Centre Looking To Tap Quick Commerce Data To Fathom Out Consumption Patterns & Economic Activity

Flush with funds and rising demand, the quick commerce space is witnessing exponential growth in India and as a result the government is reportedly looking to tap the data from major players in the segment like Zepto, Blinkit, Instamart, and BigBasket to better understand shifts in consumption patterns and the pace of economic activity.

According to an ET report, this initiative is part of a broader effort by the government to revise the base year for national accounts and update various official statistics.

According to estimates cited by ET, quick commerce platforms now account for 5-6% of the country’s total household grocery expenditure. “We need to find ways to obtain data from these platforms. While we will request the information, it must be anonymised,” sourced told ET.

The Indian ecommerce market grew by 18-20% in the first half of this year, with grocery sales up by over 38%, driven by the rapid growth of quick commerce, according to 1Lattice and Datum Intelligence. Quick commerce now accounts for 40% of online grocery sales, growing 230% from 2021 to 2023, led by players like Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto.

Quick commerce platforms are expanding beyond groceries and FMCG products into a wider range of consumer goods, offering valuable insights into shifts in consumption patterns, demand, and pricing.

“This is part of the base revision survey, and we are re-evaluating our data sources,” the official told ET.

This comes amid fierce competition for dominance in the quick commerce space, with Walmart-owned Flipkart recently expanding its ‘Minutes’ service to Delhi, following its launch in Bengaluru.

As 10-minute delivery becomes the new standard, dark stores have become essential for quick commerce platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart. After two unsuccessful attempts at grocery delivery, Flipkart has also adopted the dark store model, moving away from fulfillment centres. Blinkit’s critical role in Zomato’s growth was evident in the foodtech major’s June quarter results. Currently operating 639 dark stores nationwide, Blinkit aims to expand to 2,000 by the end of 2026 while maintaining profitability.

Zepto, too, has been growing at a staggering rate. In June, it bagged a funding of $665 Mn from a clutch of investors such as Glade Brook, Nexus, and StepStone and Lightspeed. The funding is particularly significant, as Zepto aims to double its dark store count to more than 700 by March 2025. 

Swiggy’s Instamart is also expanding its network in the run up to its IPO and has strengthened its quick commerce play in recent months, where it has seen a significant growth in revenue.