Chapter 470: Turning Losses into Profits

Under these circumstances, the number of registered users on the delivery platform skyrocketed visibly.

This included the riders as well.

No longer limited to the student demographic, idle individuals in society also joined the delivery ranks one after another.

Their spare time was more abundant, allowing them to devote themselves fully to this career, which also led to a significant increase in delivery efficiency.

Over time, the coverage map of Kuaida Delivery grew larger and larger, with almost the entire main urban area falling under its iron hoof.

It is believed that it won't be long before it covers the entire city of Hangzhou.

Moreover, under the operations of the local promotion teams, such a situation is playing out all over the country.

Backend data shows that the number of registered users for the platform and Easy Pay has currently reached eight million.

And the users are quite active!

Of course, compared to Alipay's staggering 200 million user count, it seems somewhat insignificant.

But that doesn't matter.

The universe has yet to be decided; you and I are both dark horses.

Easy Pay still has infinitely vast room for growth.

For example, out of a perfect score of 100, the first-place student scored 95; they can at most score 5 more, while the last-place student scored 38, but has a mountain of 62 points waiting for them to climb.

Just a few days ago, the Central Bank of China issued the "Administrative Measures for Payment Services of Non-Financial Institutions," and Shen Yan submitted an application for a payment license.

When it will be issued is unknown.

With it, Easy Pay can truly be considered a formal third-party payment enterprise with complete documentation.

Twenty minutes later, a large stack of meals was delivered to Room 801 next door.

Shen Yan fulfilled his promise to tip, and the rider hopped away happily.

Everyone is happy!

Looking at the table full of seafood, Yu Youwei's eyes almost popped out: "No way, do you guys eat this well every single day?"

Wu Yue'er felt a sense of superiority bursting within her, but she was very humble and polite in her speech: "Not really, we just eat like this occasionally."

Luo Qiqi's eye twitched, thinking to herself, I believe that, my foot.

Immediately, she turned her gaze toward Shen Yan, her expression full of mockery: "How come I feel like someone is promoting delivery mainly for their own convenience, and shamelessly throwing tips to cut in line? I can't believe you came up with that."

"I clearly call this benefiting the masses." Shen Yan was completely unbothered.

"Besides, I spent extra money, so I should enjoy better service."

Luo Qiqi shrugged indifferently; you have money, so whatever you say is right.

Mentioning money, she couldn't help but ask: "The delivery platform is developing so well now, it should be turning a profit, right?"

"A small profit!" Shen Yan replied simply, without giving too much explanation.

An increase in user volume means a sharp rise in transaction volume; just yesterday alone, the delivery platform's transaction volume was 6.5 million, and a 5% commission is 325,000.

Don't look at this figure as very impressive, as it could earn tens of millions a month, but there are also many expenses, both large and small.

For example, developing "Scan," renting office buildings, employee salaries, outsourcing costs, local promotion teams, servers... and all sorts of miscellaneous expenses.

After calculating everything, there is only a slight surplus.

However, this month's revenue should be quite considerable because the platform has launched a new feature.

As merchants continued to pour in, some clever ones keenly discovered that their living space was gradually being squeezed, not because there was a problem with their food, but because their store exposure had plummeted.

Previously, there were only a few dozen stores in total, and customers could scroll to the bottom by dragging the webpage slightly, then choose meals from their favorite stores to place an order.

But the situation now is very different.

Through big data analysis, the platform prioritizes pushing the most popular stores to customers, or stores that customers have ordered from before, causing the customers' initiative to scroll down the webpage to be greatly reduced.

Without exposure, store business naturally declines step by step.

So, some merchants consulted the platform on how to improve their ranking and get their own stores to the very top.

Shen Yan took the opportunity to launch an advertising feature.

Through merchant bidding, they can obtain advertising recommendation slots, with the highest bidder winning.

Merchants can increase brand exposure by placing ads through the platform, thereby obtaining order volume, while the platform collects advertising fees from merchants to achieve profitability.

At this time, merchants would have doubts: what if spending money has no effect?

The platform replied: "Why don't you try it out with a hundred yuan first and see."

As for the effect... naturally, both sides are happy.

With this, the delivery platform gradually revealed its ability to attract money.

Upon learning that the platform had turned a profit, Wu Yue'er and the others were not surprised and were sincerely happy for Shen Yan.

In their view, wasn't it a matter of course for Shen Yan to succeed?

As they were eating and chatting, suddenly, Shen Yan's phone rang.

It was a call from Fang Xiang.

That's right, a few days ago, Fang Xiang handed over the garment factory to the others, and now he has transformed into the secretary to the president of Yancheng Technology.

"Hello! This is Shen Yan."

Hearing this tone, Fang Xiang knew it wasn't convenient for him to talk, and said sternly: "Boss, someone claiming to be from Sequoia Capital just called the company, saying they want to talk to you about investment."

Shen Yan was slightly stunned; this day had come faster than expected.

Delivery had finally attracted the attention of capital.

"If the other party calls again, just reply that the company has sufficient funds and does not need investment."

"Understood!"

After the call ended, the women were all full of curiosity. Chen Shanni, who understood Yancheng Technology the best, said with insight: "Someone wants to invest in the delivery platform?"

Shen Yan nodded slightly: "Capital chases profit; wherever there is the smell of blood, there is their presence."

Others might not understand and think that having someone invest is a great thing, representing that the other party is optimistic about Kuaida Delivery, but Chen Shanni knew that the delivery platform had finally attracted the attention of capital.

In the future, competitors might emerge one after another, attempting to bite a piece of meat off Shen Yan's hands.

However, Chen Shanni was not worried; capital is indeed powerful, but her man is no pushover, and his understanding of the internet far exceeds that of ordinary people.

Only by competing will we know who will emerge victorious.

As if remembering something, Shen Yan peeled a shrimp and put it into his mouth, then asked Luo Qiqi: "Aren't you running a small shop in the dormitory building? How are you handling the shop since you're living over here?"

Luo Qiqi said in an indifferent tone: "I transferred the shop to someone else. In this hot weather, delivering to doors is too tiring, and there isn't much money in it anyway; just a few thousand yuan a month, it's not worth the effort."

"Oh my! You've got quite an attitude now, not even putting a few thousand yuan in your eyes." Shen Yan clicked his tongue twice, feeling emotional that things had changed.

Back then, this girl was extremely stingy, even wanting to charge ten yuan for a bottle of water.

Sure enough, one's vision determines one's scope.

Luo Qiqi raised her eyebrows, her expression full of pride: "That's right, I've set a small goal here: by the start of next semester, I'll first sign up one hundred driving school students."

Everyone else there couldn't help but chuckle; this small goal was quite novel and unique.

Awesome plus!