Introduction
The growth of the ecommerce logistics companies in India has been exponential during the last decade, and it has forced the logistics of getting orders to customers has to become more complicated as ever — especially with the novel coronavirus impacting entire supply chains.
What has not changed is the fact that Consumers don’t like to wait. This has remained constant even in these uncertain times.
The present situation of the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception and we see this firsthand. Even giants such as Amazon are prioritizing the fulfillment of essential-only products, causing delays for other products.
Now when people are choosing online over in-store to adhere to social distancing practices — the promised speed at which consumers will receive their orders can be a judging factor in whether they choose to buy from your online store or a competitor’s.
But the ecommerce logistics infrastructure that is required to meet the ever-growing consumers’ demands cannot be met by an individual.
How do you put your brand in a spot to offer expedited shipping without spending time, resources, and investment of several warehouses and technology?
In this post, we’ll take you through the details of how e-commerce logistics works, how it differs from conventional retail, how to offer better shipping options, and the best ecommerce logistics companies in India in which you can bank on.
What you get from this article?
- 1. A comprehensive list of best ecommerce logistics companies in india.
- 2. How ecommerce logistics works.
What is ecommerce logistics?
Ecommerce logistics is the process of storing and shipping inventory for an online store or marketplace which includes inventory management and the picking, packing, and delivery of online orders.
With a billion packages shipped across the country on any given day, it’s vital for the systems that handle this to keep them on track and make sure they’re delivered to the customer on time.
Ecommerce logistics starts with moving inventory from the manufacturer/seller and ends up at the end customer’s destination. Fulfillment is one of the fundamental pieces of e-commerce logistics, which includes:
- 1. Inventory management
- 2. Warehousing and storage
- 3. Order fulfillment, or the picking, packing, and shipping orders
Each of the above-mentioned components comprises of a world of complex sub-tasks, and keeping them all running seamlessly is no cakewalk.
Any lapse in communication or execution within your supply chain can ultimately have a negative impact on the customer experience.
How ecommerce logistics differ from Conventional logistics
Ecommerce logistics and Conventional logistics operations are different in a few ways. While ecommerce logistics is focused on getting products to the customer’s house, Conventional logistics focuses on getting products in stores.
Number of end destinations-Ecommerce shops can ship their packages to billions of consumer addresses across the world, whereas Conventional logistics businesses are more focused on distribution to and from stores or wholesalers.
Size of shipments and order volume-Shipments to Conventional logistics stores may contain hundreds of items that are sent to one destination via freight. Many e-commerce stores ship orders containing anywhere from one to several items mostly via parcel to many different customers.
In-store pickup vs. home delivery-Established Conventional logistics businesses such as target are moving shipments using their stores as fulfillment centers. Whereas retail locations may offer more flexibility to customers in the form of in-store pickup.
The ecommerce logistics services in India have been of prime importance in the country’s growth since time immemorial. From transporting bulky goods from one state to another and now carrying almost everything via ecommerce, logistics solutions have become an integral part of the economy.
The ecommerce retail sector is incomplete without a strong network of partners providing logistics service. They are actual hands behind fulfillment and a significant factor that determines the success of ecommerce and dependent industries.
These logistics firms in India have a more technology-enabled infrastructure and provide competitive pricing to cater to the needs of ecommerce industries and have enabled sales on platforms like social media, ecommerce websites, cart software, alone.
Logistics partners or shipping companies aim to provide a holistic approach to fulfillment and work to establish a streamlined operation for all post-purchase ecommerce tasks.
Here are a few ecommerce logistics firms in India that can be useful for sellers who run their eCommerce business or are looking to begin one soon.
Delhivery
Delhivery is a multi-faceted logistics provider and has a proven good track record in fulfilling orders on time and fast. They are India’s leading supply chain services company that provides state of the art infrastructure for logistics operations for ecommerce industries. They currently serve in 2500 cities across the country and provide services like express delivery, on-demand delivery, same day & next day delivery, cash on delivery services, and manage returns also. They are one of the most reliable delivery partners for ecommerce businesses of all sizes.
To get started with delivery, all one would need is to sign up with your account details like your name, your company‘s name, email ID, and phone number. Next, you will have to upload details like your business details, bank details, etc. Post this; a Delhivery agent will reach to you and you can talk to get the best prices.
Gati
Gati is yet another leading ecommerce shipping company in India that provides an end to end logistics services for all ecommerce fulfillment needs. They claim to be the pioneers in express distribution and their economic branch has an extensive reach to about 99% states in India. They cater to businesses of all kinds ranging from B2B, B2C, and C2C. Some of the services that they provide include high surface cargo movement, 24*7 delivery service, fulfillment centers covering all corners of India, and cash on delivery services.
To full fill your logistics need with Gati ecommerce, you can raise a pickup request on their website or fill in a business query form explaining your business requirements and details such as the company’s name, monthly shipments, etc. and the team reaches out to you with an efficient plan.
Ecom Express
Ecom Express is one of the leading logistics solutions providers in India known for its express delivery services, fulfillment services, and digital services. They operate in 2400 towns in India and aim to provide a full coverage model to sellers utilizing their service for ecommerce deliveries. Currently, they are expanding their service coverages.
To get started with Ecom express, you can fill in their query form with details like your name, email address, contact number, etc.and they will get back in touch with you.
FedEx
FedEx is a multinational company that has established its name in the list of logistics companies in India also. It has proven to be a preferred solution for express delivery for several decades now. FedEx also provides shipping solutions for small businesses and ecommerce sellers. They have a dedicated team that handles your queries no matter how small your business is. FedEx offers a variety of services that include FedEx priority, FedEx standard, FedEx economy, and special shipping requirements, adhering to your business needs.
To start using FedEx as a delivery partner for your business, you will need to fill up a basic form containing details like company name, first name, email address, IEC number from their website and submit the same. After this their business development agent from the FedEx team will get in touch with you.
Blue Dart
Blue Dart is a household name in South Asia’s logistics solutions. They are known for their express delivery services via air and provide reliable and consistent delivery to over 35,000 locations in India. They have the most complex and comprehensive logistics network worldwide have various distribution services, including freight forwarding, supply chain solutions, and customs clearance. They rely on the state of the art technology to optimize supply chain management for ecommerce businesses. They have various web-based tools and standalone tools to make your ecommerce shipping faster and much more advanced.
To create a corporate account with Blue Dart, you can get in touch with them on the number provided on their website.
Final Thoughts
With a large number of ecommerce and Logistics companies setting foot in India, we are heading towards a high tech era of fulfillment. With so many options to choose from for business owners, one can choose the best for their business and make order delivery and fulfillment a smooth experience for yourselves and your customers. With many options available, you can simplify your operations and streamline order management to a larger extent.