In today’s fast-moving Indian retail landscape, speed is no longer a luxury—it’s a core consumer demand. Direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, particularly in urban centres, face increasing pressure to deliver goods instantly or within a few hours. This expectation has been shaped by the rise of quick commerce, or Q-commerce, which promises rapid delivery through micro-fulfilment models and agile logistics. For D2C players, finding the right logistics partner is critical to meeting these demands while retaining control over the customer experience.
Quick commerce providers specialise in rapid deliveries, outpacing traditional e-commerce timelines. Their model typically relies on –
This framework allows brands to serve customers in densely populated areas without the typical holdups of traditional supply chains. Ecommerce shipping options have advanced, and there is a growing trend towards Q-commerce. If you’re new to the terminology, you might want to explore more about how Q-commerce is revolutionising last-mile logistics and changing customer expectations in the e-commerce industry.
The Indian Q-commerce market is projected to surpass $5.5 billion by 2025 (source: metricasrt), led by rising digital penetration and a growing appetite for instant delivery. Platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart Minutes, and BigBasket Now are reshaping expectations, sometimes delivering within 15 to 30 minutes.
Key drivers include:
Zippee is purpose-built for Indian D2C brands, enabling them to offer express delivery straight from their own websites or physical stores. With flexible delivery options ranging from 120 minutes to same-day, we've recently introduced a 60-minute delivery service, without relying on marketplace platforms
Key Highlights:
Why Choose Zippee? Zippee enables brand control, better unit economics, and customer loyalty by keeping the experience off-marketplace.
We’ve helped leading Indian brands delight their customers with fast, reliable deliveries, reducing their RTO (Return to Origin) rates by as much as 90%. Want to know how? Here are quick, proven tips to help you lower RTO rates for your e-commerce brand, too!
One of India's largest logistics platforms, Delhivery supports everything from warehousing to last-mile delivery.
Key Highlights:
Ideal For: D2C brands scaling across India with varied delivery timelines and higher volumes.
Ecom Express focuses on reliable, tech-integrated delivery across emerging cities and smaller towns.
Key Highlights:
Ideal For: Brands looking to penetrate deeper into India beyond metros, especially in personal care and fashion.
Shiprocket is a shipping platform that connects D2C brands to a network of national and regional courier partners.
Key Highlights:
Ideal For: Small-to-mid-sized D2C brands seeking flexibility and cost optimisation.
Shadowfax operates a gig-powered logistics network with strong AI-driven route planning for fast deliveries.
Key Highlights:
Ideal For: Food, beauty, health, and quick turnaround categories in dense cities.
Xpressbees has built one of the fastest-growing logistics networks in India.
Key Highlights:
Ideal For: D2C brands focused on rapid growth and customer retention.
Known for its precision and reliability, Blue Dart is best suited for time-critical and premium product categories.
Key Highlights:
Ideal For: Electronics, pharma, luxury, and sensitive product shipments.
As Flipkart’s in-house logistics arm, Ekart brings marketplace-scale logistics to independent brands via its extended services.
Key Highlights:
Ideal For: D2C brands managing large volumes and requiring marketplace-grade performance.
Use this chart as a starting point to evaluate your options, conduct deeper research, and choose the logistics partner that best aligns with your brand’s goals, because your delivery speed and reliability now directly shapes your customer experience!
In a market where delivery speed defines consumer loyalty, the right logistics partner can be a game-changer. Whether it's Zippee enabling ultra-fast fulfillment directly from your store or Delhivery supporting deep national scale, every D2C brand needs a logistics backbone that aligns with its promise. By selecting partners based on speed, control, reach, and tech, brands can thrive in India’s quick commerce age.