Walmart Inc.-owned Flipkart has started an instant neighbourhood delivery service as people avoid going outdoors during the pandemic.
Called Flipkart Quick, it offers 90-minute to two-hour delivery across categories, including grocery, mobiles and electronics, and home accessories, according to its statement.
The pilot, starting Bengaluru, is the online retailer's second attempt at instant, local delivery after it shuttered a similar Nearby service in 2016. The fresh foray comes when demand for instant delivery has shot up as Indians avoid going out amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In the last four months coinciding with the lockdown, several other players, including Reliance Retail Ltd., Zomato and Swiggy, have taken to hyperlocal delivery from kirana stores. BigBasket and Amazon already have a two-hour delivery service.
While Flipkart has stared the service from its own hubs, it also aims to bring together a network of neighbourhood kirana stores in the next phase of expansion.
BloombergQuint had reported last year that Flipkart is looking to start hyperlocal delivery after it made an investment in logistics startup Shadowfax. During this same time, it has also backed vegetable and fruits supply chain startup Ninjakart.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
