Back to blog

How to Create a Hyperlocal App [The Beginner’s Guide]

---

On-demand delivery apps like Doordash are very popular. The goal of on-demand delivery apps is to provide deliveries within 24 hours of ordering. On-demand delivery apps are usually used by businesses that deliver food and groceries.

Such apps are made possible with the help of the Internet and the ability to geolocate a phone. However, the concept of on-demand delivery can be taken further. And it is taken further by apps like Thumbtack.

The Thumbtack app is often referred to as a hyperlocal app. In our guide today, we will help you understand what a hyperlocal app is, why your business needs a hyperlocal app, and how you can create a hyperlocal app for your business. Let us jump into it!

What are Hyperlocal Apps?

In the introduction above, we’ve called Thumbtack a hyperlocal app. What does that mean? Hyperlocal apps are specialized apps that can provide on-demand services to their users. These services range from product deliveries to utility repair and care. The goal of a hyperlocal app is to provide local services to users with the convenience of an app.

For example, you can call for a plumber’s assistance with the help of Thumbtack almost immediately.

One of the biggest challenges that the tech industry faces is the lack of scalability of local services across the world. Hyperlocal apps help combat that and help scale local services through the convenience of an app.

Just like on-demand delivery apps provide food/groceries to users, hyperlocal apps aim to provide other products and services. Hyperlocal apps and businesses can achieve this by sourcing the demanded goods/services from localized professionals and merchants that operate in brick and mortar stores.

Why do you need a Hyperlocal app?

The hyperlocal app helps connect buyers and sellers while providing its creators with a source of income through commission. Hyperlocal apps help create a sharing economy based on highly localized and standardized commodities giving more power to the consumer and increasing the overall quality of goods.

Our infographic will tell you further about why we need more hyperlocal apps:

Building a Hyperlocal Network

Before you begin creating your hyperlocal app, you must first build a hyperlocal network. Here’s how you can do that:

• Choose what to deliver: The eventual goal of a hyperlocal app is to deliver goods or services. The first step to begin your hyperlocal app journey is to define what you will deliver. Not every hyperlocal app is as vast as Thumbtack and not every hyperlocal app is meant to deliver everything.

  Focus your efforts on something your business specializes in. For example, if you are into an auto-parts business, a hyperlocal app that supplies automobile parts to users is a good idea.

  Choosing a product/service line your business specializes in will make it easier for you in the long run. You can add more services later if you want.

• Choose a target audience: This is a crucial step that many aspiring developers miss. If you plan to create something, there must be someone willing to buy it. Make sure that your hyperlocal app has an appropriate audience.
• Build Your Partnership: Hyperlocal apps don’t just ‘run’ on their own. You have to build professional and legal partnerships with the people that will be involved in enabling these on-demand deliveries and services.

If you’re selling products, you need established partnerships with local merchants and delivery persons to enable your business. If you’re providing services, you need the ability to access local professionals who provide that service and work under your brand.

• Define Your Partnerships: These partnerships can be expensive. It is suggested that if you plan to build a hyperlocal app, you should take the help of locals to deliver too. You can decide whether to hire them on a contract or permanent employment basis.

  Do remember that the merchants you collaborate with are as efficient as you. Hyperlocal apps are built on reputation and even if, one merchant fails to deliver, your entire business can be jeopardized. Ensure that you take the help of every possible merchant/professional you can find.

  Strike profitable partnerships and sign legally-binding contracts where necessary.

• Create a revenue model: The end goal for both you and your partners is to earn money. Don’t go diving into partnerships without a proper revenue model. Charge a good commission and also give a good profit margin for your partners. No one would want to use your hyperlocal app if it isn’t making them money.

How to Create a Hyperlocal App

Once you’ve created a network, you must move on to creating your hyperlocal app. A hyperlocal app is usually a combination of multiple apps that work together as one by communicating with each other. The following example will help you understand how a hyperlocal app that sells products works:

Onetec is an app that helps users buy electronics and guarantees same-day delivery.

John wants to buy a graphics card for his computer so he opens the Onetec app and finds the one he wants. He orders it.

The Onetec app uses the geolocation feature of John’s phone to find a retailer nearby that has the graphic card in stock.

The order shows up as a notification on a nearby Dalton Electronics Store which Onetec’s business merchant-facing app known as Onetec Biz. Dalton Electronics creates an invoice and uploads the invoice on Onetec Biz and receives the payment for the graphics card.

Dalton Electronics sends its delivery employee to deliver the graphics card to John and updates Onetec Biz when the graphics card has been delivered.

Sometimes, businesses that create hyperlocal apps hire delivery persons. Businesses with their own delivery persons have a third app for delivery personnel that tells them where orders must be picked from and where they must be delivered. Our blog on on-demand delivery apps explains how deliveries with in-house delivery personnel work.

Creating a hyperlocal app seems like a challenging prospect. However, it is easier than it looks. It is so easy that you can create it today if you want!

Appy Pie empowers businesses to make their own hyperlocal apps. Appy Pie’s industry-leading no-code development tool Appy Pie AppMakr can help you create your own hyperlocal app with its unique class-leading hyperlocal app builder.

The hyperlocal app builder from Appy Pie provides you a uniquely intuitive interface where you can add features to your app builder by simply dragging and dropping. It also simplifies app design through its template-based interface that is extremely easy-to-use. The app-building software is so simple to use that even developers prefer using Appy Pie to simplify their work!

Create a complete hyperlocal app solution today!

If you want to learn how to create an app with Appy Pie, we have a handy app creation guide that should help you.

Summing Up

With a tool like Appy Pie, you can make a hyperlocal app any way you want. You could create a Thumbtack clone if you want! Hyperlocal apps will continue to see a rise in coming years as more and more local businesses see the value they can bring to their business!