08/8/17

How to Follow the Trend of On-Demand Applications

The incredible success and popularity of such on-demand app service applications as Uber, Netflix, and Lyft have caused a huge popularity of a specific app topic. Such apps can help to turn your gadget into an assistant ready to facilitate your life every second, whether it’s when you need a taxi or order food. Now it’s easier and cheaper to cope with the routine with the help of these wonderful inventions. Read more details in this article on how to become a part of this new and exciting world of on-demand apps.

What Are On-Demand Applications?

What is the difference between this type of apps and other novelties on the market? The main difference of on demand services app is that it does not just provide a service or simplify an access to it but helps to limit the interaction between the two parties – the customer and the performer – in a certain scenario. Thus, its users are not only those who need the service but also those who provide it. On-demand applications are the platform for earning money to one user and provides a prompt service to other users. How can this be possible? The automatization of the renting/ordering processes provides an ability to shorten expenses on the intermediary, and thus to significantly reduce costs. On the other hand, this state of affairs has determined some features of applications that should be considered when designing your own application. But first, let us dive into the most successful on demand software examples to find it out why they are so popular for the time being.

The Most Famous On Demand Services Startups

Uber – the On-Demand Taxi

This application has become almost classic in the field of on-demand apps. It allows you to find taxi drivers nearby, view their profiles and reviews. All issues related to the services payment are solved automatically thanks to the built-in taximeter and the idle timer. Recently, the service began to lose popularity in some countries because of security problems: almost every person who has a car can become a driver in Uber, no certification and control are envisaged. However, their travel prices are very different from market ones, which is the reason for the popularity of the app.

Netflix – the On-Demand Broadcasting

In the modern world, the time factor has acquired special value. At some point, watching TV in the form in which we’ve done it before became impossible. We can no longer afford to sit all day at the TV to watch some kind of a broadcast. There was a need to provide access to this content on demand, which was satisfied by Netflix. It not only simplified the viewing of the broadcasts but changed the way of providing the broadcasts as a service opening a new future in front of the whole industry.

Airbnb – the On-Demand Accommodation

The creators of this service were able to find a niche in which it was possible to significantly reduce the costs of both users and service providers. Why pay for expensive hotels if you can stay at night with private individuals? For the owners, now there is no need to invest in advertising as the platform provides all the conditions for placing offers and searching for customers in the application itself.

uber netflix airbnb on demand services

Things to Consider While Building a Uber for X

When designing on demand services startups, no matter whether you are planning to build an Uber for sushi or Uber for private jets, such features need to be implemented:

  • authorization,
  • product/service search,
  • tracking a delivery in time,
  • tracking a delivery by geolocation,
  • payment calculation,
  • payment gateway integration,
  • service/customers rankings,
  • quick helpdesk.

The list can be complemented with specific features like a shopping cart or instant messaging depending on the service your app provides, but bear in mind that the complexity of such features influences the total cost to make an on-demand app. And what is about peculiarities to be considered while making the app, there are such basic principles:

Credibility

The flexibility of on demand services is very attractive by its simplicity and cheapness. However, it often has to be paid for as the quality control of the provided services is low and safety is not guaranteed. Your task is to provide the service with everything necessary to minimize the risk of the unscrupulous task executor: to track the movement of machines (Uber, Lyft), couriers (Deliveroo), to check data and certificates of service providers, etc. For example, the Wag! app, which provides services for walking dogs and temporary animals stay allows you to track the location of your pets in real time and works with certified professionals only.

High Competition

Even if it seems that you have found a brilliant idea of an on-demand app, it is a halfway from being launched or has been launched already. The market is overflowed with Uber for everything, so to be capable to compete one should have something unique to surprise the audience. Take a look at the Lyft mustache: vivid, extraordinary, and personal, just like their services are. In addition to cosmetic details, you can stand out by certain services and ideas but you will have to find them yourself since there is no universal prescription.

The Equality for Users and Workers

As you know, the client’s word is the law. And all would be nothing if only your application did not have two types of users whose interests are usually the opposite but you need them both to achieve their goals. Remember that if one of the parties (and no matter which part) will be oppressed, no one will benefit, including you. Remember Lavanda, which aroused interest a few years ago? It provided laundry services for the time indicated by the customer and if the employee was late at least for a minute the client demanded to money return and left bad reviews about the application. Such a system placed the interests of the customer at the head but could not survive for a long time in this form as the interests of the parties were not balanced.

Market Viability

It is hard to imagine how much labor will go wrong if the idea of the application does not justify itself. Unfortunately, this course is not uncommon. When developing your Uber for X, pay as much attention to its relevance as possible, conduct marketing research, make a prototype, promote the application before its release in order to understand how to attract two different categories of users – the employees and the customers.

Pricing

The main incentive to use your application is the low price of services. Remember this when choosing the service industry. Look for bottlenecks in already existing services whether it’s hiring transport or something else. And do not forget to take into account the interests of the performers too.

How to Catch the Trend of On-Demand Apps?

Start Small

You should not rush headlong into the world of applications on demand, build both Android and iOS versions at once and so on. Here, justified thinking and flexibility should come to your aid. Start small to test your idea and, at the same time, attract customers for the future application because to run it you will need a certain base of performers.

Consider Risks

In the development of such a startup it will be necessary to take into account much but primarily it is going to be risks. Any imbalance in the interests of two users categories is also regarded as a risk, so be aware to come up with a solution.

Add Uniqueness

Do not copy the idea with a mustache, try to surprise people with a simple but ingenious decision and make their life a little easier, funnier and more interesting by your Uber for x service.

Summary: On-Demand Apps Future

Every developer dreams to deliver a top solution and win everything, and on-demand apps seem to be so close to the top of a success. But where there is a success, there is always a thorny path. If you are ready to overcome difficulties for the sake of a modern and prosperous future, nothing will be in your way.

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