‘For D2C brands, quick commerce is the next big growth driver’
Mint 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 technology and advanced data analysis to determine the optimal inventory across urban dark stores. This approach demands significant innovation and effort." Bertelsmann India is also exploring "innovative business models" within the D2C space, "particularly those that have revolutionized supply chain operations", Makkar said. “Supply chain management tends to be one of the most challenging topics for companies to createmassive Moats.
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