Foodpanda uses hyperlocal data to personalise deliveries

Ensuring speed has become a priority for the platform’s Singapore operations. 

Foodpanda is using hyperlocal data to personalise its delivery offerings in competitive markets like Singapore, where customer expectations around speed, variety, and affordability continue to rise.

“We have granular data not just at the country or user level, but also down to the micro-geographical level,” Bhavani Shankar Mishra, managing director at Foodpanda Singapore, told Retail Asia. “We [try to] understand what customers want—whether that’s convenience, affordability, or simply more choices.”

In Singapore, this has led to more targeted services such as faster delivery, scheduled grocery slots, and solo meal deals with lower fees and no minimum spending for groups such as office workers, solo diners, and budget shoppers.

Foodpanda now fulfills grocery orders through both retail partners and its own dark store networks—Pandamart and Dmart—which offer more than 20,000 products and real-time inventory tracking.

Ensuring speed and the availability of essential items has become a priority for the platform’s Singapore operations, Mishra said in a video interview.

Singapore’s online grocery market was valued at $1.1b last year and is expected to grow 8% annually through 2032, according to market research firm The Report Cube.

To attract price-sensitive users, Foodpanda has made changes to its Panda Pro subscription programme. Subscribers get $3 off delivery fees, up to 20% discounts at selected restaurants, and 3% off grocery orders above $70. All benefits are automatically applied at checkout.

Outside Singapore, Foodpanda is also adapting its services based on local preferences. In Taiwan, consumers prefer fresh local produce and free delivery, while in the Philippines, demand centers around value meals such as fried chicken with rice.

The company identifies these regional behaviours using machine learning tools integrated across its platforms for consumers, riders, and merchants.

Still, customisation on this scale comes with operational challenges. In Singapore, one key issue is maintaining consistent delivery times amidst fluctuating rider availability.

To improve delivery reliability, Foodpanda has introduced real-time tracking, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered route optimisation, and a tipping feature that lets customers reward riders before, during, or after delivery.

Foodpanda is also helping restaurant partners grow by giving them access to data dashboards and self-service tools. These resources allow merchants to make more informed decisions about menu offerings, pricing, and marketing.