Flipkart to open almost 100 dark stores ahead of flagship sale

E-commerce giant Flipkart is increasing its focus on quick commerce and plans to launch close to 100 dark stores ahead of its flagship Big Billion Days sale event to facilitate swift deliveries through its Flipkart Minutes service.

“It should be launched in a couple of weeks now,” an anonymous source told ET Tech about Flipkart Minutes. “Given the way the market and consumer preferences have evolved, the service will first be stabilised in certain pockets, and then be scaled… Flipkart is aiming to have around 100 such dark stores ready and tested with all demand scenarios by then.”
 
Flipkart Minutes is currently visible on the business’ shopping portals to select users in certain metropolitan pin codes, the Economic Times reported. Flipkart is expected to increase activity in the lead up to the festive season when shoppers may need last minute gifts and supplies. The business has thus far been testing its quick commerce service amongst a number if employees at its Bengaluru headquarters, according to ET Tech’s source.
 
Quick commerce is a fast growing logistics option in many large Indian cities as online shoppers can receive goods in a little as just minutes. Operating dark stores enables e-commerce businesses to keep their inventory in strategic locations so orders can be delivered swiftly in metropolitan areas.