Bengaluru: Quick commerce is set to become an integral channel for most direct-to-consumer (D2C) companies going ahead, including for those supported by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), according to managing director Pankaj Makkar. “We consider quick commerce to be the evolution of e-commerce," Makkar told in an interview. He said even delivery platforms servicing giants like Amazon and Flipkart must seriously evaluate this strategy.
Personal care D2C brand Nat Habit, which raised about $10.2 million led by Bertelsmann last year, is the latest among the companies that are in talks to sell products through quick commerce. The investment firm, which also counts meat delivery startup Licious and furniture retailer Pepperfry among the companies it has backed, is primarily focused on consumer-tech startups which constitute 80% of its current portfolio.
Quick commerce gained popularity during the pandemic with consumers getting groceries and essentials delivered in less than 20 minutes. However, its use cases have expanded to include other items such as beauty, fashion, electronics and eyewear in recent months. Some major players operating in this space include Swiggy's Instamart, Zomato-backed Blinkit and Zepto.
Makkar said these quick commerce companies need to evaluate the right amount of stock-keeping units (SKUs) to avoid operational inefficiencies. "Quick commerce companies should prioritize fast-moving products over stocking all SKUs. Achieving this requires leveraging.
