Indian Service Delivery

Reliance Retail activates 600 dark stores to boost hyper-local delivery

Reliance Retail has operationalised over 600 dark stores pan-India and plans to add more to enhance its coverage of less than 30-minute deliveries across its extensive network. Addressing an analyst query after quarterly results, Reliance Retail CFO Dinesh Taluja said JioMart is better placed with an extensive physical store network and dark stores being set up in select locations. Reliance Retail has already operationalised 600-odd dark stores and is also investing in more to amplify its play in quick hyper-local deliveries, in which JioMart registered a 42 per cent Q-o-Q growth and 200 per cent-plus Y-o-Y growth in average daily orders. "JioMart continued to operate as the fastest-growing quick hyper-local commerce platform, with operations extending across 5,000 pin codes and serviced by over 3,000 stores in more than 1,000 cities," said an earnings statement of the parent entity, Reliance Industries. Its e-commerce platform JioMart, which is competing with quick commerce player

Ecom platforms under govt lens over extra charges for COD services

The minister added that a detailed investigation has been initiated and steps are being taken to scrutinise these platforms closely

New businesses drive services sector growth to 10-month high in June: PMI

Indian service providers end Q1 on a strong note, with output and new orders rising at the fastest pace since August 2024, supported by robust international sales & job creation, according to PMI data

FedEx founder Fred Smith, pioneer of express delivery, dies aged 80

Fred Smith, the FedEx Corp. founder who revolutionised the express delivery industry, has died, the company said. He was 80. FedEx started operating in 1973, delivering small parcels and documents more quickly than the postal service. Over the next half-century, Smith, a Marine Corp. veteran, oversaw the growth of a company that became something of an economic bellwether because so many other companies rely on it. Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx became a global transportation and logistics company that averages 17 million shipments per business day. Smith stepped down as CEO in 2022 but remained executive chairman. Smith, a 1966 graduate of Yale University, used a business theory he came up with in college to create a delivery system based on coordinated air cargo flights centred on a main hub, a "hub and spokes" system, as it became known. The company also played a major role in the shift by American business and industry to a greater use of time-sensitive deliveries and less ...

Delivery-based trades moderate in April after hitting eight-year high

Market volatility typically influences delivery-based trading volumes, according to experts

India's express parcel market to touch 24-29 bn shipments by FY30: Report

India's express parcel market is expected to witness a sharp uptick and touch 24-29 billion shipments by FY30 driven by the expanding e-commerce sector, and the rise of hyperlocal and the quick commerce segment, Redseer said in a report on Friday. For the current financial year (FY2025), the parcel market is estimated to reach 10-11 billion shipments in FY25, the report said, adding that the e-commerce segment accounted for more than 50 per cent of the express parcel market, with approximately 4.8-5.5 billion shipments this fiscal. "India's express logistics market is going through a major shift, driven by growing digital adoption and consumers becoming more comfortable with e-commerce," said Mrigank Gutgutia, Partner at Redseer Strategy Consultants. Gutgutia further noted that express logistics players need to realign their strategies to stay ahead and make the most of the fast growing e-commerce and hyperlocal opportunity landscape. The report suggests that the trends in the ...

Govt allows private firms to use Aadhaar verification for service delivery

The government has amended the Aadhaar Act to allow private entities to use Aadhaar authentication for delivering their services, according to a notification issued on Friday. The Supreme Court had in September 2018 termed Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act "susceptible to misuse". The Section 57 empowered private entities to seek and use Aadhaar authentication for business purposes. Now, the government has notified Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Amendment Rules, 2025 with provision to provide Aadhaar Authentication to private entities based on the approval of their proposal for the facility. "Any entity other than the Ministry or Department... which is desirous of utilising Aadhaar authentication, shall prepare a proposal with justification in regard to the authentication sought being for a purpose specified in rule 3 and in the interest of state, and submit the same to the Ministry or Department concerned," the notification said. Rul

Govt to launch 'Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore' campaign to improve service delivery

The Centre will launch "Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore", a nation-wide campaign to redress public grievances and improve service delivery, during the good governance week from December 19 to 24, an official statement said on Saturday. In this campaign, over 700 district collectors will be participating and officials will be visiting tehsils and panchayat samiti headquarters, it said. Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore is a decentralised version of special campaign 4.0 conducted in central ministries and departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs) from October 2 to 31, 2024. This is the third time that the government of India will be conducting a national campaign at the tehsil level to address public grievances and improve service delivery, the personnel ministry statement said. The campaign will create a national movement for good governance that will inspire future generations, it added. The preparatory phase of the good governance week 2024 will start from December 11-18. To launch the progra

How cash-on-delivery makes delivery agents an easy target of violence

A murder has brought into focus the risks agents face during cash-on-delivery orders

Ikea pilots same-day delivery in Hyderabad, hits 100% EV delivery goal

As part of its sustainability strategy, Swedish furniture giant Ikea has committed to entering all new markets, including the Delhi-NCR region, with an EV-first approach

Shoes in 10-minutes: Footwear major Bata wants to join quick-commerce race

The quick-commerce space is becoming an attractive business opportunity, witnessing increased interest from investors. Big guns like Reliance and Walmart want to enter the sector too

Reliance to challenge Blinkit, Swiggy, Zepto with quick commerce entry

Reliance's JioMart may begin offering deliveries within the next month, completing deliveries within 30 minutes

iPhone, PS5 fly off shelves: Blinkit's big ticket profitability play

The quick-commerce platform has been experimenting with category expansion ranging from standard fresh food and groceries to high-value retail categories

Truck rentals remained flat in March 2024: Shriram Mobility Bulletin

According to industry sources, truck rentals were stable as corporates were seen rushing in March year-end to fulfil their targets

Delhivery Q3 results: Logistics major turns profitable with Rs 11.7 cr PAT

Delhivery's revenue from operations stood at Rs 2,194 crore in Q3 FY24, up 20 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) from Rs 1,822 crore in Q3 FY23

Delhi LG okays scheme to regulate transport aggregators, delivery providers

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved a scheme for the regulation and licensing of delivery service providers and aggregators offering passenger transport services in the national capital, officials said on Friday. The scheme also paves the way for bike taxis and mandates that the transport aggregators should onboard electric two-wheelers for passenger services. "The file pertaining to the the Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme 2023 has been approved. The policy is likely to be notified soon," said an official. This scheme was cleared by the Delhi government on October 18 and its file was submitted to the LG. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said the scheme "marks a significant milestone in Delhi's fight against pollution". The scheme intends to bring the aggregator platforms under the ambit of the government to ensure the safety of the passengers and customers. It mandates commercial vehicle fleets to ensure a phased conversion

XpressBees joins ONDC networks, expands services to 20,000 pin codes

XpressBees' technology-driven approach allows seamless integration with online marketplaces and retailers. This enhances the end-to-end customer experience

Amazon launches programme for deliveries via electric vehicles in India

E-commerce company Amazon has launched its last-mile fleet programme in India with 100 per cent electric vehicles, under which it will provide its delivery service providers with access to customized EVs suitable for last-mile deliveries. In the initial phase of the programme, the company has introduced Mahindra Zor Grand three-wheeler EVs, each equipped with specialised enhancements for Amazon's last-mile deliveries. The programme will help more than 300 delivery service partners (DSPs) to make customer deliveries with zero tailpipe emissions, the company said. "Amazon's fleet programme is launching for the first time with entirely custom-designed EVs in India, making it convenient for DSPs to access safe, high-quality zero-emission vehicles for last mile deliveries," Amazon said in a statement. The all-electric fleet programme in India provides DSPs with access to customized EVs suitable for last-mile deliveries, with maintenance, charging, and parking also provided, the statemen

Blue Dart Express announces 9.6% hike in shipment prices starting next year

Blue Dart Express Limited on Tuesday announced an increase in shipment prices effective from January 1, saying the average hike will be 9.6 per cent as compared to the current prices, depending on the shipping profile. The company in a statement said customers signing up from October 1 to December 31, 2023 will not be impacted by the price increase. It said Blue Dart reviews and adjusts its pricing annually. This adjustment considers a multitude of factors including the current macroeconomic factors, geopolitical tensions, tighter monetary and fiscal policies, inflationary pressures, and exchange rate fluctuations, all of which impact the cost structure, the company added. Elaborating on the announcement, Blue Dart Managing Director Balfour Manuel said: "Our annual rate adjustment primarily aligns with inflation and empowers us to maintain service excellence while addressing rising costs." Blue Dart Express Limited, air and integrated transportation and distribution express logist

Blinkit starts new feature allowing brands to have customised stores on app

Sellers on instant-delivery platform can track performance of products, highlight them