How Dark Stores Is The Future Of E-Commerce Warehousing

The "d2a6deb2a6deb2a6deb2a6deb2a6deb2a6deb2a6debark store" has a ghostly and sinister ring to it, but in reality, it is one of the brightest E-commerce warehousing ideas for easy B2C business. Having an understanding of dark store in Kolkata is essential for e-commerce businesses in Kolkata.

Online shopping is at its peak, in the pandemic, most people shifted to online shopping, which has helped it to reach nearly $100 billion markets in 2021. E-commerce businesses like Zepto, and BlinkIt, added million-dollar valuation to their name with their dark store business model.

The dark store helps in managing quick deliveries of online orders, warehousing, and distribution process. So, what is a dark store, and how does it manages modern warehousing needs? Find out everything you need to know by reading on. Find out everything you need to know by reading on.

What Is Dark Store?

A dark store is a retail supermarket that is closed for visitors and turned down into a fulfillment center. This micro-fulfillment center is dedicated to managing rapid order fulfillment.

The dark store consists of aisles and shelves just like any other supermarket, but it does not allow any visitors. When an online order comes the dark store staff immediately picks up the order and directly ships it to the customer's address or any convenient collection point.

Dark store in Kolkata provides the user the benefit of purchasing products online with same-day delivery, or pickup in-store. The concept of the dark store is not new, and a lot of companies are implementing this for decades. Some of the famously known companies in this business model are Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, and a lot of fashion retailers. However, when the pandemic came and the virus spread through touch and close contact, a lot of companies relied on dark stores.

How Does Dark Store Work?

Dark stores are the shopping places that are present inside the city and in the remote corner to minimize the delivery time and fulfill the requirement of the consumer. A basic requirement for any eCommerce to function well in these times is to own a dark store in Kolkata which is close to the consumer base.

It helps in rapid delivery, and on-demand order fulfillment and enables retailers seamlessly satisfy e-commerce demands. There are three types of delivery options for the dark store, one is curbside [pick up, another is in-store pick up, and lastly home delivery.

Curbside pick up- It refers to the allotted parking lot where the consumer can stay and an employee will bring an order to the parking lot. It ensures the consumer doesn't have to leave the car for shopping and gets quick delivery.

In-store pick-up In this the consumer is provided a fixed picking point at the front entrance. The consumer can pick order from there. It helps the consumer to eliminate delivery expenses.

Home Delivery- This is what we are experiencing today, and will increase in the upcoming years. Home delivery is the process of ordering online and a designated driver will pick up the product from the store and deliver it to the delivery point.

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Benefits of Dark Store

• Quick Shopping

The dark stores offer the convenience of online shopping and allow the consumer to benefit from instant deliveries.

• Fast Delivery

The dark store is the best way to improve the online shopping experience, especially for groceries and essential items by including various distribution points.

• Better SKU management

The main advantage of dark store is it helps in SKU management, focuses on storage, and helps in click and collect.

• Inventory Control

The dark store consists of WMS software, which helps in inventory control in a specific geographic location.

Conclusion

If you're opening an eCommerce business in this age, the aim is to provide quick delivery and satisfy consumer requirements. Owning a dark store in Kolkata gives you the privilege to easily connect with target consumers and procure better warehouse management.