Tap, Deliver, Thrive: How Small Businesses Are Growing With App-Based Platforms

Most consumers have heard of (and likely use) app-based platforms like Uber, Grubhub, DoorDash, and Instacart to make everyday life more convenient. However, many may not realize the significant, positive impact these platforms have on the economy.

In 2022, major app-based delivery and rideshare platforms contributed $212 billion to the U.S. economy, and they are projected to contribute $500 billion annually over the next decade.

Small businesses can tap into this growth potential by implementing the right strategies, including partnering with organizations like the Flex Association that seek to connect app-based stakeholders and enhance and democratize entrepreneurship.

Why app-based platforms are a big opportunity for small businesses

By the end of 2025, the global digital payment market is projected to reach $20.09 trillion, with an annual growth rate of 13.63% from 2025 to 2030. Mobile point-of-sale payments, which include transactions completed via app-based platforms, are the largest market, with a projected transaction value of $12.56 trillion.

Large global corporations aren’t the only ones who stand to profit from the app-based industry. Kristin Sharp, CEO of Flex, believes the long-range accessibility of app-based platforms can be a force multiplier for small and local businesses.

She pointed to three ways companies can use these apps to drive seamless growth:

• Expand the reach and scalability of the business.
• Make the business more visible and discoverable.
• Increase operational effectiveness, including the ease of obtaining necessary products or supplies.

“App-based platforms also facilitate new kinds of businesses that can make anyone an entrepreneur,” said Sharp, citing e-commerce businesses on platforms like Etsy as an example. “You can start small and see how it goes and then expand with the tools of a platform that you partner with.”

How to make the most of platform partnerships

It can be challenging to determine which app-based platform is the best fit for your business. Sharp encourages small business owners to do their research and consider the tools and programs each platform offers.

“DoorDash has a commerce platform and Uber has a new suite of AI tools that help companies make business processes faster and more seamless,” she said. “Shipt and Grubhub have accelerators that help a small business develop an expansion idea and take it from idea to implementation. Those ladder-up programs are really helping companies understand what the possibilities are for growth.”

Sharp also recommends exploring case studies and success stories to better ascertain how each app-based platform can help your business expand. She noted that Uber, DoorDash, Grubhub, Shipt, Instacart, and similar platforms all have sections on their website highlighting projects they scaled and how they accomplished that scalability.

“Those case studies speak for themselves,” Sharp added.

The future of independent businesses in a flexible economy

With the U.S. gig economy’s continued growth and influence — projected to reach $191.13 billion by the end of 2025 — the future of independent business looks bright, especially when entrepreneurs can partner with app-based platforms to expand.

This happens by participating in what Sharp describes as the “three-sided marketplace” of the app economy, which comprises:

• The workers, such as delivery drivers and shoppers, who work directly for the app-based platforms. This, said Sharp, can serve as supplementary income for entrepreneurs while they try to get their own small business off the ground.
• The platform partners, which offer tools to manage your business’s orders and income from app-based platforms.
• The platforms’ built-in artificial intelligence tools, which Sharp advised leveraging to improve photo quality, autogenerate item descriptions, and even streamline your finances on the platform.

Sharp also encouraged small businesses to take advantage of being on app-based platforms by learning from each other. By observing how other local businesses integrate these tools into their operations, you can gain ideas and inspiration to adopt that technology yourself.

This low-barrier access to expansion strategies opens the door to entrepreneurship for more people than traditional start-up avenues.

“We’re so lucky to be in a time frame where all these digital tools are available and that anything that you can dream up as an entrepreneur, there’s probably a way to make that happen,” Sharp told CO—.

The Caldwell Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by U.S. Chamber of Commerce.