Tech start-up to ‘disrupt logistics sector’ with new platform

A new tech start-up launched by a trio of entrepreneurs including a Silicon Valley innovator is ‘set to disrupt the logistics industry’ as it puts the needs of drivers and users at the heart of the business.

DeliveryApp is a logistics platform which connects independent couriers with end users for fast deliveries through its app available on Google and Apple stores and its website.

The Manchester start-up, which launched earlier this year and has already secured investment,  has formed a network of more than 700 independent couriers across the country who will collect and deliver parcels personally.

Drivers can earn a higher price per mile, take control of their own jobs without difficult to achieve targets and will be paid quickly thanks to a full automated payment system.

The trio behind DeliveryApp include Silicon Valley entrepreneur and founder of keyboard app Fleksy, Ioannis Verdelis; Lance Jones, who has a passion technical innovation and came up with the idea for DeliveryApp whilst chatting to a friend who was stuck waiting in the house for a courier; and finally Justin Blackhurst, co-founder of Manchester digital marketing consultancy DigitalNext.

Chief operations officer Ioannis Verdelis said: “Our platform lives and breathes through our drivers, if they’re not happy, we’re not happy.

“So, during our development phase we channelled just as much energy into creating an eco-system which works as well for them, as it does our end users booking deliveries.

“Faster payments, fair pricing and being in-control of their own deliveries were all important objectives for us to get right from the outset.”

The App which is in BETA phase 3.1 and went live across App stores in May has been experiencing rapid growth as the network starts to build organically.

By the end of August, DeliveryApp had signed up over 500 businesses including ransport for London and Pets at Home.

Lance Jones, founder and CEO said of the growth: “The last eight months really articulate DeliveryApp’s clear vision and the size of the opportunity the platform represents.

“In January we unlocked our potential, we generated a multi-million-pound investment in order to turbo charge development and take the concept to market.

“Since then, it’s been a process of getting the right infrastructure in-place in order to achieve this – people like Ioannis Verdelis who has a proven track record of bringing disruptive apps to market and digital expert Justin Blackhurst whose outstanding reputation in digital marketing, SEO and web development through his consultancy DigitalNext makes him the perfect fit.”

The business now employs 15 specialists in user experience, development, sales and driver operations at its new head offices based out of Bonded Warehouse in Manchester’s Enterprise City.

Justin Blackhurst, co-founder and chief digital officer said: “The logistics industry has on the whole been sluggish and a little reluctant to adopt new technologies.

“DeliveryApp brings these new intuitive consumer technologies and capitalises on the demand at people’s fingertips.

“Whether you’re an individual selling something on Facebook market place and want to provide a price for getting a bed or sofa from one side of the city to the other, or you’re a business using 50 couriers a week, DeliveryApp provides a slicker, cost effective solution.”