Ola To Re-enter Quick Commerce With Automated Dark Stores And UPI

Ola is preparing to enter the rapid commerce industry by opening its own dark stores, as the firm prepares for its imminent IPO. This is Ola's second attempt at capturing a share of the speedy delivery market, following its prior endeavour, Ola Dash.

Ola's parent firm, ANI Technologies, is apparently establishing dark stores- small, automated warehouses meant for quick delivery. According to an Economic Times investigation, these dark stores will be highly automated, with robotic technologies reducing human involvement. The initiative aims to meet the increasing demand for fast delivery services.

Ola's latest venture includes a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to support its rapid commerce activities. This initiative comes amid a competitive landscape in the fast commerce sector, with competitors such as Blinkit and Zepto developing their dark store networks. Blinkit intends to open 2,000 dark stores by 2026, while Zepto hopes to reach 700 by March 2025.

According to the source, Ola's debut into rapid commerce follows an unsuccessful attempt with Ola Dash, which was shut down in 2022. Despite this, the company is significantly investing in the industry, with the opportunity to leverage its new UPI offering across a variety of services, such as food and grocery delivery.

With a Rs 1,082 crore deficit in FY23, ANI Technologies' new path represents a strategic shift. Ola Electric's forthcoming IPO is expected to impact these changes, with a market value of approximately Rs 33,500 crore.