When shoppers need a phone charger or a last-minute gift today, many reach for their phone before their car keys. U.S. retail ecommerce sales reached an estimated $340.2 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up 12.2% year over year, while total retail sales grew 6.7%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, 2nd Quarter 2026 (released August 18, 2026). You don't need your own delivery operation to keep up. This guide covers the main delivery platform types, how each connects to your store's systems, and how to choose.
Retail delivery platforms at a glance
Delivery marketplace apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, and Shipt list your store in a shopping app and send drivers to deliver orders from nearby customers.
On-demand courier services like Uber Direct, Roadie, and Walmart GoLocal deliver orders your store already took on its own website, by phone, or at the counter.
Delivery management software like Shipday helps stores that employ their own drivers handle dispatch, route planning, and driver tracking.
Ecommerce and POS integration apps from marketplaces like the Shopify App Store and Square App Marketplace move orders and stock data between your systems, but they don't deliver anything themselves.
Fee models range from a commission on each order to flat per-delivery fees, monthly subscriptions, and per-driver pricing, so compare your full cost per order rather than one headline rate.
The most important step is to choose a platform that connects to how your store already tracks its products and inventory.
What is retail delivery integration (and why does it matter)?
Retail delivery integration connects a delivery platform to the systems your store already uses, so orders, prices, and stock levels update without anyone retyping them.
Those systems include your POS (point of sale), the register and software where you ring up sales, plus your online store or an inventory file (a spreadsheet listing each product's price and stock count). When a platform supports catalog sync, it pulls your product names, photos, prices, and quantities from that source automatically. That's what keeps same-day delivery (orders placed and delivered on the same day) running without constant manual updates.
Without integration, staff juggle extra tablets, upload products by hand, and watch stock drift out of sync. A shopper orders the last Bluetooth speaker you sold an hour ago, and the order gets canceled.
Those mismatches add up across the industry. IHL Group's Fixing Inventory Distortion – Who's Winning, Who's Failing, What's Working (2025) estimates that out-of-stocks cost retailers about $1.2 trillion worldwide in 2025. Strong inventory management and a well-connected delivery platform help make sure the items shoppers see online are actually on your shelves.
The best types of delivery platforms for retailers, compared
Delivery platforms are easiest to compare by type: who finds the customer, who delivers the order, and how the platform connects to your store.
Platform type | Best for | How orders reach you | Who delivers | Integration method | Fee model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Delivery marketplace apps | Reaching new nearby shoppers with delivery handled for you | Shoppers find and order from your store in the platform's app | The platform's drivers | Tablet, POS integration, or ecommerce sync | Typically a commission on each order |
On-demand courier services | Delivering orders you already take online, by phone, or in store | You take the order, then request a driver | Drivers from the courier's network | Ecommerce plug-in, POS integration, or online dashboard | Typically a fee per delivery |
Delivery management software | Stores that employ their own drivers | Orders from your own channels feed into a dispatch dashboard | Your own staff | Connects to your online store or POS | Typically a monthly subscription, sometimes priced per driver |
Ecommerce and POS integration apps | Keeping products, stock, and orders in sync across channels | From whichever sales channels you connect | No one; pairs with another option | Installed from your ecommerce or POS app marketplace | Often a monthly app subscription |
Provider details below were checked on October 14, 2026, from each provider's public website for U.S. merchants. Features and terms change, so confirm current details directly with each provider.
Delivery marketplace apps
Marketplace apps list your store inside a consumer app where nearby shoppers already browse, order, and pay. Your staff packs each order, and the platform's drivers deliver it. It’s the type built to do both: helping shoppers find your store and handling delivery for you.
Third-party delivery apps aren't just a food delivery app on your customer's phone anymore. Several now serve retail stores. Uber Eats features retail stores in its app and lets them fulfill orders through Uber's courier network, their own staff, or both. Instacart gives retailers a storefront inside the Instacart app, with Instacart shoppers or store staff picking orders. Shipt Marketplace lets customers shop a mix of local and national retailers in one app, with Shipt shoppers handling delivery.
DoorDash lists eligible retail stores on Marketplace so nearby shoppers can order everyday goods for same-day delivery. Stores on Shopify can sync products and inventory automatically, and staff prepare each order for Dasher pickup.
The trade-offs: you pay a fee on each order, shoppers order inside the platform's app rather than your own site, and your catalog needs to stay accurate on every platform you join.
On-demand courier services
A courier service picks up orders your store already took through its website, phone line, or counter and delivers them locally. If you've searched for the best courier service for a small business, this is usually the category you're looking for.
Uber Direct offers on-demand delivery for orders from a business's own channels. Roadie, a UPS company, offers same-day local delivery for retailers, including larger items. Walmart GoLocal provides white-label local delivery, meaning drivers deliver under your brand rather than Walmart's. Shipt Driven is Shipt's delivery-only service for retailers' own websites.
Unlike parcel shipping, there are no shipping labels to print or multi-day transit times. A local driver picks up the order and brings it straight to your customer.
The trade-off is that your store still handles order-taking and all the marketing that brings shoppers in. For stores that want discovery as well as delivery, DoorDash Marketplace combines a shop listing, ordering, and Dasher delivery in one place.
Delivery management software
Delivery management software helps stores that employ their own drivers run delivery in-house. It's the most common type in search results, and Shipday is one example.
These tools handle dispatch (assigning each order to a driver), route optimization (planning the fastest order of stops), and driver tracking. Shipday, for example, offers route planning, real-time tracking with GPS tracking of drivers, branded tracking pages for customers, and photo or signature proof of delivery. Some tools can also request third-party drivers when your own team is busy.
This setup gives you close control over the delivery experience and helps you track on-time deliveries. But you still recruit, pay, schedule, and insure your drivers, and the software doesn't bring you new shoppers.
Ecommerce and POS integration apps
Integration apps connect the systems you already use. You'll find them in app marketplaces like the Shopify App Store and Square App Marketplace, and point-of-sale solutions like Square, Clover, and Lightspeed connect to outside tools through POS system integrations.
These apps push data between systems. A POS integration might send online orders straight to your register, while a catalog app keeps prices and stock counts matched between your online store and a delivery platform. Some retailers also connect an order management system (software that tracks every order from purchase to fulfillment) or an ERP (enterprise resource planning software that runs back-office tasks like purchasing and accounting).
Keep in mind that integration apps don't deliver anything. They connect your digital platform, online ordering platforms, and payment gateways (the services that process card payments online), but you still need a marketplace app, courier, or your own drivers to get orders to customers.
How delivery platform fees compare
Fees are the hardest part of retail delivery to compare, because providers charge in different ways. Most pricing falls into four models:
Commission per order: The platform keeps a percentage of each order's value.
Flat per-delivery fee: You pay a set amount for each delivery, sometimes adjusted for distance or item size.
Monthly subscription: You pay a recurring fee for software access, often in tiers.
Per-driver or per-vehicle pricing: Your cost depends on how many drivers or vehicles use the software.
So how do fees compare between providers like Instacart, Uber Direct, and Shipt? It depends on the service, your market, and your order size. Check each provider's current pricing page, and keep merchant fees separate from fees customers pay at checkout.
To estimate your true cost, add up platform fees, packaging, and the staff time spent picking and packing each order. Then compare that total against your average order size. A fee model that looks low on paper can cost more if your typical basket is small. For DoorDash, pricing varies by business, so contact DoorDash for pricing for your business. For a broader look at weighing these costs, see our guide on how to choose the right third-party delivery service.
How to choose the right delivery platform for your store
The best retail delivery services for merchants are the ones that fit how your store already works. Start here.
Where do my products and stock levels live today? If your catalog lives in Shopify, look for platforms that sync with it. If it lives in your POS or a spreadsheet, check whether the platform connects to POS systems like yours or accepts an inventory file.
Do I want new customers or delivery for the customers I already have? Marketplace apps put your store in front of new shoppers. Couriers and software serve customers who already order from you directly.
Do I want to manage drivers? Hiring, training, and insuring drivers takes time and budget. If that's not realistic, skip options that depend on your own team.
How much control do I need over pricing and branding? Look for platforms that let you set your own prices and sell under your store's name.
Will this still work if my orders double? A setup that works at 10 orders a week can strain your staff at 50.
Match your answers to a type: if you want new customers, start with marketplace apps; if you already have online demand, consider couriers; if you have drivers, consider delivery software; and if your systems are disconnected, add an integration app.
How retail delivery integration works on DoorDash
DoorDash fits retail stores that want to reach nearby shoppers and offer same-day delivery without hiring drivers. Shopify stores can sync products and inventory automatically.
DoorDash for Retail Stores works with businesses with a physical location in categories like beauty, home, electronics, office supplies, books, and sporting goods. Eligible stores list at least 250 products, each with a photo, description, and price.
Integration: Shopify stores can sync products and inventory automatically and launch in days. Other stores receive orders on a tablet or through a POS integration.
Operations: There's no need to hire delivery drivers or manage a fleet. Delivery is by Dashers, through DoorDash, with average delivery in under 35 minutes.
Control: You sell under your own branding and control your catalog and pricing.
Run a different type of store? DoorDash also offers dedicated options for convenience stores, liquor stores, and flower shops. For setup details, learn how retail delivery works on DoorDash.
How to get your store ready for delivery
Whichever platform you choose, delivery runs smoothly only when your product catalog and stock levels are accurate before your first order. Start with an up-to-date catalog that includes clear photos, short descriptions, and current prices for every item you plan to sell. Next, make sure your inventory stays in sync with the delivery platform, whether through a direct integration, an integration app, or a regular inventory file update. Finally, set aside a simple spot in your store for packing orders and handing them to drivers, so pickups don't crowd your checkout line.
Reach more local shoppers with same-day delivery
Shoppers are open to buying small: in a 2025 holiday survey from AT&T Business, 77% of U.S. consumers said they would choose a small business over a large retailer when prices are equal, according to the AT&T Business 2025 Holiday Shopping Survey (November 26, 2025). The right delivery platform lets your store offer same-day convenience without adding drivers or re-entering your catalog by hand. That means you can compete for the "I need it today" purchases that often go to online-only retailers and big-box stores.
New to DoorDash? List your store on Marketplace and reach nearby shoppers with same-day delivery by Dashers, through DoorDash.
On Shopify? Sync your products and inventory automatically and launch in days.
