Zomato, a leading food delivery company, is exploring the introduction of a new feature that would enable customers to pay extra for faster delivery of their orders. This move is part of Zomato’s broader efforts to retain customers and enhance its overall service offerings. Currently, Zomato charges a platform fee in addition to the delivery fee. Recently, the company increased this platform fee by 25%, adding ₹5 to each order. This fee is applicable across major cities such as Hyderabad, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru. Notably, even customers with Zomato Gold membership, who receive exclusive discounts and offers, are required to pay this fee. Zomato’s primary competitor, Swiggy, charges between ₹5-10 as its platform fee. In addition to price adjustments, Zomato is also revamping its intercity delivery service, Legends, which was launched in 2022. Legends offers next-day meal delivery from select locations. However, it encountered challenges due to a change in its pre-stocked goods delivery mechanism and is currently facing legal action for breach of claims associated with the service. Zomato is currently working on revamping Legends and exploring the potential for expanding its delivery range to longer distances within cities and even potentially internationally.
Zomato’s focus on introducing new features and making strategic adjustments to its fee structure underscores its commitment to providing a seamless and efficient food delivery experience for its customers. As the food delivery industry continues to evolve, Zomato is adapting its offerings to meet the changing needs and expectations of its user base.
