Page 27 - ITLN January - February 2025

stack eCommerce shipping platform that designed to handle large orders, such as
helps D2C brands and sellers streamline electronics and party essentials.
and manage their shipping operations “With growing awareness about
through a unified solution. climate change, quick commerce
“To reduce delivery failures, we offer platforms will adopt more eco-friendly
automated address validation and real- practices, such as carbon-neutral
time tracking, improving first-attempt deliveries and reusable packaging,” says
success rates and providing customers Goel of RapidShyp.
with proactive notifications. Bulk order
processing and streamlined order The future: Beyond
management help businesses handle 10-minute delivery
high delivery volumes seamlessly.” As the sector matures, the focus is
shifting from pure speed to sustainable
The human element: Delivery growth and profitability. Innovation
partners and working conditions continues at a rapid pace. Companies
Indian cities continue to test even the The rapid growth of quick commerce are exploring automated micro-
most sophisticated delivery networks. has created thousands of jobs, but it fulfilment centres, drone deliveries for
Poor road conditions in many areas slow has also raised concerns about working suburban areas, and integrated inventory
down delivery speeds, while unclear or conditions and delivery partner safety. management systems that connect dark
non-standardised addressing systems The pressure to maintain rapid delivery stores with traditional retail outlets.
make last-mile navigation complex. times while navigating busy streets has Quick commerce is reshaping not
Traffic congestion in urban cores can led to accidents and public criticism. just delivery logistics but the entire
turn a theoretical 10-minute delivery Leading platforms have responded retail ecosystem. Traditional retailers
window into an unpredictable challenge, by implementing comprehensive safety are adapting by partnering with quick
especially during peak hours. programmes and insurance coverage commerce platforms or developing
Companies are responding with for delivery partners. Many have also their own rapid delivery capabilities.
innovative solutions. Many are investing introduced dynamic timing systems The line between e-commerce, quick
in sophisticated address mapping that adjust delivery promises based on commerce, and traditional retail is
systems that can pinpoint locations weather conditions and traffic patterns, increasingly blurring.
even in areas without formal addresses. prioritising safety over speed. Multinational e-commerce giant
Others are experimenting with micro- "Blinkit provides health insurance to Amazon is reportedly planning to launch
fulfilment centres in residential each delivery partner. For us, the safety its quick commerce service, Tez, in India.
complexes and using electric vehicles of our delivery partners is of utmost Amazon has also started testing its
for last-mile delivery to navigate traffic- importance,” says Mishra of Blinkit. quick commerce delivery service with
congested areas more efficiently. employees in select Bengaluru pincodes.
“Roadcast’s platform ensures rapid Environmental impact Meanwhile, Flipkart has already
delivery times for quick commerce and sustainability entered the quick commerce race with
businesses by providing real-time The environmental impact of quick its service, Minutes.
visibility, route optimisation, and commerce is multifaceted. The Moreover, the sector is influencing
predictive analytics. These features rapid growth of dark stores and consumer behaviour in unexpected
streamline the logistics process, frequent delivery runs has sparked ways. The availability of instant delivery
minimising delays and ensuring efficient concerns about carbon emissions and is changing how people plan their
delivery. Our platform facilitated over packaging waste. purchases and manage their time. For
a million plus global deliveries and Companies are placing greater many urban Indians, the corner store is
supported over two million plus vehicles emphasis on sustainability initiatives, no longer a physical location but an app
with real-time visibility. For example, with major players like Blinkit and Zepto on their phone.
dynamic route adjustments ensure committing to a shift towards electric As the dust settles on the initial gold
drivers avoid traffic congestion, cutting delivery vehicles. While electric vehicles rush, what's emerging is a more mature,
delivery times significantly,” says Mehra have already been introduced for many nuanced approach to rapid delivery, one
of Roadcast. deliveries in tier one metropolitan cities, that balances speed with sustainability,
Fluctuating demand patterns, the goal is to fully transition to electric growth with profitability, and innovation
influenced by festive surges and location- vehicle deliveries. with responsibility. In this evolving
specific needs, challenge logistics Blinkit has recently launched a fleet landscape, the winners will likely be
planning and resource allocation,” says of all-electric vehicles in Delhi and those who can deliver not just quickly,
Ravi Goel, CBO of RapidShyp, a full- Gurugram. This new fleet is specifically but smartly and sustainably. 
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