With large parts of India experiencing a heatwave and several cities recording higher-than-normal temperatures, food delivery and e-commerce platforms have introduced various measures to protect their delivery partners from the intense heat. Food delivery platform Zomato, for instance, has set up 450 rest points for delivery partners nationwide, irrespective of their affiliation. These rest points offer comfortable seating, free drinking water, mobile charging stations, and clean washroom facilities.
It has secured 5 lakh units of refreshments, juices, and glucose to be distributed to active delivery partners at over 450 locations in more than 250 cities.
For any health or medical emergencies, delivery partners have access to a 15-minute ambulance service and 24/7 SOS support across 530+ cities, ensuring immediate assistance if required.
“We also issue pre-emptive alerts about upcoming heatwaves and have introduced full-sleeve, dry-fit t-shirts for all delivery partners,” stated Rakesh Ranjan, CEO of Food Delivery at Zomato.
Zomato also encouraged its users on X to refrain from placing orders during peak afternoon hours unless absolutely essential.
Continue Exploring: Zomato urges customers to avoid ordering during peak afternoon hours amid intense heatwave
Swiggy Instamart’s Recharge Zones:
Swiggy Instamart, Swiggy’s quick commerce platform, operates over 900 recharge zones in high-demand areas. These zones provide rest areas, refreshing beverages, mobile phone charging points, and restrooms that are accessible to all delivery partners in the industry.
Blinkit’s SOS Support:
Blinkit, a quick commerce platform owned by Zomato, has incorporated SOS support into its delivery partners’ app to ensure quick assistance in case of medical emergencies.
Albinder Dhindsa, CEO of Blinkit, stated that the company is installing air coolers in the waiting areas of its stores to offer immediate relief from the heat.
Ranjan added that all active delivery partners on both Zomato and Blinkit are covered by IPD insurance up to INR 1,00,000 and OPD insurance up to INR 5,000 for medical support, with no additional cost.
Flipkart, the e-commerce platform, is also implementing measures to safeguard its delivery workforce from the scorching summer heat.
“As an employee-first organization that values a culture of care, Flipkart prioritizes its supply chain, which serves as the backbone of our business. We are ensuring that our last-mile executives consistently have access to the necessary resources.”
“Throughout this summer season, we’ve introduced several additional measures into the daily routines of our wishmasters. These include distributing glucose beverages, providing extra fans and coolers at facilities, and conducting summer safety management briefings to ensure adherence to heatwave advisories,” explained Prajakta Kanaglekar, Vice President & HR Leader at Flipkart.
Continue Exploring: Swiggy’s revenue from food delivery, Instamart reaches INR 7,800 Cr in FY24
