Ekart, Flipkart’s ecommerce logistics arm has brought out two new plans to ensure better delivery. One is a tie-up with Apollo Pharmacy for pickup of consignments and one is a service extended to sellers of other ecommerce platforms.
Association with Apollo
Ekart is planning a simple technique to ensure that the number of failed deliveries is brought down. The company has agreements with nearly 300 Apollo Pharmacy stores to serve as pick up centres. Ekart will drop off apparel and gadgets at the nearest Apollo Pharmacy and customers can collect it from the outlet at a suitable time.
While placing the order, the customer can choose the pickup point. Ekart then delivers the order at the point, and the customer can collect it at their convenience. The order is held at the outlet for five days, after which it is returned to the logistics company if it is not collected, thus saving a lot of headache for etailers.
Explaining the reason for this idea, Neeraj Aggarwal, Senior director, last-mile operations at Ekart said, “About 15% of pan-India deliveries at any point of time are not going through because customers are not available.”
Industry experts are lauding this smart and economical move.
Manish Saigal, MD of Alvarez and Marsal says, “Rather than attempting three deliveries, which increases costs by 25-30%, you can just drop the product at these centres. In China this has happened in a big way where grocery stores have become last-mile delivery and pick up points.”
Fulfilled by Ekart (FBE)
FBE will extend warehousing and fulfilment services to sellers who avail of Ekart’s logistics. The intention is to promote Ekart as an independent logistics provider, and not just a Flipkart subsidiary.
Aggarwal reinforced the company’s plans, “FBE will offer the same kind of service levels (as Fulfillment by Flipkart) for other ecommerce companies. That will be a critical model for us going forward.
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