Logistics firm to connect India till last mile

Leading logistics firm Connect India on Friday launched last mile distribution service across the country.

"Our pan India last mile delivery network will cover 25,000 pin codes, connecting all metros, million plus population cities, 8,000 small towns and create outreach to 500,000 villages across the country," said Connect India founder L.R. Sridhar.

The company's connectivity plan is to develop a hyper local neighbourhood convenience model of one square kilometer delivery areas for urban markets and last mile access to rural markets.

"We are also in talks with leading e-commerce players like Flipkart to enhance their distribution and delivery network. Though we did a pilot project with e-tailer major Amazon in Punjab, small and medium firms are interested to take our service, as we provide connectivity till last mile," said Sridhar.

Noting that access to e-commerce platforms and delivery were limited to about 6,000 pin codes, he said the state-run India Post had access to over 19,000 pin codes across the country.

"Our platform will create hyper local distribution centres of 1 by 1 sq.km and connect rural and urban areas and become a game changer in the logistics sector," he claimed.

The company plans to appoint about 50,000 last mile delivery entrepreneurs as its centres, which in turn will provide jobs to over 200,000 delivery associates in the next three years.

"We believe technology backed by local knowledge will be the key differentiator, with a mobile first approach. We will be a platform to drive the government's 'Make in India' initiative and make a difference to livelihoods," Sridhar noted.

Early-stage venture fund Aavishkaar invested Rs.32 crore in Connect India.

"Connect India has a robust model of developing village level entrepreneurs to bring efficient logistics and reverse logistics to local communities. We believe this will lead to local development and livelihood impacts in rural areas," said its chief executive Vineet Rai.