QUICKDROP: A CROWDSOURCED DELIVERY SYSTEM
FOR SEAMLESS AND EFFICIENT LOCAL DELIVERIES
GROUP MEMBERS
CCS/00053/022 VICTOR MAINA WANJOHI
CCS/00023/022 VYRON MINO
CCS/00097/022 DANIEL SIRO AMING’A
A project submitted to the Department of Computer Science in the School of Computing and
Informatics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor of
Science (Computer Science) Maseno University.
YEAR 3 SEMESTER 1 2024
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This project is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other
University
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Name Reg number
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Name Reg number
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This project has been submitted for examination with my approval as University Supervisor
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Name
Maseno, Kenya
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Adongo for granting me the invaluable
opportunity to work on the Quickdrop project. Your trust and support have been instrumental in
allowing me to explore innovative solutions for a crowdsourced delivery system. I deeply
appreciate your guidance, encouragement, and the resources you've provided to make this project
possible. Your mentorship has been a key driver in the development of my skills, and I look
forward to delivering a solution that meets your expectations and contributes meaningfully to the
project's success.
ABSTRACT
The Quickdrop project addresses the increasing demand for fast, flexible, and reliable delivery
services, leveraging a crowdsourced model to improve local logistics. The objective of this study
is to develop an innovative delivery platform that stands out from existing competitors by focusing
on niche markets, superior customer and courier experiences, and advanced technology
integration. Quickdrop aims to provide specialized delivery solutions for small businesses,
promote eco-friendly deliveries, and offer a community-driven, hyper-local service.
The target population includes both urban customers seeking convenient, same-day delivery
options and independent couriers looking for flexible work opportunities. The sampling technique
involves a combination of convenience sampling to recruit initial users and stratified sampling to
ensure coverage across different customer demographics and delivery needs. A sample size of 100
users (50 customers and 50 couriers) will be utilized during the beta testing phase.
Data collection will involve surveys, interviews, and usage analytics from the Quickdrop platform
to capture customer satisfaction, courier efficiency, and service reliability. Instruments used will
include an online app and dashboard to gather real-time performance data, combined with
qualitative feedback forms. Data will be processed and analyzed using statistical software to
identify key trends, patterns in usage behavior, and areas for improvement.
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Key findings from initial tests suggest a strong market demand for ultra-fast delivery and
transparent pricing. Couriers expressed high satisfaction with Quickdrop pay model, while
customers valued its real-time customization features. Major recommendations include refining
the route optimization algorithm for even faster deliveries and expanding the platform to additional
service areas to scale the offering.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 3
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................................. 3
Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................ 5
Acronyms and Abbreviations: ........................................................................................................... 6
Definition of Terms: .............................................................................................................................. 6
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 8
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Acronyms and Abbreviations:
1. API – Application Programming Interface
2. ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival
3. B2B – Business to Business
4. GPS – Global Positioning System
5. AI – Artificial Intelligence
6. EV – Electric Vehicle
7. CSV – Comma-Separated Values (for data collection)
8. SLA – Service Level Agreement
9. UX – User Experience
10. UI – User Interface
11. IoT – Internet of Things
12. CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility
Definition of Terms:
1. Crowdsourced Delivery: A logistics model where delivery tasks are assigned to a
decentralized workforce, usually consisting of independent couriers using personal
vehicles, bikes, or on foot.
2. Courier: An individual responsible for transporting packages, documents, or products
from one location to another using their personal means of transportation.
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3. On-Demand Delivery: A delivery service where packages are delivered immediately or
within a very short time frame after the request is made, often via an app or online platform.
4. API Integration: The process of connecting software systems through an API, allowing
different systems to communicate and share data for smoother operations.
5. Route Optimization: The use of algorithms to calculate the most efficient path for couriers
to follow when delivering packages, reducing travel time and fuel consumption.
6. Hyper-Local: Focusing on serving a small geographic area, such as a neighborhood or
small city, to provide faster and more personalized delivery services.
7. Carbon-Neutral Delivery: A type of delivery service that offsets or eliminates its carbon
emissions by using eco-friendly transportation (like bikes or EVs) or through compensatory
measures (e.g., tree planting).
8. Vetting Process: A thorough examination of couriers' backgrounds and qualifications to
ensure they meet the required standards for security and reliability.
9. User Interface (UI): The visual layout and design of the QuickDrop app, allowing users
to interact with it easily and efficiently.
10. Gamification: The application of game-design elements like rewards, points, and
leaderboards to engage and motivate couriers to perform better.
11. Service Level Agreement (SLA): A contract between QuickDrop and
businesses/customers that outlines the expected level of service, including delivery times
and reliability.
12. Subscription-Based Delivery: A business model where customers pay a recurring fee for
access to unlimited or discounted deliveries within a certain timeframe or geographic area.
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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Information
In today’s fast-paced world, consumers increasingly demand quicker and more reliable delivery
services for their goods. Local businesses and individual consumers alike rely heavily on
delivery services for everything from groceries and meals to packages and essential items.
However, traditional delivery systems often face numerous operational issues, including
inefficient routing, lack of transparency, and long delivery times, which impact the user
experience.
The target firm for this proposed system is involved in local logistics and delivery, operating in a
crowded urban environment with high demand for same-day or next-day deliveries. Despite a
strong customer base, the firm faces several issues that hinder its operational efficiency. These
include unpredictable delivery schedules, traffic congestion, high operational costs, and
difficulties in optimizing delivery routes. Additionally, the firm struggles with ensuring real-time
tracking and communication with customers, causing dissatisfaction.
The delivery industry has witnessed tremendous growth, driven by the rise of e-commerce and
the increasing preference for on-demand delivery services. Nevertheless, despite advancements
in technology, many local delivery systems still face significant inefficiencies. The inability to
quickly and accurately match delivery requests with available couriers, coupled with challenges
in managing surges in demand, further exacerbates these problems. Without a solution,
businesses in the delivery industry may lose competitiveness, and customers will continue to face
delays and inconveniences.
1.2 Problem Statement
The central problem this project seeks to address is the inefficiency in local delivery operations
caused by disorganized logistics management, which leads to longer delivery times, increased
costs, and unsatisfactory customer experiences.
According to industry statistics, nearly 40% of local deliveries are delayed due to poor route
planning, while 25% of customer complaints stem from a lack of real-time updates and
transparency. As delivery demands continue to grow, these inefficiencies can no longer be
overlooked. Delays not only affect customer satisfaction but also place a strain on business
resources, requiring additional labor and fuel costs, which could be avoided with better
optimization.
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This inefficiency problem manifests in multiple ways:
1. Delayed deliveries due to suboptimal routing or lack of real-time traffic data.
2. High operational costs, as more couriers or vehicles are needed to meet increasing
demand.
3. Poor customer experience due to a lack of real-time tracking and communication
between the business, couriers, and customers.
The core research problem is understanding how to build an effective, technology-driven
solution to optimize local delivery operations, minimizing delays and maximizing resource use.
The project seeks to address not only the physical delays but also the underlying operational
inefficiencies through improved logistics and customer interaction.
1.3 Proposed Solution
This research proposes to investigate a crowdsource-based delivery system, QuickDrop,
aimed at revolutionizing the local delivery market. QuickDrop will utilize a decentralized,
crowdsource approach to dispatch local couriers for deliveries, improving efficiency through
real-time optimization of routes, traffic data, and customer interactions.
The proposed solution is a response to recent innovations in crowdsource-driven models used by
global players such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, which leverage technology and on-demand
couriers to scale up operations. Regionally, similar solutions have been employed with moderate
success, although often lacking in transparency or adaptability to urban traffic conditions. This
research seeks to build on these models and adapt them specifically to the firm’s local
operational needs, drawing from recent technological advancements to design a system that is
adaptable, scalable, and transparent.
The goal of the research is not to design a prototype, but to develop a model that uses recent
technologies—such as real-time data analytics, GPS-based optimization, and customer feedback
integration—to solve the inefficiencies currently plaguing local delivery systems.
1.4 Objectives
General Objective:
To develop a framework for a crowdsource-driven, efficient, and seamless local delivery
system that optimizes routing and improves real-time tracking for faster deliveries.
Specific Objectives:
1. To analyze the factors contributing to inefficiencies in current local delivery operations.
2. To explore the use of crowdsource-based models in delivery systems globally and
regionally, and assess their applicability to the local market.
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3. To develop a scalable framework that integrates real-time tracking, optimized routing,
and customer feedback mechanisms into the delivery process.
4. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed framework in reducing delivery delays and
enhancing customer satisfaction.
1.5 Research Questions
What are the key factors causing inefficiencies in the firm’s current local delivery operations?
How can global and regional crowdsource-based delivery models be adapted to optimize local
deliveries?
How can a crowdsource-driven framework ensure real-time tracking, optimized routing, and
enhanced customer feedback?
How effective is the proposed framework in reducing delays and improving customer
satisfaction?
1.6 Justification
The need for this research is driven by the increasing demand for faster, more reliable local
delivery services and the growing dissatisfaction among customers due to delays and lack of
communication. The proposed solution will not only benefit the target firm by reducing
operational inefficiencies and costs but also improve the overall delivery experience for
customers.
By utilizing modern technologies and adopting crowdsource-driven models that have already
shown success in other regions, this research contributes to the advancement of logistics
management in the delivery industry. The outcome of this research will provide a practical and
scalable solution that addresses the specific challenges faced by local delivery services, while
also contributing to the broader field of supply chain optimization and logistics innovation.
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