As COVID-19 is yet to get under control, all sectors are struggling with their business. However, technology companies are performing well and outshines the rest during the pandemic. Home-grown smart logistics platform Zeek is also benefiting from the increased takeaway delivery opportunities amidst COVID-19 outbreak and expanding rapidly. Making use of its own IT technology, the company is providing restaurants with a one-stop takeaway software-as-a-service (SaaS) and helping them to construct their own online takeaway platforms to cope with the challenges under pandemic conditions.
While the name Zeek may sound slightly unfamiliar, it is renowned in the food and beverage industry. A takeaway order made at McDonald’s, Starbucks, or KFC is highly likely to be delivered by the logistics team of this company. KK Chiu, Co-founder and CEO of Zeek, explained, “Since platforms such as foodpanda and Deliveroo are oriented directly towards customers, their names have a higher public recognition. We are mainly enterprise oriented and are, therefore, positioned quite differently.”
In a takeaway workflow, Zeek focuses on providing the delivery service at the later stage, which is one of the trickiest parts. The process does not only involve expensive costs, but also lots of work regarding the deployment of riders, as well as the real time management of orders. All these are in fact the strengths of Zeek, whose fleet operates as a franchise. Its 8,000-strong team involves deliverers performing their tasks on foot, by bicycles, motorcycles or vans. The company’s delivery efficiency is much improved by AI and big data analysis, which are complemented by heatmaps that look at the traffic flow across different districts. Deliveries throughout Hong Kong can be completed between 30 to 40 minutes.
SaaS facilitates online transformation in restaurants
The unprecedented popularity of food delivery during the outbreak is indeed demonstrating the difficult environment faced by the industry. As pointed out by Chiu, many restaurants are struggling for survival through quick transformation in the face of fluctuating confirmed cases, as well as the implementation of social gathering and dine-in bans. The takeaway SaaS of Zeek could be one of their choices.“Traditional restaurants intending to transform and tap into online takeaway are usually troubled by a few problems. They often lack the relevant knowledge, an online ordering platform, and access to delivery logistics. We offer one-stop O2O solutions to tackle these.”
Chiu added that Zeek can help restaurants develop their own takeaway website in a week’s time. This website is connected to the ordering customer terminal and POS of Zeek. In other words, the takeaway system is integrated with the complete workflow. A restaurant can conveniently provide customers with a QR code to get ordering going, and Zeek’s logistics team can take up delivery immediately. “We do have quite many advantages over sizeable takeaway platforms. For example, restaurants can have their dedicated ordering platforms and they can fully manage their own databases. By analyzing user behaviors, they can also roll out different promotion and discounts. Besides, we do not operate on commissions. Rather, we charge a logistics fee for each delivery, which is less expensive than the charges of sizeable platforms.”
Delivering myriad lifestyle products
Under the current pandemic, food and beverage is not the only area in which demand for delivery has increased significantly. New logistics demands have also emerged. For example, doctors are delivering medication to patients with the rise of online diagnostic platforms that appeared in recent years. As noted by Chiu, festive basin meals are delivered double this year. Certain schools have also requested to deliver assignments and circulars to parents. “A physical visit to collect these from schools does involve certain risks for parents. True copies of some government documents are also required. As a result, delivery service is in demand.” Besides, cakes, groceries, flowers, and more are also being delivered. Chiu pointed out that while this kind of point-to-point delivery service is less time critical, Zeek is also pledging to complete delivery within two to four hours.
Replicating the technology for market expansion
Going forward, Chiu shared that Zeek has invested vast resources on IT development since the company began operating in Hong Kong in 2017. As such, its smart management system is already quite mature. Since the technology can be quickly replicated and applied to new markets, the company has already set up new footholds in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. It has also planned to expand into other Southeast Asian markets. “The successful Hong Kong experience is quite helpful for expanding into new markets, but it must be merged with localized strategies. In Singapore, for example, locals are more used to delivering by electric bicycles and scooters; the demand for foot soldiers are much smaller. Targeting different markets with adjusted strategies is our key to victory.”
