Ekart Courier service launches next week
Ekart – the logistics arm of India’s online retail giant Flipkart – has announced it will be launching its new courier service next week. In a notice posted on the Flipkart blog on Wednesday (18 May), the company said that it started trialling the service under the code-name Flash with a “select user group” in late 2015.
Ekart courier personnel will collect parcels from the sender’s doorstep. In its blog notice, the company explained to potential customers how the service will work: “You will be required to complete two fields on the page — the pickup and delivery pincodes. If your pincodes are serviceable, the live alert will turn green and you can proceed to the next step. EKART Courier services over 3800 pincodes across India.
“Once the pincodes are validated and service is confirmed, you must confirm the type of courier (Document or Non-Document), the approximate weight of the package, and the time slot to get your package picked up. Predetermined time-slots help ensure a guaranteed pickup based on service availability and your convenience.”
There are two service options available. The Standard option will provide delivery within four business days, while “the premium Prime option fast paces this by two business days”.
The system that senders use to locate their pickup and delivery points is underpinned by technology from MapMyIndia (a company which Flipkart bought at the end of 2015).
Ekart is reportedly looking to develop more services. As recently reported by Post&Parcel, the company is working with Qikpod on a pilot programme using automated parcel lockers.
