I have been trying different despatch companies for a while now. Here are the comparisons and compilation of pros and cons between all of the ones I have used.
| Lalamove | Gogovan | ixpress | |
| Commission | 16% | 20% | None |
| Registration Fee | $25 and none goes to the e-wallet | None But need to put in $50 into e-wallet to start | $80/month or $25/week |
| Charges | $10 for activation 30 cents per kilometer $3 per extra drop off location | Between $8 to $15 | $8 onwards. Islandwide. Depending on timing due for delivery. |
| Items | Food from Oddle, WhyQ and eateries Laptops (in a box), Rice Cookers, Large pizza boxes, small parcels | So far only delivered small parcels and food items | Parcels and below only, no food. |
| Pickup and Delivery time | Pick up now : Within 20mins MUST DELIVER WITHIN 1HR Pick up later is available, all jobs must be completed within 1hr of pickup | ASAP jobs : Within 30mins Deliver within 2hrs Same day and other day pick ups are available, with their own delivery deadline | Pick up day and time will be stated Delivery day and time will be stated also |
At first glance, Lalamove would seem to provide the best deal with their low commission rates and ixpress monthly fee might put some people off. Let’s do a price comparison.
Let’s say you need to deliver an item from Tampines to Jurong (Roughly 30km) within 1hr.
| Lalamove | Gogovan | ixpress | |
| Base rate | $10 | $15 probably | $14 |
| Distance | 30 cents per km $9 (30km) | $1.50 per 5km if further than 5km $7.50 (25km) | |
| Total | $19 | $15 | $21.50 |
| Total after commission | $15.96 | $12 | $21.50 |
ixpress seems a lot more higher than Lalamove, however this is using the quotation for urgent delivery jobs.
From my experience, people use ixpress more for later day deliveries so you will usually get $8 – 10 per trip. Urgent items are rare. Lalamove however, is technically an urgent job every time.
Money aside, here are the pros and cons I have noticed between the services.
Lalamove
Deliver within 1 hour the moment you pick up.
Pros
- If you need cash, take the cash jobs. Lalamove business partner jobs are usually paid by credit.
- Lower commission than Gogovan.
- Caltex fleet card.
Cons
- Cannot take multiple jobs, even if you are going in the same direction.
- Most jobs are “Pick Up Now”, so you need to be camping in your vehicle, ready to move anytime.
Gogovan
Deliver within 2hrs for ASAP jobs. Read instructions for other kind of jobs.
Pros
- Has the fuel fleet card that I want, Shell and Esso.
- Seems to have a better team developing and upgrading the app.
Cons
- Jobs are lesser than Lalamove.
- Motorcycle delivery rates are not the best.
- If you want to claim for parking or ERP from the client, you’ll need to do it directly. But you’re on a bike so the extra cost is negligible.
- If you want the ASAP jobs, then camp in the vehicle like Lalamove.
ixpress
Able to plan your day with the delivery timings. Urgent jobs are rare.
Pros
- Usually no need to camp in the vehicle due to a variety of job timings available.
- No commission, clear your $80 within a day or 2 and everything else goes to your pocket for the rest of the month.
- Able to take multiple jobs, good for people who are good at scheduling their time.
Cons
- Not as much jobs as Lalamove but more than Gogovan
- The app UI is not the best, text is small and hard to glance on the go.
- Not recommended for people with bad direction or planning. You need those to save time and fuel.
My Thoughts
Not surprisingly, Gogovan and Lalamove are almost the same as they are competitors. I think if you have a van then Gogovan will be better because their commission is only for the base charge. If customers want anything more, it goes straight to your pocket. Whereas Lalamove charges 16% total.
ixpress is the different one here. But you will need to be able to schedule things properly so you don’t waste petrol travelling around the island just to pick up and drop off items for $8.
I use Lalamove and ixpress more than Gogovan.
Use whichever app depending on the situation you’re in. If you’re still at home warming up then start with ixpress. When you are already in the vehicle or up and running then activate Lalamove. Ultimately both apps will be on anyway.
Covid Situation
Thanks to the Covid situation, a lot of Private Hire Vehicle drivers have hopped onto the logistics bandwagon.
I used to be able to read the instructions before taking up a job. Nowadays the jobs disappear almost immediately and everyone seems to play “fastest finger” which is putting me off.
The situation is becoming so bad with the influx of people who are not used to doing door to door deliveries. So many are accepting jobs and then calling customers if they can pick if up earlier than the timing stated.
Lalamove had to warn everyone to not break protocol. Even within the job description are more detailed instructions to cater to the really new ones.