New Delhi
(Q-commerce) quick commerce is becoming the preferred choice for purchasing daily essentials in India, with 85% of respondents opting for it when buying food and groceries. However, when it comes to high-value items, more than half of the consumers still prefer shopping in physical stores, a report said on Thursday.
According to the survey, for premium products, over 50% of shoppers choose to buy in-store. Meanwhile, e-commerce platforms lead in categories like clothing and accessories, which account for 75% of online sales volume.
The survey highlights a shift in India’s retail landscape as consumers balance the convenience of online shopping with the trust and quality assurance that traditional brick-and-mortar stores offer. “While quick-commerce is growing for everyday needs, high-value purchases are still mainly made offline,” said Naveen Malpani, partner and consumer industry leader at Grant Thornton Bharat.
However, traditional stores face challenges. About 38% of survey respondents cited limited product selection as a drawback, while 37% mentioned higher prices as a deterrent. To address these challenges, retailers are increasingly adopting hybrid models that combine the benefits of both physical and digital platforms.
Despite the growth of Q-commerce, challenges remain, particularly in terms of operational expenses. High delivery costs, which can account for up to 70% of the gross margins on smaller orders, are impacting profitability. As regulations like the Data Protection Act 2023 strengthen digital transactions, the hybrid model is seen as a sustainable solution for India’s evolving retail market.
