QCOMM
Quick commerce to hike festive workforce by up to 60%
Quick-commerce firms in India plan to increase temporary staff by up to 60% for the festive season. Redseer estimates quick commerce deliveries will double to 10% of total e-commerce. Flipkart, Amazon, Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto are preparing for Diwali. Around 80,000 to 100,000 workers will be hired. Tier 2 cities are also ramping up fast.
Festive season: Quick commerce to ramp up temp workforce by 40–60%
Quick-commerce platforms are gearing up for a significant surge in demand this festive season, projecting a 40-60% increase in temporary workforce. This expansion aims to manage the expected doubling of quick commerce deliveries, potentially reaching 10% of the total e-commerce market.
From Dunkel to Uncle back to Dunkel again
In a twist of trade history, India, once vehemently opposed to Arthur Dunkel's GATT proposals, now finds itself a defender of the WTO against the protectionist policies of the 'Mar-a-Lago Uncle.' This shift highlights India's evolving stance on global trade, suggesting a nostalgic return to Dunkel-era principles could position the nation as a champion of global capitalism.
Nominees for The Economic Times Startup Awards 2025; and other top stories this week
Welcome to a new edition of ETtech Unwrapped – our weekend newsletter packed with the most important stories from this week. Let’s take a look at the recap.
Discounts galore at qcomm; VCs pick AI developers
Happy Tuesday! Quick commerce apps are turning up the discount dial this festive season in a bid to hold on to customers. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Qcomm platforms boost promotions with curated offerings for Independence Day, Janmashtami
For Independence Day, rapid-delivery platforms are offering a range of tricolour-themed products, including decorative items, the Indian flag and apparel in the colours of the national flag. Similarly, for Janmashtami, companies have introduced offerings such as clothes for Krishna idols, peacock feathers, and other pooja-related products.
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NPCI shuts UPI pulls; Nykaa Q1 shows growth
Happy Wednesday! To curb rising fraud, NPCI urges banks and fintechs to stop UPI pull transactions. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Esop delivery at Eternal; Ecomm set to ride festive wave
Happy Monday! Executives at Zomato and Blinkit parent Eternal exercised stock options worth Rs 419 crore. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Top tech and startup stories this week
Welcome to a new edition of ETtech Unwrapped – our weekend newsletter packed with the most important stories this week. Let’s take a look.
Qcomm’s dark store pullback; VCs flock to GIFT City
Happy Monday! Amid rising cash burn, quick commerce firms are pausing expansion of their dark store network. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Swiggy Q1 revenue surges 54% but loss nearly doubles to Rs 1,197 crore on Instamart burn
Swiggy reported a doubled net loss of Rs 1,197 crore for the April-June period despite a 54% increase in operating revenue, accompanied by a cash burn of Rs 1,053 crore. Instamart's losses widened even as its gross order value more than doubled in annual terms. The company now intends to sell its stake in Rapido as the latter makes a food delivery foray.
Swiggy flags quick commerce battle as Amazon, Flipkart join 10-minute race
Instamart, Swiggy’s quick commerce arm, saw gross order value (GOV) grow 21% year-on-year to Rs 5,655 crore, while operating losses widened to Rs 896 crore, up 181% from Rs 318 crore in Q1 FY25. Founder and group CEO Sriharsha Majety said competitive intensity remains high from both ‘QComm-only’ and ‘QComm-also’ players.
FSSAI lens on 526 ecommerce food storage facilities
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India served notices to 526 ecommerce food storage facilities after inspections revealed violations. These inspections, numbering 8,143, occurred during 2024-25. FSSAI held meetings with operators to discuss regulatory expectations. Issues included training, labeling, traceability, and complaint handling.
BigBasket feels qcomm heat; PhysicsWallah clears Sebi test
A decline in BigBasket's turnover indicates increasing competition from quick commerce players. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
Qcomm’s ad revenue push; Paytm swings to black
Happy Wednesday! Quick commerce firms want to make up for mounting losses with ad revenue. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Blinkit, Zepto and other q-comm players throw light on dark stores
Quick-commerce platforms like Bigbasket, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart are intensifying hygiene and storage checks in their dark stores due to rising regulatory scrutiny and concerns raised by food companies. Some platforms are opening dark stores to customers for inspection, while others are increasing leadership audits to address lapses.
Paytm's maiden profit; Eternal's Rs 3 lakh crore m-cap
Paytm recorded its first quarterly profit in the April-June quarter. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
Swiggy shares surge 5% as Blinkit’s Q1 spurs optimism in Q-comm sector
Swiggy share Price: Shares of Swiggy rose 4.9% to Rs 412 on Tuesday, driven by increasing investor confidence in the online food delivery and quick commerce sectors. The rise followed a significant 15% gain in peer company Eternal, which hit a record high of Rs 311.6 after strong Q1 results, particularly from its quick commerce segment, Blinkit.
Quick commerce promised electronics companies a spark, delivered a glitch instead
Quick commerce platforms like Blinkit and Zepto initially boosted sales for electronics brands, but challenges soon emerged. Companies struggled with inventory management, demand forecasting, and the need for real-time backend synchronization.
Eternal delivers mixed Q1; Reliance's qcomm gameplan
Blinkit's boost in June quarter revenue could not prevent the profit nosedive of Zomato's parent company. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
Shein downloads cross two million, qcomm channel reports two-fold growth: Reliance Retail
Over its Shein app, which went live earlier this year in February, Reliance said it "continued to receive strong traction and crossed 2 million app downloads and over 20,000 live options".
Brands look to quick commerce for fast growth, but costs remain a concern
Speaking at a panel discussion at Shiprocket's Shivir, AI Commerce Edition: Made for Bharat, Khara said that quick commerce is fast, meaningful and a major pillar of its fulfilment model. Meta’s director of agencies and VC partnerships, Gaurav Jeet Singh, added that WhatsApp can be used by quick commerce platforms for customer retention.
Quick-commerce orders double to Rs 64,000 cr in FY25, to touch Rs 2 lakh cr by FY28: Report
Quick-commerce platforms in India saw massive growth. Orders on Blinkit and Instamart reached Rs 64,000 crore in FY25. This is double the previous year. Revenue from platform fees also increased significantly. Careedge Ratings predicts further growth. They expect the market to reach Rs 2 lakh crore by FY28. Companies are now focusing on profitability and efficiency.
Q-comm firms add fees to cart; Curefoods joins IPO queue
Happy Monday! Quick commerce players are introducing new charges to offset rising losses. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Darkness visible, no quick-comm short cut
The FMCG industry is proactively addressing regulatory concerns regarding food storage and hygiene in quick commerce 'dark stores,' anticipating significant growth in the sector. Renegotiated contracts now include audit and indemnity clauses, increasing costs for q-commerce companies. While regulatory scrutiny may initially delay profitability, it's a necessary step for long-term sustainability and improved operational efficiency.
Ayurveda's FMCG share remains low despite rising household use
Ayurveda's presence in India's FMCG sector is still small. Kantar reports that most Indian homes buy ayurvedic products. However, the segment's contribution to total FMCG volume is just over one percent. Sales of ayurvedic products saw a decline last year. Patanjali's performance impacted the overall segment growth. Dabur, Himalaya, and Cholayil experienced sales increases.
States of AI; The qcomm ad overload
Happy Wednesday! Indian states are rolling out ‘mini AI missions’ with a focus on local needs. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Quick is good, but not at such costs
Quick commerce promises fast deliveries. However, this speed comes at a cost. FMCG companies are concerned about quality issues. Dark stores often lack proper storage. This leads to compromised freshness and safety hazards. Customer complaints are increasing due to damaged goods. The Food and Drug Administration and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India are conducting inspections.
The great Indian Qcomm time con
Quick commerce promises lightning-fast 10-minute deliveries, but often relies on 'Indian Stretchable Time' (IST) to manage expectations. Consumers find themselves waiting far longer than advertised, with delivery times stretching to 30 minutes or more. Ultimately, quick commerce risks becoming indistinguishable from regular e-commerce, retaining only the illusion of speed.
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