Speed thrills, and how. Just six months ago, the opportunity for quick commerce was estimated at $30 billion by 2030, up from $6 billion in 2024. That has now been raised to $40 billion. The catchment, which was not so long ago estimated at about 25-30 million households spending nearly Rs 4,000-5,000 a month, has now been expanded to about twice that number with the spend doubling. Even tier-2 cities now can get the service, albeit for a smaller assortment.
Getting everything delivered at one’s doorstep at lightning speed is so compelling that even e-commerce leaders like Flipkart, which took their time foraying into the space, have now done so. Apprehensive that q-comm players like Zepto and Blinkit will eat into their shares, fashion platforms like Myntra and Nykaa have also joined the fray.
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There’s pressure now on the entire ecosystem to shorten delivery timelines, not just for food but for other products too. Should Amazon India, which is reportedly looking to launch a q-comm service, Amazon Tez, resort to heavy discounting and promotions, it would prompt others to follow. But, given how venture capital continues to back q-comm, the competitive intensity is expected to stay elevated. Zepto, for instance, was able to get $1.3 billion from investors in no time at all.
While Blinkit and Zepto have a clear lead in the space, analysts say it is unlikely either of them will command a disproportionate share of 50-60%. They believe the split could be more equitable among five to six players.
The number of stock keeping units (SKUs) offered by q-comm platforms such as Blinkit and Zepto, has increased sharply over the last few quarters to more than 20,000 in some micro markets. Newer entrants like Flipkart Minutes are pushing the envelope to offer products such as mobiles phones and electronic gadgets just as it does on its mainstream platform.
India is among the few markets in the world that has lapped up q-comm. It’s growing into a symbiotic relationship with something for both e-retailers and buyers. For households the convenience of the service appears to be outweighing the costs especially with the increasingly large assortments to choose from.
For e-commerce players, which have found it hard to gather hyperlocal insights after their goods got off the distributor network,
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