India Post surfs e-commerce wave.

E-commerce seems to have given a new lease and look to the once-familiar India Post. Its Karnataka Circle, which ranks number 5 by revenue, says it has risen to the demands of the large, growing community of online buyers and sellers by starting same-day delivery in Bengaluru and reaching into remote rural areas.

Next, it plans to lease about 2.5 acres of land at the Kempegowda International Airport to support inward and outbound e-commerce deliveries, according to M.S. Ramanujan, Chief Post Master General, Karnataka Circle.

For the circle, e-commerce means Rs. 2-crore monthly revenue from a lakh consignments. Around 50 big and small e-tailers use its network to ship electronic and domestic goods, apparel, footwear and books. Among them are Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Myntra and mVikarsha, he told members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

A new e-commerce business centre is being started at Yelahanka, exclusively for north Bengaluru e-shoppers.

Same day delivery

Come April, Bengaluru is set to be the first city in the country for India Post to offer same-day delivery for e-tailers.

Mr. Ramanujan said, “We will bring all 104 pincodes in Bengaluru under same-day delivery for bookings made up to 2.30 p.m. We have put in the infrastructure and technology. My boys are already doing deliveries up to 9 p.m. every day.”

He added, “It is a great time for e-commerce and we are excited as it is translating into a lot of revenue.” The rural rollout was equally promising. “There is no one else [to deliver] beyond tier-1 and -2 cities. Our reach goes up to tier-6 which is the gram panchayat.” he said.

First postal ATM

April will also see the launch of Karnataka’s first postal ATM at the General Post Office, to be followed by four more in Bengaluru. ATM cards are already being issued to postal account holders. Once core banking comes to its 2,500 computerised post offices these postal ATMs would work for banking customers, too.

FKCCI centenary stamp

A special stamp will be released in May to mark the year-long centenary celebrations of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry, its president S.Sampathraman said.

A new e-commerce business centre is being set up

at Yelahanka, exclusively for north Bengaluru e-shoppers

courtesy:http://www.thehindu.com