RedMart's secret new app

The online grocery delivery service seems ready to launch a series of new delivery-focused products, Tech in Asia has learned

RedMart seems ready to launch a series of new delivery-focused products, Tech in Asia has learned. Within its Google Play Store developer page, we saw some new mobile apps that point toward a diversification of the start-up’s services.

The apps in question are Relay and Runner.
 

Not much is known about the services at this time, but the Play Store descriptions are very detailed – the apps seem to be already launched.
 

Relay seems to be the chief new offering revealed here. It’s described as “a brand new app that’s all about speed… think of it as your very own personal shopping assistant.” A web page that calls for “runners,” people who will act as shoppers and delivery persons, refers to RedMart Relay as connecting customers with the things they want to buy from their favorite stores. Examples on the page include Thai and Italian food, artisanal bread, flowers, fitness supplements, and general store goods. This seems to be RedMart’s entry into general on-demand delivery, beyond just groceries.
 

The runners apparently have their own mobile app, which describes them as “friendly customer delight assistants who help purchase and deliver the items to customers, all within an hour.” Both the app and the website mentions that anyone can sign on to be a runner, including “college students, parents, or anyone looking to have fun in their spare time while earning extra cash.”
 

This points to a sort of Uber for home delivery, the likes of which competing start-up Honestbee already uses. It looks like a further embrace of the hybrid model RedMart adopted back in July, combining delivery from its own warehouses with partnering with existing supermarket chains.

This is an excerpt from Tech in Asia. You can read the full article here.