Australian delivery platform Zoom2u has launched a new SaaS marketplace, Drivers2hto help businesses tackle deliveries.

The ASX-listed software company’s delivery service aims to bridge the gap between customers and drivers. Local businesses and restaurants can match with delivery drivers for free via Drivers2u.

The platform enables companies and customers to post a job on a budget and receive offers from drivers willing to get the job done.

By signing up for the marketplace, drivers receive leads from people looking for their service in their area.

The platform offers drivers for various vehicles such as bicycles, trucks, UTEs, trailers, refrigerated trucks and even private drivers.

The service remains free to customers and drivers for an initial period as the market builds scale. Eventually, the app will transition to a monthly subscription model for drivers, while customers will be charged advertising fees.

Founder Steve Orenstein is encouraging restaurants to reevaluate their relationship with expensive third-party food delivery apps and instead explore their delivery service by hiring drivers directly.

“With Deliveroo’s exit from Australia driving the hospitality industry perilously close to monopoly, the launch of Drivers2u couldn’t have come at a better time,” he said.

Startup Daily editor Simon Thomsen had spoken to founder Steve Oberstein for more information. See the full interview:

Oberstein said Drivers2u helps businesses save money on delivery costs by allowing them to manage their own delivery service rather than using expensive third-party options.

“Restaurants and businesses need to think about how they can run their own delivery service by hiring drivers directly,” he said.

“By self-management, companies will only have to cover the costs of the drivers and will own the relationship with their customers, rather than relinquishing revenue and control to third parties.”

Zoom2u now operates through three platforms in the delivery services market.

Zoom2u connects customers to a network of local drivers across Australia for fast deliveries, while Locate2u provides real-time tracking solutions to companies with their own fleets worldwide.

Since its launch in 2014, Zoom2u has processed more than 2.5 million deliveries for more than 80,000 customers with approximately 12,000 registered drivers.

More than 400 companies currently use Locate2u in 10 countries.