How to Set Up a Delivery Fleet for Your Local Shop
Step-by-step guide for Indian shopkeepers to build a reliable delivery operation — hiring delivery boys, route planning, vehicle selection, and performance management.
# How to Set Up a Delivery Fleet for Your Local Shop
Offering home delivery transforms your shop from a walk-in-only business to a 3-5 km radius commerce engine. But delivery needs to be reliable, fast, and affordable. Here's how to set it up.
Option 1: Your Store Boy (₹0 Extra Cost)
Most kirana stores already have a helper (store boy) who assists with stocking, billing, and customer service. Adding delivery to their responsibilities:
Works when: - You receive fewer than 15 online orders per day - Orders are within 2 km radius - Most orders are during off-peak hours (11 AM - 4 PM)
How to structure: - During peak walk-in hours: Store boy stays in-store - During off-peak hours: Store boy handles deliveries - Batch 2-3 nearby orders together for efficiency
Compensation: Add ₹50-100 per day as delivery incentive on top of their regular salary.
Option 2: Dedicated Delivery Person (₹8,000-₹12,000/month)
When online orders cross 15/day consistently, hire a dedicated delivery person:
Job profile: - Working hours: 9 AM - 9 PM (with 2-hour break) - Vehicle: Own bicycle or motorcycle (you provide fuel costs) - Deliveries: 25-35 per day - Skills: Knows local area, has a smartphone for navigation, reliable
Where to hire: - Local employment boards and groups - Word of mouth through existing staff - College students looking for part-time work - Platform rider networks (many gig riders want stable local employment)
Option 3: Platform Riders (Variable Cost)
Use delivery partners from FirstMartt's rider network or other hyperlocal delivery services:
Works when: - You need flexible capacity without fixed costs - Order volume fluctuates significantly - You want to expand delivery radius beyond your store boy's range
Cost: ₹20-35 per delivery depending on distance and platform.
Vehicle Selection
| Vehicle | Best For | Capacity | Range | Cost/Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bicycle | Under 2 km, small orders | 5-8 kg | 2 km | ₹0 |
| E-bicycle | Under 3 km, moderate orders | 10 kg | 3 km | ₹15-20 (charging) |
| Motorcycle | Under 5 km, larger orders | 15-20 kg | 5 km | ₹80-120 (fuel) |
| E-scooter | Under 5 km, all order types | 15 kg | 5 km | ₹20-30 (charging) |
Our recommendation: Start with a bicycle or e-bicycle for orders within 2-3 km. Upgrade to a motorcycle or e-scooter when order volume justifies the cost.
Route Optimization
Don't send your delivery person on a new trip for every order. Batch orders by area:
1. Collect 2-3 orders going in the same direction 2. Set a maximum wait time of 15 minutes for batching 3. Plan the delivery route before leaving (farthest customer first, returning towards the shop) 4. This reduces delivery cost per order by 30-40%
Performance Tracking
Track these metrics weekly: - **Average delivery time:** Target under 30 minutes - **Deliveries per day:** Track growth - **Customer complaints about delivery:** Target zero - **Delivery cost per order:** Track and optimize
A well-run delivery operation makes your online business sustainable and competitive. Start simple, optimize over time, and scale as demand grows.
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