Blinkit's new 'Large order fleet' service may bring more bad news for Amazon and Flipkart

Quick-commerce platform Blinkit has launched a pilot program for delivering larger items like luggage, gaming consoles, and home appliances in Delhi NCR, expanding beyond its traditional quick delivery categories, which could possibly deal blow to the traditional e-commerce platforms, like Amazon, Further and others, further intensifying the competition.

According to Inc42, the Zomato-owned company is testing a specialised fleet dedicated to handling bulkier products such as air purifiers, PlayStation consoles, and air fryers, marking a strategic shift in its delivery capabilities.

The move aligns with Blinkit's reported plans to develop express dark stores for 30-minute delivery of high-value items, as the quick commerce sector sees increasing competition to boost average order values (AOV).

Blinkit's current AOV stands at Rs 660, showing an 8% increase from Rs 607 in the same quarter last year. When reached for comment, Zomato declined to provide additional details about the pilot program.

The initiative comes as competitors in the quick commerce space are also exploring expanded product categories. Rival Swiggy Instamart is developing separate infrastructure for extended delivery timelines for certain categories, though it plans to focus on kitchen appliances rather than large electronics, according to Swiggy CFO Rahul Bothra's recent statements regarding the company's upcoming IPO.

"I don't think we would do large white goods electronics; it would be more of the variable category, more of the kitchen appliances," Bothra explained.

The pilot's success in Delhi NCR could potentially lead to a wider rollout across other major metropolitan areas where Blinkit operates.