In the past, we’ve predicted that the on-demand local delivery services powering same-day delivery for big-box retailers would extend their service to small business retailers. That day has come. Shopify, an e-commerce software company used by thousands of small business online merchants, today(5.3.2016) announced its e-commerce merchants in 200+ cities can immediately offer same-day delivery to customers. By comparison, Amazon offers same day delivery in 27 markets.

Shopify is providing local same-day delivery by integrating the on-demand delivery service Postmates into the Shopify administrative dashboard. According to Shopify, the option will be available immediately in the over 200 cities across the U.S. where Postmates operates.

After the Shopify merchant enables Postmates, anytime a local customer checks out from that online store, they’ll be able to select Postmates as a delivery option. When they choose that option, the merchant will pack the order and request a pickup from Postmates. According to Shopify, “a Postmates courier will show up at the merchant’s door to take the order wherever it needs to go. No post office, no lines, no delays.”

10% | The percentage (on average) of local business conducted by Shopify merchants
$5-$20 | The amount customers will pay for same-day delivery
100% | The percentage of the fee kept by Postmates

(According to re/code)

According to the website re/code, on average, online shops that use Shopify software do about 10 percent of their business locally. Also, according to re/code, Customers shopping on these small business websites will pay anywhere from $5 to $20 for the same-day delivery option. Postmates keeps all of that fee.

The merchant can monitor the delivery from the Shopify dashboard and customers will be emailed a link to Postmates live map to keep track.

Photo: ThinkStock