When and How SMEs in Singapore Should Use On-Demand Delivery

Singapore’s e-commerce market is growing at a pace that would have seemed remarkable just a few years ago. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) make up 99% of all enterprises in Singapore and play an important role in the country’s economy. Singapore’s e-commerce market reached SGD 34.4 billion in 2025 and is forecast to grow a further 17.7% in 2026 to reach SGD 40.5 billion. This growth is being driven by strong consumer appetite for online shopping, supported by Singapore’s advanced digital infrastructure and a large population of digitally proficient consumers.

As online shopping becomes more embedded in everyday life, consumers are also beginning to treat on-demand and same-day delivery as standard rather than premium services. In fact, 38% of businesses identified delivery speed as their top deciding factor, and that number is only set to grow.

What Does On-Demand Delivery Mean for Your Business?

On-demand delivery allows businesses to book a courier or vehicle precisely when they need one, in real time, without a pre-arranged contract or fixed schedule.

It also allows SMEs to test faster fulfillment without making major logistics investments upfront. Instead of hiring full-time drivers or maintaining company vehicles, businesses can use same-day delivery for selected orders, specific customer segments, or peak periods where speed matters most.

For SMEs in Singapore, this translates into several practical advantages:

• More flexibility without fixed fleet costs
  SMEs do not need to own vehicles or hire full-time drivers before offering faster fulfilment. Use it only when you need it
  
  
• Better ability to handle demand spikes
  Useful when orders rise suddenly during campaigns, festive rush, product launches or during Singapore’s annual durian season, without pre-committing to capacity
  
  
• More control over urgent and ad hoc deliveries
  Last-minute customer orders, stock transfers, forgotten items without waiting for the next scheduled courier run

How Much Does It Cost in Singapore?

On-demand delivery pricing in Singapore is typically calculated based on a combination of distance, vehicle type, time of day and delivery mode. Choosing the right vehicle makes the biggest difference to your cost. As a general guide:

• Motorcycles are the most affordable option and ideal for small, lightweight items. Documents, parcels and small packages that need to move fast across the island
• Cars suit medium-sized loads or fragile items
• Vans are suited for bulkier goods, larger volumes or multiple boxes going to the same destination
• Lorries are for heavy or oversized items and suitable for house moving

For full indicative pricing by vehicle type, visit our pricing page.

How Lalamove Supports SMEs in Singapore

Lalamove is an on-demand logistics platform built for the speed and density of Singapore's business environment. With a network of driver-partners covering the entire island, Lalamove connects businesses of all sizes with the delivery capacity they need, when they need it.

Lalamove offers:

• On-demand delivery across Singapore within an hour
• A wide range of vehicle types to match every delivery need
• Multi-stop delivery for businesses sending to multiple locations in a single booking
• Real-time tracking so you and your customer always know where the delivery is
• Seamless managed deliveries with a monthly minimum order quantity