Meituan’s Drone Delivery Expansion Takes Flight in Shenzhen

In recent months, Meituan has made significant strides in scaling its drone delivery operations across Shenzhen, with over 20 dedicated drone delivery routes now active throughout the city. This expansion is part of Meituan’s broader effort to improve delivery efficiency, reduce human rider costs, and minimize its carbon footprint. Drones are now delivering everything from midday lunches to emergency pharmaceutical supplies, reaching customers in as little as 15 minutes—even in densely populated urban areas.

This move aligns with Meituan’s vision to build a “3-kilometer, 15-minute” low-altitude logistics network, which could soon expand to other first-tier Chinese cities. The use of drones isn't just a logistical upgrade—it’s a statement about the future of urban mobility and e-commerce delivery models. For developers and businesses, this also opens up opportunities for integrating drone delivery status and real-time location data into apps and platforms via API services, such as those offered by Just One API.

Live-Streaming E-Commerce: Meituan’s New Growth Engine

Meituan has also been aggressively testing and expanding its live-streaming e-commerce capabilities, a competitive response to the growth of Douyin and Kuaishou in the social commerce space. In the past quarter, Meituan introduced dedicated live-streaming channels within its app, allowing restaurants, grocery stores, and lifestyle service providers to promote flash sales and limited-time offers.

This shift is more than a feature addition—it represents Meituan’s strategic pivot toward higher user engagement and transaction frequency. Early reports suggest that live-streaming sessions have significantly increased order volumes for participating merchants, especially in the afternoon and evening slots. For marketers and data analysts, this means a growing stream of real-time engagement metrics, viewer demographics, and sales conversion data that can be captured and analyzed through Meituan’s open data interfaces.

Meituan’s Q2 2023 Earnings: Strong Growth in Core Segments

Meituan’s latest quarterly report revealed a 30% year-on-year increase in revenue, with its core local commerce segment—including food delivery and in-store services—continuing to drive profitability. Despite economic headwinds, Meituan has maintained double-digit growth in monthly transacting users, thanks in part to deeper penetration in lower-tier cities and an expanded suite of services.

Notably, Meituan’s grocery delivery service, Meituan Maicai, has seen a surge in usage, particularly among older demographics and families. This illustrates how Meituan is evolving from a pure-play food delivery platform into a multi-service daily essentials hub. For developers building retail or logistics solutions, these trends highlight the importance of accessing up-to-date data on user behavior, order patterns, and regional demand fluctuations.

AI and Big Data: The Backbone of Meituan’s Operations

Behind Meituan’s visible services lies a sophisticated AI-powered infrastructure that optimizes everything from delivery routing to dynamic pricing. The company recently announced upgrades to its deep learning algorithms, which now better predict order demand, rider availability, and even kitchen preparation times.

These improvements are critical as Meituan continues to handle over 50 million daily orders across its platform. For third-party developers and enterprise users, Meituan’s data APIs provide valuable insights into real-time order flow, peak demand hours, and consumer preference trends—enabling smarter inventory planning, targeted promotions, and improved customer experiences.

Sustainability Initiatives: Green Packaging and Carbon Reduction

Under increased public and regulatory scrutiny regarding packaging waste, Meituan has launched a “Green Packaging Initiative” aimed at reducing single-use plastics across its delivery network. The initiative includes partnering with suppliers to develop biodegradable packaging and incentivizing merchants and users to choose eco-friendly options.

This isn’t just a CSR effort—it’s a business imperative. Consumer awareness around sustainability is growing, and platforms that lead in eco-innovation are likely to gain long-term user loyalty. Data integration from Meituan’s green initiative can help sustainability-focused brands track and report their environmental impact, using real-time API data to monitor reduced plastic usage and carbon emissions.

Challenges and Regulatory Adaptation

Like other major tech platforms in China, Meituan continues to navigate a complex regulatory environment. Recent antitrust adjustments and new rules regarding gig worker protections have prompted Meituan to make operational changes, including providing more social insurance coverage for delivery riders and ensuring algorithm transparency.

These changes have slightly increased operational costs but have also improved long-term regulatory compliance and public perception. For businesses relying on Meituan’s ecosystem, these developments underscore the need for flexible and compliant data integration strategies that can adapt to policy shifts.

International Ambitions: Testing Waters in Hong Kong and Beyond

Earlier this year, Meituan began testing its food delivery service in Hong Kong under the brand “KeeTa.” This marks Meituan’s first major expansion outside mainland China and signals its ambition to compete in overseas markets. Initial user feedback has been positive, with many praising the platform’s competitive pricing and quick delivery times.

If successful, Meituan may expand to other Southeast Asian markets, presenting new opportunities for global brands and developers to integrate with Meituan’s international data services. Cross-border e-commerce and logistics APIs could become increasingly relevant as Meituan grows its global footprint.

Why Real-Time Data Access Matters for Meituan’ Ecosystem

For developers, analysts, and businesses, accessing Meituan’s real-time data is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. From monitoring live sales performance during a streaming event to optimizing delivery routes using drone status APIs, the ability to programmatically retrieve and analyze Meituan data can drive operational efficiency and strategic decision-making.

Platforms like Just One API provide structured access to Meituan’s publicly available data, enabling enterprises to build custom dashboards, automate reporting, and enhance user experiences with up-to-date information. Whether you're a restaurant chain analyzing order trends or a logistics company coordinating with Meituan’s drone network, real-time data integration is key to staying competitive.

Conclusion: Meituan’s Evolution and What It Means for the Future

Meituan is much more than a food delivery app—it’s a dynamic, data-driven ecosystem that continues to innovate in response to technological, regulatory, and consumer trends. From drones to live commerce, sustainability to global expansion, Meituan’s strategic moves are shaping the future of on-demand services not just in China, but potentially worldwide.

For those looking to leverage Meituan’s platform programmatically, now is the time to explore API-based data solutions that can keep pace with these changes. With the right data integration tools, businesses can tap into Meituan’s growth and adapt faster in an increasingly real-time economy.