Rapido To Launch 'Ownly' Food Delivery App in Bengaluru, Promises Zero Commission & Affordable Pricing

Rapido has officially entered the online food delivery space with the upcoming launch of its new platform, Ownly. After months of speculation, the company will begin a pilot program in Bengaluru later this month or early in July, which is expected to disrupt a space long dominated by Zomato and Swiggy.

Rapido is trying to expand its service portfolio, which already includes bike taxis, auto rides, and logistics. The company says Ownly is designed to bring affordability and transparency to food delivery, which will address the long-standing issues raised by both consumers and restaurant partners.

No Commissions, No Platform Fees

One of the most groundbreaking aspects of Ownly is its zero-commission policy for restaurant partners. Unlike Zomato and Swiggy, which typically charge 20-30% commission per order, Rapido has announced it will not have any commission, platform fee, or packaging charges.

Instead, Rapido is introducing a fixed delivery charge model as per recent reports. Restaurants will pay either Rs. Rs.10 or Rs. 25 per order, depending on the order value:

Orders below Rs. 100: Restaurant pays Rs. 10; customer pays Rs. 20 delivery fee

Orders above Rs. 100: Flat Rs. 25 delivery fee (exclusive of GST)

The app also allows restaurants to use their own delivery fleet at no extra cost, offering more flexibility than competitors.

Rapido's Pitch to Consumers: Statements Released

In a highly price-sensitive market like India, Rapido is betting big on transparent pricing as its USP. Ownly promises that the price listed for a dish will be the final price the consumer pays, without any hidden platform charges or markups.

Rapido in its statements stated, "At Rapido, we are constantly looking at opportunities to scale our services and bring greater convenience to our users. In line with this vision, we are currently test piloting an online food delivery app in the city of Bangalore. The pilot aims to leverage our strong network of captains while assessing the potential to complement our existing services. It's an exciting opportunity for us to learn, improve, and see how we can add even more value for our consumers. We'll share more details on our plans as we move forward."

India's Food Delivery Future

As per reports, India's food delivery market is estimated to be worth over USD 20 billion by 2030. Rapido's entry, especially with a commission-free, affordable model, could make bigger players rethink their strategies.

Currently limited to Bengaluru, the pilot program will serve as a learning phase for Rapido. The company plans to rely on its large network of "captains" (Rapido riders) for deliveries.

While the official rollout of the app across India is yet to be finalised, it will be interesting to see how the pilot program performs in Bangalore.