eCommerce Delivery Issues from Poor Address System
Most eCommerce platforms in Nepal use either Google Maps or their own location systems to find where to deliver orders. But these systems aren’t very accurate. So almost every time a delivery rider reaches near the address, they still have to call the customer to find the exact spot. These calls often take at least a minute. This wastes time for both the rider and the customer. The main reason is that Nepal doesn’t yet have a system that can show the exact location properly
Is There a Better Option for Nepal?
A Nepali app called Galli Map might be the answer. It hasn’t been tested widely yet, but it already won the ICT Award in 2022. The app was built by three Nepali friends, Raj Bikram Maharjan, an aeronautical engineer, along with Ashon Shakya and another teammate. What makes Galli Map different is that it doesn’t depend on Google. It has its own system to show exact locations, specially made for Nepal.
They have already mapped most parts of Kathmandu and Lalitpur, and they plan to add more districts soon. To do this, they used vehicles, 360-degree cameras, and drones to capture street-level details. Galli Map also works closely with local governments, the municipalities and village offices, to match locations with official house numbers.
When you click on a house inside the app, a small window pops up showing the full address, GPS location (latitude and longitude), house number, famous places nearby, and a 360-degree street view that clearly shows what the area looks like. This helps people and delivery riders easily find any house without confusion.
The app is available for both Android and iPhone users.
Business Plan
Galli Map’s team plans to sell its API, tools, and plugins to delivery companies in Nepal like Pathao, Foodmandu, Daraz, and others. These companies can use Galli Map to make deliveries faster and more accurately. In the future, if the app becomes popular, they also plan to sell ads inside the app as another way to earn money. Additionally, their API is more cost-effective compared to international standards, which helps reduce the overall operating cost of an eCommerce website.
Future Plans
To grow even more, the team wants to allow normal users to help map their local areas. People might get small rewards for adding locations. The app also has a feature where users can send complaints or photos to the local government. For example, they can report a broken road, a blocked path, or any structure that’s causing a problem in the area.
Why This Matters
Galli Map looks like a great idea for everyone, the public, delivery companies, and the government. If it works as promised, it can make deliveries faster, reduce confusion, and improve the online shopping experience. This can even help boost sales for online businesses in Nepal. The app also helps the government get reports from people about things that need fixing. Since the word “Galli” means “street” in Nepali, it’s the perfect name for a tool that’s made to help people find and understand every street better. Even though it might face some challenges with existing e-commerce compliance, Galli Map has the potential to make life a lot easier in a simple yet smart way