DHL Supply Chain launches the India Fulfilment Network to propel India’s e-comm.

DHL Supply Chain launches its latest offering – the India Fulfilment Network (IFN), in Bangalore. This
first-of-its-kind service will be rolled out to benefit the growing number of small and medium retail businesses that have seen a shift in their business models to online marketplaces, largely spurred by movement restrictions caused by the ongoing pandemic. DHL will invest more than INR 25 crores to further scale this network across major metros and state capitals in the country over the next 12 months.
Even before the pandemic, the opportunity in the e-commerce market in India has been evident and is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 27%i by 2024, with a large number of sellers in various categories showing a keen interest in shifting to an omni-channel model. The ecommerce boom during the Covid-19 pandemic has further boosted online retail transactions across India, especially with government-imposed social distancing protocols and a resultant decline in customers at brick and mortal shops. Relatedly, the expansion of e-commerce and 3PL sectors is also fueling demand for warehousing, which is expected to increase at 160%.