How will ONDC work and how will it ensure a democratized and decentralized network?

Any ONDC-compatible app can be used by buyers to contact merchants on the platform. Through these partnerships, retailers will manage all shipping and handling. Services like ledgers and payment processors will be available to vendors through ONDC as well.

In order to avoid any confusion, when it comes to e-commerce platforms, ONDC India  is neither a replacement nor a rival. It is an open-source platform that is unbiased and establishes protocols for cataloging, vendor matching, and price discovery.  It does not follow a platform-centric model; thus, the Indian government hopes it will unify the Indian online market without any bias. We already have companies like Paytm Mall, PhonePe, Ekart (Flipkart’s logistics arm), and Dunzo figuring out how to integrate their offerings with ONDC, while others like ITC, Unilever, Dabur, Nivea, Shopify, Google, Meesho, and Snapdeal have shown interest. Since ONDC is not an app, an aggregator, or a competitor, they have expressed interest and are cooperating with ONDC. 

There won’t even be a dedicated app for ONDC. ONDC India is expected to be the next UPI of the e-commerce industry. The way UPI has favorably influenced the Indian payments industry, ONDC is likely to mirror its success. The central government and other specialists in the commerce business are exuding a great deal of optimism and belief. However, before emerging as a winner, any effective concept must overcome numerous challenges and issues.

How will ONDC help in creating jobs?

Because ONDC is neither a platform nor an intrinsic source of new employment opportunities, it will be up to the participants or players themselves to drive development through the expansion of the network. Third-party logistics providers, for instance, will likely play a significant role in getting products to customers. Between 30-50% more delivery positions are predicted to be created by the end of the current fiscal year because of the ONDC initiative. 

Furthermore, ONDC will greatly increase the need for 3PL as many large e-commerce enterprises and retailers are considering making the transfer from captive logistics to 3PL. The third-party logistics industry is expected to play a significant role in the supply chain operations of e-commerce, quick commerce, and conventional stores. It is estimated that 8 lakh people will enter the 3PL sector by the end of the current fiscal year.

Apart from this, jobs will be created from the integration side of things. ONDC will expand its network through four integration channels, and the jobs expected to be created will be as follows:

• Connecting buyers to the network: Jobs such as building Web Apps, and mobile applications and developing a buyer interface
• Connect Sellers to the network: Jobs to develop a seller interface and a catalog team to develop a crisp detail page for buyers to know more about the product/service they want to buy/use. 
• ONDC Gateway: Jobs in maintaining the ONDC gateway, a network application that will notify all seller-side applications of a search request from a buyer-side application based on a set of criteria like domain or location, are also to be anticipated.
• Technology Services: Gainful employment creating and supplying software and other technological add-ons for the remaining three integration channels.

Conclusion:

The retail and e-commerce market in India is poised to develop into a colossal sector as a result of the country’s rapidly expanding consumer base. ONDC India will democratize and decentralize the e-commerce and retail sector, with small and medium-sized enterprises having a bright outlook. Changes in lifestyle and habits are a direct result of increased ethnic variety. Online shopping as a whole will continue to expand as a result of the ONDC initiative. As mentioned earlier, the job market for delivery and tech would increase significantly. There will be an increase in demand for gig work as well. 

How’s the retail sector changing in India?

With the evolution of retailing in India, Retail brands are moving towards omnichannel and want to have more touchpoints with the customers. An omnichannel approach allows businesses to meet the demands of modern

consumers in every way. With the advent of omnichannel retailing, consumers now have multiple options for making purchases, including conducting research online and making a purchase in-store, making a purchase while in-store using a mobile device, and making a purchase while in-store using a mobile device and then purchasing a different variant of the same product online. It’s perfect for those who have trouble making decisions, are constantly on the go, appreciate high-tech gadgets, shop at malls, and surf the web late at night.

It’s a huge advantage for businesses to be able to keep tabs on their customers’ every move and have a 360-degree view. Brands can learn from customers’ complaints on one channel and their purchases on another by consolidating data from all channels. Customers’ desire for individualised care is met as a result of the company’s ability to proactively anticipate their requirements and meet them in a manner that is both timely and convenient. Customers appreciate the feeling of being appreciated and cared for in this way.

There is a greater demand than ever before for omnichannel retail. Due to the surge of online sales after the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become a vital component of any profitable retail and e-commerce enterprise.

Phygital refers to the trend of businesses merging the digital and physical worlds in an effort to create loyal customers.

An omnichannel approach that takes into account phygital channels is an excellent way to meet the needs of today’s consumers. 

This financial hurdle may discourage brands who are hesitant to integrate phygital channels and omnichannel into their strategy, despite the enormous economic gains that can be realised by offering omnichannel experiences for customers and visitors.

It is expected that the adoption of the omnichannel strategy in retail will significantly increase the percentage of shoppers who make a purchase. Simply put, the more the number of conversion platforms you provide that work together, the greater your overall conversion rate will be. This will lead to gains in not only client retention but also brand lifetime value. If implemented properly, omnichannel retailing can significantly reduce overhead costs.

How would this growth in retail translate to jobs?

• With the festive season around the corner, hiring across e-commerce and retail is expected to grow by 30-40%, and according to our estimates, e-commerce businesses will add more than 5 lakh temporary jobs. Hiring is particularly strong in quick commerce, QSRs, retail stores, and FMCG.
• As per our estimates around 2 Lakh jobs are expected to be added by the end of this fiscal year in the retail sector alone
• With evolution of retailing in India, the omnichannel retailing is also evolving, allied industries, for example, 3PL, will employ a lot more to contain the demand. The total number is estimated to reach 8 Lakh by the end of 2022
• FOS (feet on street) and in-store promoters will be in high demand. In the retail industry, hiring for customer-facing roles in sales and commercial operations, as well as other departments, is picking up steam on the basis of increased demand and an optimistic forecast for the impending festive season.

Even though the retail industry has had a number of difficulties over the past two years, the pandemic has presented an opportunity for a long-overdue significant retail reset, which may inspire many stores to find a more secure and profitable footing. As a result of technological advancements, the retail industry has shifted its focus from products and locations to customers. Businesses are now better able to share information about discounts and inventories across all of their stores.

With the retail sector growing at an incredible rate, jobs in this sector and allied sectors are going to evolve, and niche roles catering to different segments in the market will come into the picture.

The future of Evolution of Retailing in India has seen its share of struggles and triumphs, but a new era is about to begin.

Here is a case study into how the most formidable brand in consumer electronics, home appliances, IT hardware, and mobile communications space eliminated sourcing challenges to increase operational efficiency.

Although the long-term forecast for the FMCG sector is still favourable, there are still difficulties in the short term. The production process, retail and logistical channels, daily operations, consumer insights, and communication must incorporate resilience. It ought to be included in how businesses hire, train, deploy, and manage employees.

The FMCD sector typically performs well during the festive season with a massive increase in sales. With new product launches and an uptick in demand for white goods during the festive buzz, it is crucial to employ skilled and productive counter staff and in-store promoters for desirable business outcomes. These are supplemented with bonuses and incentives to employees to ensure retention and business momentum.

Even though the high inflation will dent some demand, companies are cautious about the numbers overall but are optimistic that the sales will increase over the last two years. Firms are looking at a 20% increase in hiring for temporary staff.

Further exploring newer engagement models that are successively making more opportunities for staffing, contracting, and gig workforces across sectors. The supply chain sector has coped with several bottlenecks over the past few months due to the pandemic and is finally starting to ramp up its recruitment processes to support consumer needs.

To achieve the set goals, organisations must leverage national staffing vendors to ensure tech-led payrolling operations, end-to-end employee management with the right sourcing, training solutions, adherence to compliances, and productivity tracking.

What makes 3PL cost-effective?

The company can focus on its core operations thanks to third-party logistics, which makes the supply chain more cost-effective and responsive. In addition, third-party logistics providers can alert companies to supply chain errors that could be expensive and risky. 3PLs also help to reduce inventory holding costs by offering industry forecasting.

A third party logistics provider (or 3PL) manages the entire shipping process, whether domestic or international, to guarantee that your goods arrive on time. In short, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider may handle every aspect of a shipment, from the first negotiation of prices to the final delivery to storage, transportation, and loading. With a 3PL, the entire logistical process can be managed on a single platform, thanks to tools and processes that have been precisely created and trusted for use. The majority of third-party logistics (3PL) service providers are also open to adapting or integrating their digital platforms with those of the organisations they collaborate with.

Most products’ total prices include significant amounts of money spent on logistics. It may sound counterintuitive, but outsourcing warehouse management and transportation management can save a lot of money if done correctly. Customers of 3PLs are plentiful. This enables a third party logistics to secure lower rates for warehouse space, shippers, and domestic transportation suppliers. Seasonal inventory fluctuations can be accommodated because there is more space available within each warehouse. In order to adapt rapidly to changing market conditions, a well-established 3PL will have useful historical market information and data at its disposal.

Working with a third party logistics (3PL) provider, companies can save time and money by gaining access to the knowledge and resources necessary to manage supply chain logistics effectively.

How is Warehousing different from 3PL delivery?

Many people use the phrases “warehouse” and “fulfilment centre/delivery hub” interchangeably, however, these terms have very different meanings. While they are both big warehouses for firms that sell items, the use cases and services they provide are usually quite different.

To describe warehousing, we’re referring to an organisation which holds goods for an extended period of time. Inventory is stored in bulk in warehouses, which are vast, industrial facilities created specifically for this purpose.

As part of the supply chain, a fulfilment centre/delivery hub serves as the hub for all logistics activities required to move a product from seller to buyer. Order picking and processing, packaging, and shipping are all handled by this system. Fulfilment centres are used by third-party logistics (3PL) providers to receive, process, and fulfil orders for e-commerce merchants seeking to optimise their operations.

A growing number of international and domestic investors are taking notice of the Indian warehouse sector. Demand for commodities has been at an all-time high, which has led to an increase in the e-commerce business and the need for warehouse space. The pandemic has also led to an increase in the need for cold chain warehouse space because of the growth of the organised food delivery market.

A result of this is that the warehouse sector has become a resilient asset class and is showing an upward trend in the real estate market. According to the Warehousing Market in India 2022 Report released by Netscribes (India) Pvt Ltd, the warehousing market in India is predicted to rise to ₹2243.79 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 10.90%. The Indian e-commerce business is a big contributor to this rise. 

The expansion of third-party logistics is the second-largest factor driving the demand for warehouses. It was 3PL (third party logistics) that took over the most warehouse space in 2021, after e-commerce and other online retailers.

The newest industries, such as quick-commerce, which provide 30-minute and 10-minute delivery times in the last mile, will also be key drivers for 3PL warehouses.

With the aid of the government and developments in technology, this industry is sure to be a prominent job creator in the future.

• Due to the need to curb the spike in demand  during the festive season, the intent to hire in the Logistics sector has grown to 63% as per TeamLease’s Employment Outlook Report (July-September)
• The good news is that the attrition rate in the logistics sector has reduced by 2.3% from the previous quarter
• With drones being tested out for mid-mile logistics, newer roles such as drone pilot, drone maintenance specialist and drone flight planners would also be emerging in this sector
• It is estimated that the 3PL industry in India is planning to employ about 0.8 million more people by the end of 2022. 
• These new professions, such as consignment booking assistant, e-documentation assistant and courier delivery executive, Warehouse packer, inventory clerk, logistics and distribution manager, supply chain analyst, supply chain coordinator, and supply chain manager, are the result of the necessity to keep up with the changing industry scenario and the implementation of technology on a big scale.

• Demand for AI professionals has also increased the need to facilitate optimization of capacity planning, enhancing efficiency, reducing expenses, and increasing production, all while ensuring a safe working environment for employees

What does the future of 3PL look like? 

Warehouse facilities along the busiest commercial routes and outside of large metropolitan trade hubs are essential for long-term growth and resilience. During arbitrations and bilateral disputes, logistics and supply chain documentation should be kept in an orderly inventory for claim substantiation.

Due to an increase in demand for online platforms during COVID and expansion into Tier 1 and Tier 2+ cities, Tier 2 city demand has risen.

It is predicted that by 2025, more than half of the volume will come from Tier 2 cities, while Tier 1 and metro cities will only account for 33% of the total by 2030. Retail, e-commerce, grocery stores, and third-party logistics providers are driving the last-mile delivery demand, and top warehousing developers plan to increase expansion in tier-II areas and within metros this year.

There has been such an explosion in 3PL that it has spawned 4PL and 5PL as well. Integrator of the supply chain: that’s what 4pl service providers do. The 4PL assembles and controls an organization’s Supply Chain and its multitude of partners’ resources, competencies, and technologies. It provides a greater level of effective supply chain management to customers, allowing firms to totally outsource their logistics process to external professionals for better management. Supply chain management includes shipping, warehousing, physical locations, and information movement. 

A 5PL will handle all aspects of supply chain management for clients, from planning and organising to implementing their logistics solutions. This means that they’ll be responsible for every single supply chain in the company.

5PLs are more beneficial to e-commerce enterprises than bricks-and-mortar organisations because of their focus on big data and technology-driven efficiency.

Consumers today are more tech-savvy and demand faster delivery services, which is fueling a boom in the logistics industry. It has become increasingly common for enterprises to rely on 3PL service providers to increase their operations and assure cost-effective delivery services, which is beneficial to both the organisation and the consumer.

In order to keep up with the exponential growth projected in the third-party logistics industry, e-commerce and retail businesses will have to rely on the services provided by third-party providers. Employees, the most valuable resource an organisation has, require a coordinated effort between staffing firms and third-party logistics (3PLs). Being a part of the rapidly growing 3PL market is an exciting opportunity for those in the workforce. The 3PL industry will be one of the major employers in the coming years and is an exciting place to be.

Now that we’ve understood the reason for the dip in consumer sentiments and also the possibility of the bright light at the end of the tunnel for this year’s festive season, here’s what we believe e-commerce and retail firms should be doing to tackle the growth and human resource challenges during the upcoming festive season:

• Hire gig and temporary workers to facilitate the increasing demand. According to a breakthrough analysis by NITI Aayog, India’s gig economy will grow to 23.5 million workers by 2029-30, an almost 200 per cent increase from the current level of 7.7 million
• Address issues like Lack of job security, irregularity of wages and uncertain employment status for workers and the platform owner-worker relationship which is classified as something other than an employment contract, and increase transparency and trust amongst gig workers
• Prioritize improving the quality of the workforce, rather than simply increasing the number of employees
• Outsource the company’s payrolling activities to staffing organizations which can help firms grow leaner, clearly focus on business objectives and achieve business goals efficiently
• Extend sick leave, health insurance, and pension benefits to gig workers and their families as a kind of social security
• Rely on support from growing third-party logistics players. Industry leaders believe that new-age logistics companies predict a multi-fold increase in shipments during the festive season and have to be prepared to handle the challenge with measures like capacity expansion and increased hiring.

As a result of customers across all age groups expected to spend more than they did the previous year, the holiday season will lead to a boom in Festive hiring. A significant portion of this intention is due to loosened regulations, as well as the availability of great festive deals and discounts, as well as an increase in online purchasing.

In order for organisations to avoid having to deal with high attrition rates over the festive season, they must ensure that their employees’ loyalty to the company is established. A company’s growth can be maximised with the support of staffing companies like TeamLease through the formalisation of workforce and payroll administration which in turn will help the companies focus more on the nitty-gritty of their core business.

A consumption-demand driven economic rebound in the new normal appears to be in good shape, thanks to improved consumer sentiments and a jump in sales. Due to shifting economic needs and the rapid pace of digital change, the eCommerce sector is seeing a shift in the hiring environment. Jobs are becoming more mobile, and this is causing a shift in the markets and an increase in demand for new-age roles.

Many industries that fared well during the pandemic experimented with the gig economy’s dynamics of flexibility and task-based hiring, especially the eCommerce sector. Workforce augmentation via the gig model is growing into an important capacity and capability development model that will become an important part of the flexible workforce model of the future. Hybrid work models will continue to evolve as India’s knowledge economy is supported by favourable government policies, resulting in the availability of more skilled workers and a greater number of jobs.

With an approximate growth of 20% in the previous festive season, will this year’s festive hiring grow at a similar pace?

What do you think?

As a country, we collectively seemed to believe that new is always better. So, why is there a growing preference and inclination for purchasing pre-owned vehicles over brand new ones? One may ponder.

Consumers are becoming more aware and technologically savvy, which encourages them to experiment and venture into trying new things. Since there’s less of a long-term financial commitment when a used car is purchased, many consumers choose to switch to a different brand or model more frequently than they used to. One may enjoy this type of freedom by purchasing a used car or subscribing, leasing, or renting a vehicle via one of these growing start-ups. A reduced period of car ownership among the millennial demographic has also been observed and is a crucial contributor to the growth of the used car industry.

Like a growing tree, the used car industry is branching out thanks to the investments in technology, processes, and human capital. These being the sustenance, the extended industry is bound to create an array of different employment opportunities and job roles.

With the demand in the industry being quite high, start-ups are looking for someone with even just six months to a year of experience in the field to join these start-ups. In addition, there is a great demand for automotive inspection engineers and sales executives, positions normally found in new car dealerships. There is also an increasing demand for employees with expertise in technology and product development.

Other sought-after positions include Coordinator Operations, Retail Associate, Retail Manager, Evaluation Engineer, and Procurement Associate.

Price discovery executives, credit managers, and data scientists are just a few of the new professions that have recently emerged in this market.

The future for this industry looks promising. A brand-new car is quickly rendered obsolete due to the rapid rate at which they are upgraded. These cars, however, remain technologically advanced and benefit from improvements in production and safety techniques. As we’ve seen, new cars don’t stay on the lot for long before they end up on the used car lot. Pre-owned automobile purchasers can now get vehicles with up-to-date technology and enough safety measures.

The organised used car market can overcome many challenges faced in the unorganised market by implementing more open, efficient, and technologically advanced dealership models. The demand for artificial intelligence, high-quality data, and a positive user experience has never been greater.

Instead of seeing new cars as status symbols and sources of pride, consumers are now more interested in the freedom and adaptability that start-ups like these offer. A new shared economy is taking root in the country as a number of start-ups create cutting-edge products and services.

There will always be a demand for new people to join the workforce because of the constant creation of new positions and functions in the business. When it comes to filling in the talent gap, staffing companies can be an invaluable resource.

Start-ups now aspire to grow leaner, focus more on the products and services, and prefer outsourcing their workforce. With hiring reaching up to an increase of 30% this financial year. the growth in this industry is evident and will be on an upward trajectory for years to come. A used car ecosystem is being created, resulting in new niche roles. It’s an exciting time to be in the automotive sector right now. As electric vehicles (EVs) gain popularity, the kind of services and expertise needed to meet the needs of the used EV car market will diverge from those needed in the traditional industry. All in all, the used car market is booming, and if it’s backed by the best technology and people management, it’s set to witness unparalleled growth.

How can the HTD model help you?

The objective of this HTD model for clients is to result in benefiting through cost-cutting on recruitment, training, and shadow cost. The model is fully customised to the customer’s expectations and needs.

It encompasses a comprehensive approach and offers ready-to-deploy qualified resources in the niche business areas based on client growth roadmap

• Time-tested industry-ready partnership model
• Hire Freshers at cost-effective rates
• Train them in industry and product knowledge
• Customised training process as per business needs
• Hiring locally to reduce attrition possibility
• Productive resources from day 1 of deployment 
• Proficient in local dialect to meet business expectations 
• client-customised training in replicable batches
• Quick deployment of trained manpower at required locations

The NBFCs’ frontline human capital requirements through this program to augment the rapidly expanding operations functions at a priority level. As a unique proposition of this program, the young professionals will undergo fully paid Rapid Career Enhancement on the basis of performance.

TeamLease is already engaged with several BFSI and NBFC organisations on this HTD model resulting in high productivity which enables them towards accelerated growth phenomenon. Here’s a case study on how growing NBFCs are navigating skill vs scale challenges with HTD Model for business benefits. 

The Chequered flag

To finish the race and be able to see the chequered flag is crucial in your F1 race. To win or to lose is one aspect and equally to have a car and a driver safely reach the finish line (and deliver your product and services) is a basic element of satisfaction required. 

The time-tested form of staffing which is picking up pace given the demand-skill gap in the industry is the HTD model. A smarter and more practical move in combating the skill gap in the industry allows organisations to scale up with a trusted staffing partner. With the top-notch workforce being trained, working seamlessly along with the technology interventions is leading the change. The carefully customised training process is designed to  result in enabling operational efficiency and long-term value.

Be the race leader in the BFSI Grand Prix, with the right crew, experienced driver and well-sought strategy.

What would it mean for delivery partners in the e-commerce industry?

Despite the fact that drone delivery is still in its infancy, it is widely accepted as the best method for delivering small goods, medicines, and food to some remote regions that are difficult to access by road.

While delivery partners will remain the primary mode of delivery, they will be supplemented with drones in order to help delivery executives get products to their destinations faster. Drones will be used for mid-mile deliveries. Drones will be utilised to refill inventory between seller-operated dark stores and from a store to a common customer point. Following that, a delivery partner will pick up orders from the common location and bring them to the customer’s door. Drones can simply fly over traffic jams in the cities, saving a lot of time and thereby increasing the value-for-money argument.

What are the challenges for drone operators in the last-mile delivery in India?

• Last-mile logistics in India is difficult. Getting individuals connected to the correct technology while keeping costs reasonable will be difficult.
• Drones will be used more frequently in remote places with limited road access. The plan would be to use them for only emergencies in the initial phases of deployment (Delivery of medicine)
• The economics of last-mile delivery was discovered to be based on two aspects. They were “drop-size” and “route-density.” The number of deliveries that could be made on a delivery route was referred to as route density. In supply chain parlance, this was referred to as a “milk run,” while “drop size” referred to the number of parcels at each stop on the milk run.

• • • If the number of deliveries was high, the cost per delivery would be cheap. Furthermore, if several shipments are dropped off in the same area, the cost per delivery will be minimal.
    • Both of these economic components of last-mile delivery are underserved by drones. Drones often carry only one box, and after delivery, the drone must return to be recharged and pick up the next product. In supply chain terms, these drones adhere to the hub and spoke concept.
• Indian cities’ tiny alleyways, lack of regularity in the building architecture, and strewn wires would make things difficult for drone operators to map and carry out tasks.

How might solving the above challenges affect e-commerce last-mile delivery, and what are the other use cases of drone technology?

For e-commerce businesses, the use of drones to automate delivery is a convenient way to satisfy both customer convenience expectations and last-mile delivery difficulties all in one fell swoop.

• Last-mile delivery by drones for e-commerce companies can be a wonderful alternative to ground-based services, especially in rural areas with populations under 50,000, where the need for rapid and immediate delivery is increasing.
• Drones can deliver medicines, food, groceries, and apparel. With the help of the Indian state government, drone delivery startups like TechEagle are delivering vaccines and other medical supplies. Quick drone deliveries save time, strengthen supply chains, and cut costs.
• Deliveries to city skyscrapers or high-rise buildings can be made with relative simplicity and speed.
• Terrain mapping and natural disaster management can be optimally performed using drones Kisan Drones are currently being utilised for agricultural evaluations, the recording of land data, and the spraying of pesticides and nutrients.

What kind of new jobs would emerge?

While many of the new employment created in the industry will be in manufacturing and as drone pilots, other positions, such as

• Drone photography
• Drone maintenance
• Survey mappers
• Design engineers and assemblers
• Pilot trainers
• Drone flight planners
• Drone software engineers
• Drone Data Specialist

will also become available in the near future. A statement by the government (Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) claims that more than one lakh jobs are expected to be created in drone services during the next three years. In addition, India will require approximately one lakh drone pilots in the future to operate a wide range of drones.

At this time, the ATM (Air Traffic Management) systems in place are not equipped to handle the influx of traffic generated by unmanned aircraft. Automated UAS Traffic Management (UTM) must be developed in order to meet these needs. In the future, this technology could be merged into a more conventional ATM. The emergence of government jobs in the improved ATM can be expected.

More must be done to disseminate critical knowledge and to build infrastructure and a pipeline for young people who want to be taught, certified, and employed in drone technology. This is a chance for rural young people to get a foothold in the tech industry.

Key Takeaway:

• As the drone delivery sector expands, new positions such as drone pilots, drone assemblers, and drone trainers will be in demand. Sizeable proportions of the jobs in the sector will be drone pilots and drone manufacturing
• The capacity to carry more material over longer distances boosts the cost advantages of using drones in the middle mile over traditional transportation.
• By 2025, India is predicted to be the world’s third-largest drone market.
• Planning routes and paths, executing pre-flight checks, scouting, and other mechanisms will need to be put in place for using drones in urban areas.

The future of the drone industry looks quite promising for India. If the momentum is maintained by the central government and the state governments, India has every chance of becoming the drone manufacturing and drone services hub of the world by 2030 as projected by MOCA

With the expected favourable outcomes and job opportunities this sector would create, one can wonder whether this new industry will be our next best bet?

A)) In these, Ghost Employee Elimination is associated with when companies find it tough to keep track of real versus ghost employees as they would be employing a huge network of distributors, including informal workers. If the entire workforce is formalised fully– companies can save big money by eliminating non-existent employees.

How do we eliminate Ghost Employees? Transparency helps in the long term: Do you agree? With the formalisation of the workforce, much stronger employee retention and company growth in the longer term can be safeguarded. creation of a more inclusive workforce environment, filling the much-needed GAPS framework so as to formalise is essential. This will result in enhanced channel sales workforce effectiveness.

Smart staffing solution becomes cost-effective and with the formalisation can transform the lives of blue-collar workers in a very positive manner, helping people build careers from a range of varied skills and social security benefits.

Flexi staffing gives several engagement models including temporary and contractual employment during peak seasons, such as around festivities, as well as permanent positions for more professional services.

And when one has such professional options, to work with, the workforce, and manage payroll and documents, with ease and utmost clarity, there would be no space for Ghost employment. Quality & productivity is the utmost goal.

B)Attrition reduction can happen when there is transparency and improvement of workforce management especially when there is stability in terms of being recognized for their work brings about a sense of job security and loyalty. Rapid changes from the COVID-19 pandemic have adversely affected the supply chain. Features such as corporate learning, lead order tracking, field sales force effectiveness, wellbeing and performance management, Engagement & culture, diversity, inclusion & transparency, analytics & planning, and workplace productivity are gaining attention.

C) If Productivity Enhancement with Technology is a focus, it can adapt to a stronger talent portfolio but also help with payroll, keeping track of attendance and daily productivity using tech-driven tools. 5 reasons why the digital revolution is a must & how Productivity Enhancement with Technology takes place:

. Fundamentally evolving the marketplace engines that operate today are different from yesterday.

. Digital revolution knocks in and the traditional channel is getting obsolete.

. With the consumer revolution and the consumers having the power just a click away, if businesses don’t go digital, they would not withstand opposite of the set waves

. Formalisation of the workforce and digital upgrades to the workforce can engage in cost-effective, time-sensitive, positive impact.

. Managing distribution channels can be challenging however making them more efficient can lead to a boost in profits and a drop in the overall costs.

To speed up the process of connection between delivering the products to the customers and making it profitable, the main goal is not just to find the right customers and locations of demand, but to map the right workforce at the right time and the right place. A distribution channel strategy evaluates ways to improve the positioning of products to boost demand around them.

Statutory Compliance is an important facet that highlights and facilitates the need for the formalisation of the workforce. Also, in light of the rollout of the new labour codes, it’s imperative to focus on compliance norms. The formalisation of workforce will push more manpower and hiring of employees from Tier 1 and 2 cities, which will possibly drive informal employment to formal employment with the support of government initiatives. This comes more directional as the labour code is due to be rolled out. New rules, laws, and regulations can change the way the processes will take place. Technology will bring a formal, long-lasting solution aiding people and processes and will pull those aspects out of a makeshift arrangement.

The Flying Carpet-

Organisations are restructuring their distribution strategies for efficiency and agility. And in order to move toward an omnichannel brand, one must make the right human capital investments now. “Be the game changer in your industry with TeamLease” by Formalising your workforce by bridging the GAPS!

GAPS framework will help facilitate smoother business conduct and operations and drive the formalisation of the workforce. It will help streamline the social security benefits for the larger informal workforce. This would help eliminate complexities associated with setting up and running businesses. The four labour codes envisaged by the government are industrial relations, wages, social security and occupational health safety & working conditions.

The bigger question: Is it possible? Yes, it is, if formalisation of the workforce is done along with digitalisation of the distribution channel, which would be a revolution.

With the increasing demand, the supply and distribution methodologies are needing a revamp. Just the way, the digital revolution which could have otherwise come in ten years from now, is already here, the distribution channel which could have been static as ever already needs a digital distribution channel revolution. The recent past applications, procedures and methodologies are already obsolete. To keep up with the new ways of the world, the vantage point is now and here. All the elements of the value chain have a common denominator of creating jobs for millions of people. But let’s target making the jobs a safe experience to be, for the workforce and the employers, which will lead to a happy ending and 10X growth in the business. Employees would get what they deserve and the businesses would rather look at the picture at large; the workforce formalisation is a monumental change which will lead distribution channels to evolve into omni channels as D2C will gain pace.

Automation Tools to Improve HR:

Application Tracking System (ATS): A Software that streamlines the entire recruiting process with the help of technology and automation to meet the end-to-end hiring requirements. It enhances the major metrics—cost, time, and quality—of hiring a workforce. It is the best way to automate the staffing process and recruit better candidates.

E-onboarding: On average a new hire has 54 activities to complete during their onboarding experience. The manual collection of data and verification is time-consuming, and the chances of errors are high. With the E-onboarding platform, the deployment of the workforce is efficient, and data is captured securely and smoothly. With a single click, the scanning and uploading of data on the cloud are just a few second tasks.

Attendance and leave: The attendance and leave management system helps companies in managing the workforce smoothly. It allows companies to capture and keep records of employee check-in and check-out with their location-wise data using devices and reduces the chances of ghosting employees. It works as the centralised data hub for the companies, which gives better visibility and builds trust.

Performance management: It gives a view into the future by frequently monitoring and managing workplace performance. These solutions have various features Like boosting employee engagement and satisfaction with a continuous feedback approach. It allows managers to set the KRAs for the employees on the basis of their function and designation. A Study from Socialcast shows that 69% of work­ers will work hard­er if they know their work is val­ued and appre­ci­at­ed.

Expense management: Expense management software helps in streamlining the expense or reimbursement process to ensure payment of the right amount is done and tracks the status of all the processes of submissions till reimbursement. It eliminates the workload of managing it on paper by just simply uploading all the documents in the system and getting them approved with the automation in place.

Conclusion

Future of people management can be better if Automation is understood as the key. The optimization of the performance of the talent lies in workforce management, which is better ensured with automation. The Great resignation and the great depression have jolted the HR processes; now the automation process would help in the betterment of the quintessential.

With automation, the people management structures will have a dynamic shift and would see the human capital needs being met up by the industries.

A revisit of the talent strategy due to people management will ensure a formal audit of the existing process of the People, process, and technology framework. Data-driven improvements can take place, bringing efficiency and effectiveness.

Not just the employees who need the job, but employees who are skilled, talented, and employable would take the spotlight, which brings long-term rewards to the employers and businesses.

With the digital upgrade, electronic recruitment, virtual workforce payroll, real-time attendance, software solutions support, automated integration, and digital tools and apps, a lot can update and smoothen the way the people management can be upgraded with automation as the key.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken economies and people all around the world, including India. It did, however, benefit e-grocery by allowing essential-focused e-commerce platforms to safely supply services and products at home. There has been a transition in the expectations of customers from service providers to be responsive and omnipresent across all business channels.

What is a “dark store”?

The year was 2009 when the UK based retailer Tesco opened its first ‘dark store’ as part of the company’s response to rising demand on the internet. It seemed like something out of a sci-fi film when it was initially introduced. 13 years later, the concept of “Dark Stores” is on its road to becoming a widespread phenomenon and is becoming ubiquitous in the retail and e-commerce industry.

The term “dark store,” in a nutshell, refers to a retail distribution facility or an order fulfilment platform for online sales. The increase in the number of hyper-local dark stores has given rise to a new type of retail e-commerce called “quick-commerce” or “Q-commerce.”

The ‘Q-commerce’ industry growth story and what the future holds

After the pandemic had struck, there seemed to be a shift in the mindset of the Indian consumers which significantly contributed to the growth in the number of hyperlocal online stores. When online hyperlocal retailers weren’t a reality, there were three distinct observable patterns in consumer purchasing behaviour: stock-up, top-up, and unplanned purchases.

In contrast to traditional e-commerce and offline brick and mortar stores, hyperlocal delivery/logistics is especially sought to meet unplanned purchase behaviours.

Due to consumer dissatisfaction with the two-hour wait in receiving their groceries during the lockdown, a new era of lightning-fast deliveries began, which we now call ‘Quick-commerce’.

Demand for faster and more efficient delivery has led to a hiring frenzy in the Q-commerce industry.

Due to the short turnaround times for online grocery orders, having a sufficient number of employees on hand to fulfil them is critical. This is due to the difficulty of predicting customer demand, especially for new operations.

To reduce this limitation, we provide dark-store businesses with the necessary staffing solutions to let them grow their operations as needed.

In 2021, delivery service employment increased by 28%, and that increase is expected to reach 32% in 2022. Due to aggressive vaccination campaigns and solid economic recovery, job growth momentum is expected to continue. The intent to hire in the E-commerce tech start-up space is estimated to reach 69%, which represents staggering growth of approximately 20% from the third quarter.

As per a study by Redseer, the total addressable market (TAM) for quick-commerce in India is around $45 billion, driven by middle and upper-income families in Metro and Tier-1 cities.

In FY22, the Q-commerce sector hired between 70,000 and 80,000 gig workers, with a significant increase in Q3. According to our estimates, the quick-commerce industry already employs around 100,000 individuals and may employ twice as many in FY23 as in FY22(140,000 to 160,000).

We believe that the quick-commerce sector is exciting, which is why major e-commerce businesses want to join the bandwagon, despite the fact that the market is competitive. The more saturated the market becomes, the greater the chance of a price war; nevertheless, businesses are now more aware of the role they wish to play in terms of the value they provide to the customers and not engage in a price war.

There has been a notable improvement in the sector’s outlook over the past year, as investors are focusing on enterprises with long-term feasibility and uniqueness. Start-ups are now enthused about AI and automation because it opens up new possibilities for addressing the market and serving customers.

We believe that due to the price sensitivity of the market in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, quick-commerce penetration will be slower. Creating an influence in these places would certainly take time due to the necessity for these markets to adapt to newer technologies and behavioural changes.

Key takeaways from the dark-store growth story

1- Customers are loyal to the value they receive, not to the brand.

2- Business efficiency is accomplished by improving the supply chain and increasing agility.

3- New retail models, while disruptive, may have a shorter life cycle in the future owing to more advanced technologies.

4- For the foreseeable future, growth in logistics for the first and last miles will be inevitable and thus, newer business requirements would create newer roles in the industry.

5- In addition to grocery and food deliveries, pharmaceuticals, clothes, and fashion, a mixture of regular and gig workers will be required to meet workforce demands.

The Indian internet user base is expected to reach 900 million by 2025, according to a report by IAMAI and Kantar. Quick-commerce services are poised to expand even further into the country’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. There’s no doubt that as warehouse space gets bigger, delivery times will keep getting shorter. However, the real winners here are the customers.

Nobody knows what the retail and e-commerce industries’ future holds. What’s next: delivery by drone, self-driving cars, or something new?

Current scenario:

IT becomes one of the top paymasters with a salary growth greater than 10%. IT jobs are in demand, and profiles with specialised digital functions are in a better spot. Some of these jobs will also affect the telecom sector in India.
Telecom interestingly gets impacted when IT does. As per the recent reports, Bangalore & Delhi topped the list with high intent to hire. The IT sector had the highest intent to hire, with 89%. Hiring increased in tier-2/tier-3 cities due to improved demand. The salary growth is now at 9.23% for IT profiles in Q1 FY23. IT has become one of the top paymasters across; this directly and indirectly could impact the telecom sector.
Start-up hiring attracted talent from larger tech firms. The Telecom sector seems to be comfortable coming back to the pre-covid levels. Technology and telecom jobs can soar higher opportunities and offer hybrid working options.
The telecom sector constitutes 7% of all FDI inflows in the country. While there is a creation of an ecosystem taking place, it is not just the IT firms or the telecom sector that are involved.

Concerns/challenges with the Telecom sector

With newer opportunities & newer challenges, the telecom sector still seems to face a billow. The attrition rate is double-digit. 5G technology may take more time to be functional and operational in India. There could be a lack of balance on how in India it is formalised and distributed across in real time. With the delay and due to the upgrade, there might be functional delays, higher charges and overall add on in the expenses being incurred.

PLI for the Telecom Sector

Production Linked Incentive scheme is being implemented by the government of India and aids in the growth and development of the sector. In India, the PLI scheme can help generate employment while smart staffing solutions such as TeamLease Staffing can help in workforce management.

The Government of India has introduced the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Telecom and Networking products, so as to attract large-scale investments in telecom equipment manufacturing and augment the domestic production capacity.

The scheme encourages domestic and local production to create micro jobs and the motto of putting India to work by TeamLease works with a cause that can align with this. The scheme also encourages for foreign companies to find suitable staffing in India and hiring solutions formalisation can help get better employee management, engagement & DE & I initiatives to be effective.

In line with the larger objective of Make in India, it is expected that the Scheme will bring in investments of around ₹ 3,000 crores and generate large-scale employment. Due to this scheme there will be an incremental production of around ₹ 2.4 lakh crores with exports of around ₹ 2 lakh crores over 5 years.

The technical aspects of the scheme and how that can help the workforce transformation in the Telecom Sector to happen with the Speed of 5G.

The major scheme rolled out by the PLI, showcases scope for segments such as:

For this, the eligibility shall be subject to thresholds of incremental investment and incremental sales of manufactured good whereas for an example the tenure for the Support under the scheme shall be provided for a period of five (5) years from 1.04.2021and the Incentive of 7% to 4% on incremental sales (over base year) of goods manufactured in India.

Core Transmission Equipment, Access and Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), Internet of Things (IoT) Access Devices, and Other Wireless Equipment, 4G/5G, Next Generation Radio Access Network and Wireless Equipment, Enterprise equipment: Switches, Routers, Any Other Product: As decided by the EGoS.

The technical highlights of 5G:

1. Low band: Better coverage, better data exchange, 100 Mbps speed.
2. Mid-Band: limitations for coverage: speed lower than the high band: possible issues of penetration of signals
3. High Band: higher speed; limitations in coverage area; limitations in signal penetration
4. Final takeaway: 5G High band speed = 20 Gbps VS current 4G = 1 Gbps
5. What to expect: Mobile phones that support 5G are already out in the market in India; however, the possible launch of 5G in India is not certain.
6. What is already happening: Telecom equipment makers are manually testing the equipment.

Smart Staffing is taking the spot:

Considering the recent initiatives by the government in telecom, the sector is bound to grow at a faster rate and thus stands attractive to the talent in the country. 2022 is important for the telecom talent because The DoT is targeting a combination of 100% broadband connectivity in the villages, 55% fiberisation of mobile towers, average broadband speeds of 25 Mbps, and 30 lakh km of optic fibre rollouts by December 2022.

Digital distributions may change the nature of jobs and give rise to some super specialised jobs, but there is no second thought to the fact that there are going to be great employment opportunities in the telecom sector by 2022.

The PLI scheme in the Telecom & Networking Products sector is expected to attract large investments from global players and help domestic companies seize the emerging opportunities and become big players in the export market.

Outro: For a heavily connected digital neural network across cities in India, the Telecom sector sees Industrial IoT as a primary. Hyperconnectivity is the need for all businesses. Even big brands and companies would be planning to build up so as to take the UX to the next level, as 5G would be a revolution. The workforce force Transformation in the Telecom Sector can be said to be happening with the Speed of 5G.