Technology has made life easier. Most of us have several apps on our phone pertaining to food, grocery, fashion, travel and entertainment, each having something unique to offer.
The newest to join the list of apps is PICODEL, an online grocery shopping app that is available for free download on Google Play Store and accessible through their website. Unlike the other apps in the grocery and vegetable category, PICODEL does not have a warehouse from where groceries, vegetables and basic essentials are shipped. Instead, they’ve got on board local grocery stores from where one can easily order according to one’s needs.
PICODEL’s interface is user-friendly and accessible. The well-defined tabs on the app and the website help you navigate easily through the options — from groceries, vegetables and fruits to even certain daily essentials.
The feature that really catches the eye is the fact that after a consumer has placed the order, s/he does not have to pay immediately. They can pay by card or cash once the delivery boy comes with the order. Since these boys are also equipped with weighing scales, one can be absolutely sure about the quantity that is delivered. The delivery varies from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
The app offers a variety of options and lets the user compare and find the best in terms of brand and prices. One can also compare and select products based on the cost and delivery time. PICODEL has various combos listed on the app.
And just in case you are not happy with a product that you have ordered or a wrong order turns up, you can easily get it exchanged in a few minutes, without worrying about putting in a request online and then waiting for a long time so that someone comes to pick the order up.
Devendra Sarda, founder of PICODEL, says that the app was born after three years of thorough research. “There are several apps in the market that deliver groceries, but what we realised was that there was just one winning end to their model — the customer,” he says.
Sarda explains that the model of their app is such that both the ends of the business benefit. “Our idea and mission is not to end the physical grocery stores, but to get them online and connect them with potential buyers and users of this technology,” he says.
Sarda points out that as of now, they have over 300 stores on the app to provide grocery through an online medium. Another 1000 stores will join them soon.
Sarda says that the model of PICODEL will help save huge employment provided by /engaged in the traditional supply chain. “As an app, we are not trying to break the structure of grocery shopping but trying to enhance the ease and experience of it, without burning a hole in the pockets of consumers and the shops that have been listed with us,” explains Sarda.
PICODEL, he adds, is giving a chance of survival to businesses, because the retail supply chain and small businesses are important components of the Indian economy.
He also says that this model reduces road traffic which has increased due to the travelling of delivery boys of various companies. Most of these executives travel about 6 to 10 km to deliver an order. It obviously adds to the traffic and pollution. “In most of PICODEL cases, our deliveries are done by just walking or by cycling or 1 km of movement on bike, and that too within colonies,” Sarda adds.
He points out that they will soon roll out the app on App Store but till then, iOS users can use the website for their grocery needs.
