The pandemic has split human civilization into two distinct phases. . If pre-Covid was about pacing up along a known track, then post-Covid has been about zooming into uncharted territories. After we wriggled out of the restrictions, there was a frenetic rush to revive both in lives as well as in businesses, and the world embraced New Normal.

India, the fifth-largest economy and home to over 1.4 Bn people, stood at the heart of this global transition, with its retail market growing at the fastest clip across the world.

The government’s push for financial inclusion and the transformative rise of fintechs has positioned the Indian consumer at the best spot to try out solutions that could make their lives safer, simpler and, of course, smarter. This was the inflection point for the origin and growth of quick commerce. Once the consumer got the taste of its speed and convenience, there was no turning back.

Quick commerce zoomed to incredible heights in sync with the speed with which it delivers products to consumers and its overall revenue surpassed $4.2 Bn between 2021 and 2023. The disruption expanded from metros to tier II cities, deepening the penetration rate to 2.7% by 2025 and yielding room for new players. Quick commerce companies gave marketplaces & direct-to-consumer (D2C) players a run for their money with speed being their main selling point.

The urban Indian consumer is not only spoilt for choice now, but is also pampered with doorstep delivery in minutes. Initially limited to groceries and daily essentials, the influence of 10-minute delivery models has now expanded into categories like electronics, personal care, and even fashion.

Most new-age D2C brands are unable to list themselves on the popular 10-minute delivery platforms because of limited resources and the lack of bargaining power. As a result, selected omnichannel FMCG majors and category-leading companies are firming up their presence further on quick delivery apps, taking a larger chunk of the pie........

© Inc42