Worried about a sick pet? Chinese delivery platform Meituan is offering free online vet consultations
- On-demand delivery giant Meituan Dianping and pet clinic operator New Ruipeng Pet Healthcare Group team up to offer free online pet consultations
- This is part of a one-stop-shop for pets on Meituan’s delivery platform, which also allows users to make vaccination appointments for their furry friends
Many people regard pets as family members. So when a furry friend gets sick, it can cause owners serious worry and concern – a professional opinion is usually needed since animals are unable to tell us how they feel, yet such help can at times be inaccessible due to distance or cost.
The two companies have teamed up to launch free online consultations with professional veterinarians on Meituan’s delivery platform, they said in a joint press release on Wednesday. The option for this will show up when users search for pet stores and clinics on Meituan’s app and will be free for all users, a Meituan spokewoman clarified.
The consultations will be part of a one-stop service for pets on Meituan’s platform, where pet owners will also be able to make vaccination appointments for their furry friends and purchase pet supplies all in one place, according to Meituan, which added that users can expect physical goods to be delivered in 30 minutes on average.
“The only way to improve pet owners' experiences is to combine physical goods in the retail sector with pet care in the service sector,” Zeng Wei, a representative from Meituan’s instant delivery business, said in the statement. Zeng added that e-commerce platforms have become a major consumption channel for pet owners, with up to 43 per cent of this demographic purchasing from online platforms.
Meituan is not the only tech giant rushing to offer services to pet owners, who are becoming a new breed of power purchasers in China.