Flipkart’s Ekart Opens Logistics Network To D2C Brands Via Franchise Model

Flipkart Group’s supply chain arm Ekart has opened its pan-India logistics network to MSMEs, D2C brands, FMCG companies, and enterprises, allowing external businesses to access the logistics infrastructure used by the ecommerce major.

As part of the expansion, Ekart has rolled out a franchise model for small businesses and is scaling its dedicated warehousing infrastructure for external customers.

The logistics arm has already operationalised more than 300 franchise outlets across Surat, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, and plans to expand the network to over 1,000 outlets by the end of 2026.

Through the franchise network, MSMEs and small businesses will be able to route shipments through Ekart’s national delivery network without building their own logistics infrastructure.

Businesses will also get access to Ekart’s technology stack, including real-time shipment tracking and AI-powered address resolution.

Besides this, Ekart has opened more than 1 Mn sq ft of dedicated warehousing capacity to external brands for end-to-end fulfilment. It is adding further capacity across Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

The Walmart-owned company said its warehouses use AI-powered demand forecasting to help brands optimise inventory placement and stock distribution across regions, enabling businesses to position products closer to customers and reduce delivery turnaround times. 

For B2B customers, Ekart also operates a dedicated hub network for bulk and consolidated freight across sectors such as automotive, engineering goods, FMCG and retail. The network offers services including open box delivery, which allows customers to verify products at the time of delivery, and any day delivery for flexible delivery scheduling.

Ekart chief business officer Mani Bhushan said the expansion through franchises and dedicated fulfilment capabilities is aimed at giving businesses of all sizes access to a national logistics network.

The move comes as ecommerce companies increasingly look to monetise their logistics infrastructure by offering it to third-party businesses. For instance, Amazon launched Amazon Supply Chain Services earlier this year, opening its logistics network to businesses beyond its own marketplace. 

Ekart currently claims to reach more than 95% of Indian pincodes and handles shipments across over 80 product categories.

Flipkart Deepens Seller Push Amid Expansion Into New Verticals 

The development comes as Flipkart steps up efforts to deepen its engagement with sellers while expanding into newer commerce segments.

Earlier this month, it expanded its zero-commission policy to cover all fashion products, irrespective of price. The policy, which was earlier limited to fashion products priced below ₹1,000, is expected to benefit about 90,000 transacting sellers, including MSMEs, homegrown brands and D2C labels.

Separately, the company recently rolled out its second ESOP liquidity programme over the past year, allowing eligible employees to sell up to 5% of their vested stock options at ₹713.4 per option, with payouts scheduled for August 2026.

Alongside strengthening its seller ecosystem, Flipkart is also expanding its consumer internet play. The company is set to enter India’s food delivery market in the coming weeks, taking on Swiggy and Eternal-owned Zomato.

In 2024, Flipkart also entered the crowded quick commerce segment with Flipkart Minutes as part of its plans to drive higher customer engagement through high-frequency categories beyond traditional ecommerce.

Meanwhile, the company’s long-awaited IPO continues to get delayed. The ecommerce company was earlier expected to go public by late 2025 or early 2026 but deferred its listing plans. It had also reportedly explored raising $2 Bn-$2.5 Bn in a pre-IPO funding round ahead of the listing, which is yet to materialise.

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