Income grows for delivery riders and drivers

Recently, two top performing Foodpanda riders were rewarded with an all-expenses-paid trip to watch the opening match at the recently concluded Euro 2016.

This just shows how badly the delivery service industry needs people.

And the demand is reflected in how much these drivers earn.

The food delivery service said some of its riders make up to $6,000 a month.

Its managing director, Ms Emma Heap, said rising demand for riders comes from an ongoing online revolution where many traditional industries are moving into the digital domain - such as commerce, taxis, and the food and beverage industry.

It had to increase its fleet of riders to cope with the demand and now works with more than 2,500 riders.

Launched in 2012, Foodpanda has seen up to 400 per cent increase in revenue last year.

It is not the only company with a huge demand for riders.

CHALLENGE

Other companies are also finding it challenging to make that last mile - when goods get to customers - efficient.

Zap Delivery, a delivery service, said it has been a challenge to get couriers as other companies are also hiring.

Online marketplace Qoo10's brand manager Jacob Yu said there has been a significant increase in delivery services recently.

He said: "Consumers are getting more e-commerce savvy, so there's demand for their products to be delivered to their doorsteps as soon as possible."

The firm has its own delivery company, Qexpress, which deploys an average of 200 to 300 delivery men a day from their two depots at Serangoon North and at the Singapore Press Holdings Print Centre.

Each delivery van delivers about 100 parcels a day.

Since Qexpress first started in 2010, there has been an almost 100 per cent growth every year up to last year.

Mr Yu told TNP that couriers in Qexpress are earning much more than before due to the increase in parcels delivered.

He said: "There is almost an 80 per cent increment in parcel delivery, therefore delivery man revenue increase as well."

Zap Delivery's marketing manager Phylin Png said they have extended their network to non-traditional sources - students above 18 and retirees.

Ms Png said: "You don't need a vehicle to start. Anybody who needs an income or a supplementary income can join us."

UberEats, the new food delivery spin-off from Uber, has been seeing rising demand since its launch this May.

A spokesman said: "We are actively looking for new drivers to meet the phenomenal response we've received since introducing UberEats in Singapore."

Mr Muhammad Fazly, 29, joined UberEats full-time after his wife saw an advertisement.

He said the salary at UberEats is better than when he worked as a delivery rider at a fast food company.

He now earns about $1,500 a week. He used to earn about $1,300 a month.

He said: "Uber is a good company to work for. We don't sit down and wait for orders.

"There's more freedom because we can ride around too look for orders, which makes it more efficient."

Full-time UberEats rider Seah Chia Hong, 29, said drivers can now pick and choose.

He said: "It's definitely easy to find another job if you quit.

"Today you quit Uber, tomorrow you can start working for Foodpanda or Deliveroo."

lwenqi@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on July 13, 2016.
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