Shedding light on dark stores

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

dark stores is gaining traction in the Indian online shopping landscape, as major online platforms seek to expand consumer reach. This has resulted in an increase in rental rates across major cities. Dark stores, located in city centers and dependent on micro-markets within each city, generally command higher rental rates compared to warehouses. Rental rates range from Rs 40 to Rs 250 per square foot.

A “dark store” refers to a retail outlet or warehouse that is solely used for processing online orders and is not accessible to the public. These facilities are also known as dark shops, dark supermarkets, dotcom centers, or ghost stores. They function as distribution hubs for storing inventory and packaging products.

USAGE
Fulfillment centers for various retail categories such as groceries, home goods & apparel brands

SIZE

• Dark stores are typically 3,000 to 10,000 sq ft
• In-city outlet sizes: Between 25,000 & 50,000 sq ft

OPTIMISED ORDER FULFILLMENT

• Dark stores operate round the clock
• Enable more convenient pickup schedules
• They facilitate faster order processing

EFFICIENT ROUTE OPTIMISATION

• They harness GPS and data analytics
• Streamline delivery process for faster service
• Can plan delivery routes that maximize van capacity