Walmart and Amazon are accelerating online deliveries in rural U.S. areas long deemed too sparse and unprofitable, using store coverage and newly built micro-fulfillment hubs to overcome distance and road challenges. Morgan Stanley estimates the opportunity could reach up to $1 trillion annually. Remote work and rural economic gains are swelling demand, with Amazon investing $4 billion in same-day or next-day delivery across 4,000 smaller towns last year. Walmart also leans on its footprint, with 90% of Americans living within 10 miles of a store.
Cash on delivery remains central to India’s e-commerce even as UPI records soar, with industry estimates putting COD at close to half of all online orders. The article argues the real driver isn’t payment convenience but trust: first-time buyers in Tier-2 and Tier-3 areas fear delivery delays, wrong items, or refund hassles, so COD lets them inspect before paying. Businesses are now using data-based risk models, partial prepay, and verification to limit losses while keeping access for cautious shoppers.
Your news, in seconds
Get the Beige app — every story in 60 words, updated hourly. Free on iOS & Android.
Walmart has cut about 1,000 roles as part of a restructuring meant to streamline operations and accelerate its technology drive. After integrating systems onto a single platform, the company is leaning harder into its online marketplace and delivery services, aiming to attract wealthier shoppers and compete more effectively with digital rivals. Some affected workers were reportedly asked to relocate.
Blue Dart’s insights point to a key drag on e commerce margins in India: return to origin shipments, not customer returns. As reverse logistics shifts from a mere cost centre into a lever for customer trust and retention, companies that streamline pickups, processing and re routes can protect profitability while keeping delivery experiences intact.
Meesho says its AI tools, including PRISM and Vaani, helped lift customer engagement and drive sales as it upgraded technology across its marketplace. In the March quarter, the e-commerce firm reported an 88% drop in losses and a 47% year-on-year rise in revenue from operations. The results underscore a strategy focused on improving user experience and marketplace efficiency.
Amazon has launched Amazon Supply Chain Services, extending its global logistics network beyond its own marketplace to any business. The move turns Amazon into a direct competitor to UPS and FedEx by offering shipping and supply-chain capabilities built on its scale, fulfillment experience, and transportation infrastructure—potentially reshaping how smaller firms handle delivery logistics.
Never miss a story
Set alerts for the topics and sources you care about. Download Beige for free.
As India’s heatwaves intensify, major e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms are stepping up protections for delivery workers. Companies are issuing cooling jackets and gear, setting up shaded or air-conditioned rest hubs, and adding health check-ups and medical support. The move targets the frontline workforce that keeps orders moving during the harsh summer months.
Turkmenistan, long known for secrecy, is showing early signs of a cautious opening. E-commerce and social media are starting to take hold, while private businesses and digital platforms slowly expand. Political power remains tightly controlled by the state, but the tech shift suggests citizens may be gaining new ways to connect, trade, and communicate—on a carefully managed path.
Hindustan Unilever’s sales surged as hyperlocal delivery platforms drove a major leap, with quick commerce sales doubling in FY26. E-commerce turnover grew by more than 25% as the company scales a dedicated quick commerce team and a strong omni-channel strategy across formats and platforms to sustain growth.
Reliance Retail has acquired Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ global haircare brand Anomaly, aiming to expand its beauty and personal care footprint. Known for clean, vegan, and affordable products, Anomaly is set to be scaled in India and internationally, with Priyanka continuing as Creative Director. The deal strengthens Reliance’s push into the beauty market.
Reading on mobile?
Open Beige in the app for a smoother experience — free on iOS and Android.
France’s consumer watchdog says 75% of products tested from online platforms failed EU safety rules. Inspectors flagged items as dangerous, including risks like electric shock and harmful chemical content, pointing to systemic non-compliance rather than isolated mistakes. The regulator will share findings with the European Commission for potential enforcement action against platforms.
Amazon has introduced “Join the chat,” an AI-powered audio Q&A feature embedded directly on product pages. Shoppers can ask questions about an item and get AI-generated responses delivered in audio, aiming to make discovery faster and more conversational. The feature turns product pages into interactive help desks without needing to leave the listing.
Amazon is rolling out its rapid delivery service, Amazon Now, across 100 cities in India, starting with Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata. The expansion is supported by 1,000-plus specialised delivery hubs designed to bring daily essentials in minutes. The rollout is part of a broader investment to strengthen Amazon’s logistics and retail footprint in the country.
India’s e-commerce market is projected to jump to $250 billion, powered largely by Gen Z shoppers and new formats like live and creator-led commerce. But a traders’ body fears rapid, unregulated expansion could squeeze traditional retail and jobs. It is pushing the government for a clear e-commerce policy to set fair competition rules.
Follow your favourite sources
Track sources, tags and categories — all in the Beige app.
XpressBees, backed by Alibaba, is sharpening its strategy to expand across India’s logistics network, aiming to deepen coverage in smaller sellers, omnichannel commerce and even B2B express and managed warehousing. After surviving a harsh market, the company is investing in automation and new services, but its bid to outpace Delhivery and Ecom Express will depend on overcoming cost, execution and competition hurdles.
India’s largest cold-chain player Snowman says it will expand capacity by about 20% this financial year and aim for higher revenue. Its strategy leans on higher-yield sectors such as e-commerce and pharma while addressing profitability with an asset-light approach. The question is whether the growth push can translate into sustainable margins.
After the pandemic accelerated online buying, shopping patterns have stayed changed. With quick commerce and home delivery, consumers can access the same high-end brands without visiting malls, shifting demand toward apps and fast delivery. The question now is whether malls can reinvent themselves—or whether they’re becoming optional for a growing share of shoppers.
India’s e commerce and quick commerce sector is moving into a capability led hiring phase, with total talent demand climbing 35% from about 73,000 roles in 2023 to nearly 99,000 in 2025, per CIEL HR. Hiring is increasingly technology driven, focusing on software engineering, DevOps, and AI/ML roles as firms scale digital infrastructure and customer experience.
Stay informed on the go
Bite-sized news from 100+ trusted sources, right in your pocket.
India’s workforce is projected to expand meaningfully in the first half of FY27, with hiring sentiment rising 4.7%. E-commerce, tech startups, healthcare, pharma, and manufacturing are expected to lead job creation, particularly at large enterprises. The trend is linked to structural shifts and policy-driven changes, pushing companies to redesign workforce models to stay compliant and competitive.
Nestle India logged its best quarterly performance in a decade, driven by broad-based volume growth and strong momentum in e-commerce and beverages. The company leaned on a faster path to consumers through quick-commerce and pushed its Nescafe coffee offerings, supported by higher advertising spends. Despite the marketing push, Nestle protected margins through efficient operations and targeted investments.
Swipe through stories, personalise your feed, and save articles for later — all on the app.