Last week, Delivery Hero gathered internal and external experts in a two-day summit dedicated fully to the next generation of e-commerce. A series of panel talks focusing on the different aspects of quick commerce served as an ideal platform to highlight how logistical expertise and focus on convenience make quick commerce the delivery revolution that it has become. Topics tackled during the summit ranged from robotics, product innovation, to partnerships with local stores. Read on to find out what we learned during the Quick Commerce Experience Days.
Quick commerce – The delivery revolution
Before the beginning of the pandemic, the need for more convenience was already present and steadily increasing among customers worldwide. The desire to spend more time with family and friends and not focus on menial chores such as grocery shopping made quick commerce a very attractive new way to look at online shopping.
The inaugural talk of the two-day summit on quick commerce featured Delivery Hero’s CEO and Co-founder Niklas Östberg and COO Pieter-Jan Vandepitte, who introduced the event with insights into what is driving the advancements in quick commerce and how it is made possible. This talk focused on digging into the logistics that makes quick commerce happen, as well as the important steps taken to make it a sustainable practice.
This was followed by a talk between Milena Lazarevska, VP of Quick Commerce at Delivery Hero, and Volkan Kapanci, Head of E-commerce & Grocery NOW expansions at Unilever, who took the time to explain how you get your ice cream in 10 minutes. This insight into the delivery process put into sharp focus the true logistical precision needed to make quick commerce happen. The use of ice cream as an example functioned as a tool for explaining why time is of the essence when it comes to quick commerce.
The product behind quick commerce: More than a marketplace platform
When it comes to quick commerce, speed is a vital aspect. In order to create a seamless customer experience and tackle convenience, the right combination of regional product expertise with global scalability is key. Christian Geißler and Christin Schink, Senior Directors of Product, were quick to address this in their talk. Quick commerce differs from meal delivery as it is focused on providing everyday essentials. Customer behavior analysis has confirmed that quick commerce is used and seen as a way to top up weekly shopping and fulfill an immediate need.
The bright future of robotics and innovation in delivery
Our Quick Commerce Experience Days further highlighted advancements made in robotics and drones, with a talk between Hans Skruvfors, CEO of foodora, Miro Banovic, Senior Operations and Innovations Manager at foodpanda, and Maria Estevan, Head of Special Projects at talabat. They took time to focus on the use of robotics, such as Doora, the delivery robot of foodora, Delivery Hero’s subsidiary in the Nordics.
As Hans pointed out, Doora is not only a win for innovation in technology but also a positive headway for sustainability, as the small robot is able to replace less eco-friendly delivery options whilst supporting the riders in busy times. The possibility of expanding the use of robots as well as employing drones in certain rural areas was also at the forefront of the conversation, further tackling the issue of delivery to hard-to-reach areas. This is of course not without challenges, and addressing issues around safety and logistics will remain an ongoing topic.
Bringing local stores online: Opportunities and challenges
The penultimate discussion of the summit featured Christian Urban, Head of Marketplace, New Verticals at foodpanda, Wassim Makarem, VP Regional Markets & Q-commerce at talabat, and Milena Lazarevska, VP of Quick Commerce at Delivery Hero, who delved into the opportunities and challenges that quick commerce entails for local stores and retailers. For this occasion, they were joined by Andrew Kirk, Senior Manager, On Demand Grocery & New Channels at Sainsbury’s, who was able to share his expertise and knowledge on the subject.
The event was rounded off with a fireside chat with Delivery Heroes’ DX Ventures team. Duncan McIntyre, Managing Partner of DX Ventures, and Joohee Kim, Principal of DX Ventures, explained how investing in the future is a key aspect of what they do. With a focus on new and exciting trends, they explained how they are investing in companies that disrupt the industry, create value across ecosystems, and what the factors of investment are for them.
Overall, the Quick Commerce Experience Days aimed to shed some light on the role Delivery Hero has been playing in shaping this new industry standard globally and on the bright future, the world’s leading local delivery platform envisions for quick commerce. The event highlighted how partnering up with local partners and seamlessly integrating small businesses within one single platform can mutually benefit the full delivery ecosystem and provide a new platform and new opportunities to put the customer’s experience first, and make sure it is as comfortable and smooth as possible.
Quick commerce is a new and exciting growing trend. It has allowed us to think locally but work globally.
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