How Logistics Firm Pickrr Enables D2C Brands To Scale Up And Tap Into India’s Hinterland

In the past decade, ecommerce in India has evolved to the next level and seen burgeoning growth. Driven by government initiatives, a rise in the internet and smartphone penetration, an unprecedented surge in the number of online shoppers and the growing popularity of the direct-to-consumer (D2C) model, the ecommerce market size is estimated to reach $200 Bn by 2026, according to Inc42’s ecommerce report.

But the booming ecosystem does not thrive in the metros alone. It has made inroads into the country’s hinterland, powered by a rise in demand across Tier 2 and tier 3 cities, the emergence of third-party logistics (3PL) companies for hassle-free delivery and user-friendly buying options like deep discounts, cash on delivery (COD), EMIs, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and more.

As ecommerce companies, especially the D2C players, tap into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, they find it convenient to outsource their shipping to 3PL service providers to minimise delivery time. With an efficient and cost-effective delivery system in place via the 3PL enablers, many brands now aim to make hyper-local deliveries possible even in remote areas. 

Logistics enablers/3PL firms like Ecom Express, Shipway, Pickrr, Shadowfax, and others currently offer full-stack solutions and services, including tech-driven predictive analyses, shipment tracking, warehouse management, last-mile delivery, RTO management and more, to help merchants sell at the pan-India level.     

Industry numbers further validate this growth wave. India’s 3PL market, valued at $215 Bn in 2020, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% to reach $354 Bn by 2025, according to CARE Ratings.

Watch Gaurav Mangla, Cofounder And CEO Of Pickrr, Talk About The Company’s Reach To Every Pin Code In India, The Challenges And The Bottlenecks Faced By Brands Expanding To Tier 2 And 3 Cities And How The Startup Has Created A Growth Trajectory For Ecommerce Companies.

Set up in 2015 by Gaurav Mangla (CEO), Rhitiman Majumder (CMO) and Ankit Kaushik (COO), Gurugram-based Pickrr extensively uses big data, AI and ML-powered solutions to bring speed and accuracy to delivery fulfilment. It offers businesses a dashboard loaded with a recommendation engine that lists the fastest and most cost-effective delivery partners to enable best-in-class operations. The company has also devised tech solutions for warehouse management to ensure 24-48 hrs delivery TAT, similar to Amazon and Flipkart’s premium deliveries.

At present, the 3PL company claims to deliver 3 Mn shipments per month and the average time frame is one/two days, matching the speed of the country’s fastest delivery operations. It clocked 3x growth during the festive season compared to the previous year, the company said. The startup has also witnessed a 400% growth in shipping volume in the current calendar year.