Courier start-up raises $3 million as it looks to capitalise on growing market demands
Australian crowdsourced courier service Go People has raised $3 million in its latest funding round in a bid to improve its on-demand delivery service.
Following increased delivery demands with retailers looking to compete with Amazon’s delivery options, the courier start-up grew its monthly deliveries by 600 per cent over the past 12 months.
Go People founder and CEO Wayne Wang says the capital raise and the recent surge in demand position the company strongly.
“The growth we’re generating shows there’s hunger for more flexible, convenient delivery services among Aussie consumers,” Wang says.
“Investor interest during the capital raise exceeded expectations, and is particularly encouraging as we look to diversify our offering for retailers with new delivery options in 2018.
“Funds raised from this round will help Go People to further consolidate the market nationally, investing in research and development to meet the needs of Australian retailers.
“One such result of our research is the GoSHIFT service, which helps businesses make express deliveries to consumers.”
Wang believes Go People is in the best possible position to help small retailers compete with the likes of Amazon in providing fast and affordable three-hour delivery services.
The company conducted a nationwide survey that revealed that many Australian customers see Amazon as a threat to small businesses.
Out of the 1,000 consumers surveyed 59 per cent said they saw the online marketplace giant as a threat to small businesses, but 47 per cent said they still plan to shop there.
This is in contrast to a separate study which found that small retailers do not see Amazon as a threat to their business and believe it can be an opportunity to expand their reach across local and international markets.
“Local retailers are already feeling the ‘Amazon effect’ with the market’s disruption pushing them to evolve,” Wang says.
“Retailers are realising they need to deliver the best possible purchasing experience for their customers to stay relevant.
“Our research shows, when Aussie consumers decide where to shop, they now place more importance on delivery speed (41 per cent), than the ability to actually touch and feel the product (33 per cent).”
With the NAB reporting online spending is growing five times faster than traditional retail spending, it is clear that consumers are letting their wallets do the talking, the company notes.
“We’re becoming a nation of on-demand shoppers, with one in two (50 per cent) noting the importance of same-day delivery when deciding where they shop,” Wang says.
“Local retailers need to ensure they delight their customers throughout the entire purchasing experience to remain competitive.”