What is Quick Commerce and Why Is It Gaining Popularity?

By 2029, quick commerce is expected to have over 900 million users globally (wow!). Do you know what that means? Almost a billion people will rely on lightning-fast deliveries for their everyday needs. To put this in perspective: someone, somewhere, will be placing an order every two seconds—whether it’s a forgotten ingredient or a last-minute midnight snack craving.

So, what happens here? You are cooking and suddenly realise you are out of tomatoes. Instead of stopping everything and rushing out, you just tap your phone, place an order for tomatoes (and anything else you need), and 10 minutes later, they’re at your doorstep. This is quick commerce, or what we call on-demand delivery. Unsurprisingly, quick commerce is no longer just a demand; it’s a lifestyle shift.

A testament to this is how the Indian e-commerce industry is projected to grow by 50% CAGR this year (Source: Bain & Company, 2024). With urbanisation, increasing digital adoption, and evolving customer expectations, instant delivery is becoming the norm.

None of this would be possible without a logistics backbone built for scale and speed. That’s where XpressBees, India’s leading logistics delivery partner, comes in. With its tech-first approach, nationwide reach, and focus on last-mile excellence.

This blog explores what quick commerce is, market trends, and how XpressBees is enabling businesses to scale with its delivery service.

Why is Quick Commerce Gaining Popularity?

It’s not hard to see why Quick-commerce is gaining traction. Today’s consumers aren’t just shopping, they are multitasking: juggling office calls, managing household chores, attending classes, and more. In this fast-paced world, convenience is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Instant gratification has made quick commerce an integral part of modern life.

Here’s what’s fueling the rise of quick commerce:

• Urban lifestyles are getting busier, with people increasingly choosing instant delivery over planned shopping trips. With long work hours, traffic, and packed schedules, quick commerce offers a more convenient alternative.
• Smartphone penetration in India is over 70%, making it easy for people to shop from anywhere, anytime, and expect near-instant delivery.
• Digital payments have skyrocketed, with UPI alone clocking over 13 billion transactions (Source: NPCI). Frictionless payments make online shopping more frequent—no cash, no change, no delay. This pairs perfectly with the speed and ease of quick commerce.
• Over 50% of Q-commerce orders come from Gen Z and millennials (Source: RedSeer)—digital-first consumers who prioritize on-demand delivery. For them, waiting even a day feels outdated. Instant delivery is simply how shopping should work.
• Hyperlocal stores and tech-enabled delivery networks, like XpressBees with its real-time tracking and delivery infrastructure, ensure even the smallest needs are fulfilled at lightning speed. It’s not just about delivery—it’s about supporting a lifestyle that doesn’t have time to pause.

How Does XpressBees Power On-Demand Delivery Behind the Scenes?

Now, for the million-dollar question: how does XpressBees enable businesses to keep pace with an economy moving at breakneck speed? Let’s be honest, promising 10-minute delivery is easy; delivering on that promise consistently requires serious logistics muscle.

Here’s how XpressBees does it:

Wide Network Reach: With a presence across 19,000+ pin codes in India, XpressBees ensures products reach customers wherever they are.

Same-Day Delivery Coverage: XpressBees offers same-day delivery in 50+ cities, covering 1,700+ pin codes—aligning perfectly with evolving e-commerce demands. This helps businesses meet rising consumer expectations and improves satisfaction in the Q-commerce space.

Hyperlocal Fulfilment Support: With 4,500+ fulfilment centres and hubs, products are always close to the customer. This proximity ensures quicker pickups and faster last-mile delivery.

Robust Infrastructure: Warehouses in 40+ cities and 10+ automated sorters streamline operations for faster processing and dispatch. This infrastructure boosts both speed and accuracy for quick commerce.

Extensive Network Routes: Operating over 2,000 dedicated vehicle network routes across India, XpressBees enables swift and reliable movement of parcels, crucial for Q-commerce. Even in Tier 2 and 3 cities, time-sensitive deliveries arrive without delay.

Efficient Reverse Logistics: With coverage across over 18,000 pin codes, XpressBees simplifies returns, a crucial component of building trust in quick commerce. Smooth reverse logistics maintain a positive customer experience, even when things don’t go as planned.

What’s Next for Quick Commerce?

The future of quick commerce will be faster, smarter, and more personalised. As online shopping becomes less of a chore and more of a ‘tap-and-done’ habit, Q-commerce will keep growing. But the real game-changer will be your logistics partner.

Behind every ‘delivered in 10 minutes’ promise, there’s a powerhouse like XpressBees making it happen. If you are a business ready to scale in this on-demand world, maybe it’s time to partner with a delivery expert like XpressBees, one that brings the precision, reach, and tech-first mindset your customers expect.