must first find the right development company, such as AppsRhino, with the bouquet and skilled developers. Share your ideas and needs with a team of experts who will help you develop your own startup and rise to the top of the floral industry.