Flipkart’s Q-Commerce service ‘now available in parts of Bengaluru’

The service, called Flipkart Minutes, has been launched in HSR Layout, Bellandur and a few other areas of the startup hub

The service, available on the parent app, allows users to order groceries, electronics, smartphones and other products within 8-16 minutes

The company is currently offering free shipping on all orders above INR 99 and is charging a platform fee of INR 5 per order to celebrate its rapid growth in the marketplace.

The main direction of e-commerce Flipkart launched its quick trading service in parts of Bengaluru amid the growing popularity of this market segment.

According to the Economic Times, the new offering, called ‘Flipkart Minutes’, was launched in HSR (Hosur Sarjapura Road) Layout, Bellandur and a few other areas of the startup hub, taking the quick trading service beyond the company’s employees at its headquarters in the city.

The service, available on the parent app, lets users order groceries, electronics, smartphones, and other products within 8-16 minutes. This is roughly in line with the delivery schedules offered by existing users Zepto, Blinkit Zomato, and Swiggy Instamart.

Inc42 has reached out to the Walmart-owned company for comment on the development. The story will be updated once a response is received.

As per information reported by Moneycontrol, the company is currently offering free shipping on all orders above INR 99 and also charges a platform fee of INR 5 per order.

Additionally, Flipkart reportedly claims that users will be free to cancel or decline orders if the experience “does not meet expectations.” No other player in the fast-paced commerce space offers this. The move is likely aimed at attracting and growing its user base.

In April, Flipkart had appointed Hemant Badri, its senior vice president and group supply chain head, as head of its fast commerce vertical. The e-commerce giant was also reportedly considering launching around 100 dark stores to boost its fast commerce game this year during the festive season.

Dark stores are miniature warehouses from which deliveries are made.

“Considering the way the market is evolving and consumer preferences, the service will first be stabilised in certain areas and then it will be expanded,” a source quoted by ET had earlier said.

The main driver behind Flipkart’s recent push into fast-paced commerce is its revenue potential. There is also the threat of these platforms eating into the e-commerce pie.

In comparison, in its letter to shareholders for the first quarter (Q1) of fiscal year 2024-2025 (FY25), Zomato said an increasing number of non-grocery e-commerce users are switching to its quick commerce platform Blinkit.

Flipkart’s rapid retail foray comes on the heels of the company raising $1 billion in a funding round that also saw tech giant Google pump in $350 million. Despite this, the e-commerce giant remains loss-making.

Flipkart’s B2C arm’s operating revenue grew 42% year-on-year (YoY) to INR 14,845.8 Cr in financial year 2022-23 (FY23). Loss narrowed 9% to INR 4,026.5 Cr during the year from INR 4,419.5 Cr in FY22.