Flipkart Welcomes Kabeer Biswas to Spearhead Their Quick Commerce Venture
In a strategic move, Flipkart has brought on board Kabeer Biswas, the co-founder of the Indian delivery startup Dunzo, as they aim to bolster their quick commerce efforts in India. As the world’s most populous nation, India presents unique opportunities and challenges in this fast-paced sector. Biswas is set to lead Flipkart Minutes, the company’s quick commerce division, according to a source who spoke with TechCrunch.
Previously, Flipkart had engaged in discussions to potentially acquire Dunzo, yet these plans were derailed due to complexities in Dunzo’s ownership structure. Reliance Retail, one of Dunzo’s major investors, has seemingly moved away from their investment in recent quarters.
The quick-commerce model aims to deliver items to customers within 10 to 15 minutes — a concept that hasn’t gained universal traction globally but is quickly gaining momentum in India. Companies like Swiggy and Nykaa are enhancing their supply chains to meet the demand for speedier deliveries.
{Source: TechCrunch}
Leading the charge in India’s quick commerce market are Zomato-owned BlinkIt, Swiggy’s Instamart, and Nexus-backed Zepto. However, this has not discouraged other major players from entering the fray. Flipkart launched its Minutes service last year, and even Amazon has initiated its quick commerce pilot program recently.
Flipkart is determinedly expanding its footprint in the quick commerce arena by setting up over 100 dark stores strategically located near residential areas. They’re also selling high-ticket electronic items like laptops and smartphones — a move highlighted in a recent Jefferies report.
Dunzo, established in 2014 with backing from Google and other notable investors, was among the pioneers of instant commerce in India. Despite raising over $500 million and initially shaking up the e-commerce landscape with promises of half-hour deliveries, Dunzo struggled amid rising competition.
In recent times, Biswas has been exploring other entrepreneurial ventures with former team members, pitching new ideas to venture capitalists such as Peak XV. As he takes on his new role at Flipkart, it will be interesting to see how his expertise will shape the future of quick commerce in India.
