Flipkart and Amazon are aggressively scaling their micro fulfilment centre networks in India to capture share in the fast-growing quick commerce segment, a move that will reshape last-mile delivery infrastructure and increase demand for smaller, faster logistics.
Competitive Dynamics in Quick Commerce
According to a Business-Today article, Flipkart and Amazon have been late entrants in quick commerce, ceding ground to dedicated players such as Eternal's Blinkit, Swiggy's Instamart, and IPO-bound Zepto. The overall quick commerce market is projected to reach $65–$70 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) by 2030.
Fulfilment Centre Expansion
Flipkart announced that its network of micro fulfilment centres has grown to 1,000 centres, and the company has been nearly doubling the count each month this year compared to last, the article reported. Amazon is investing several million dollars into India to set up larger urban fulfilment centres housing a wider range of products.
Leveraging Customer Bases for Last-Mile Adoption
Both e-commerce giants are leaning on their existing marketplace consumer bases to drive quick commerce transactions. Flipkart has 250 million active users and is betting on its instant delivery platform Minutes. “We have a huge annual Flipkart customer base. Once they start transacting on Minutes, they get hooked to it and they also start transacting more on the larger Flipkart platform,” said Kunal Gupta, SVP-head of Flipkart Minutes, in an interview cited by the article. Amazon’s Prime paid membership service provides a competitive edge.
Category Expansion and Order Growth
Flipkart reported that orders on Minutes have grown five times since last year, with daily essentials being the biggest category in consumer spends. The quick commerce push has also allowed Flipkart to build a play in newer segments such as fresh food and bakery, driving category expansion and attracting new consumers, executives said.
Implications for Logistics Operators
The rapid build-out of micro fulfilment centres by Flipkart and Amazon will increase demand for last-mile delivery capacity, especially for small, frequent orders typical of quick commerce. Logistics managers should anticipate higher volumes in urban areas and may need to adjust inventory placement strategies as these centres proliferate. The shift also intensifies competition with existing quick-commerce players, putting pressure on traditional e-fulfilment models.
Watch List
The continued expansion of micro fulfilment capacity by Flipkart and Amazon, combined with market growth projections to $65–70 billion by 2030, indicates that quick-commerce logistics will remain a high-investment priority in India, driving further network density and delivery speed improvements.
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