Online grocer Grofers has rebranded itself “Blinkit”, in line with its new focus on “quick commerce”, which essentially involves delivering customer orders much faster than it does currently.

Q-Commerce Model

• Q-commerce (‘quick commerce’) – sometimes used interchangeably with ‘on-demand delivery’ and ‘e-grocery’ – is e-commerce in a new, faster form.
• It combines the merits of traditional e-commerce with innovations in last-mile delivery.
• The premise is largely the same, with speed of delivery being the main differentiator. Delivery is not in days but minutes – 30 or less, to be competitive.
• This has in turn expanded the breadth of what individuals can order, with perishable goods – like groceries – being a large niche q-commerce companies speak to.
• It tends to focus on the micro – smaller quantities of fewer goods.

Features of this model

• Countering pandemic: The supply chain disruptions triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic led to the emergence of a new sub-vertical in the online grocery segment.
• Quickest delivery: It is the unique selling proposition (USP) of which was the promise of delivery within 10-30 minutes of ordering.
• Micro-warehousing : The focus of most of these ventures is on setting up micro-warehouses located closer to the point of delivery, and of restricting stocks of high-demand items.

Back2Basics:  Marketplace and Inventory-Based Model

(1) Marketplace Model

• It provides an IT platform by an e-commerce entity on a digital & electronic network to act as a facilitator between the buyer and seller. Ex. India Mart, Amazon, Flipkart.
• The e-commerce firm does not directly or indirectly influence the sale price of goods or services and is required to offer a level playing field to all vendors.

(2) Inventory-Based Model

• Inventory based model of e-commerce means an e-commerce activity where the inventory of goods and services is owned by an e-commerce entity and is sold to the consumers directly.
• Ex. Alibaba

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