D2C comes in 2 flavours:

• Existing manufacturers who diversify their target audience through D2C as part of their omnichannel strategy
• The second being true D2C players, most of whom are digital native.

Logistics aggregators offer end-to-end services, including warehousing and last mile delivery. To provide these services efficiently, they will need to increase their manpower as overall consumerism will go up. Supply chain will also require integration with the upstream and downstream processes.

D2C business models are disrupting the traditional business model and are transforming to a digital experience to engage with more customers.

New trends and opportunities have also led the D2C industry in India. These include an increase in personalized offerings, a greater focus on fulfilling current needs, the adoption of social media and influencer marketing, and the increase in subscription services. In short, the D2C market is expected to thrive in the coming years due to a shift in consumer buying behavior and rise in online presence caused by the pandemic.

The FMCG supply chain is changing quickly, and emphasis is shifting to digital and social media platforms for product distribution. There will be an increase in positions in digital marketing, performance marketing, omnichannel specialists and social media experts, data science, data analytics, user interface and experience design, information security.

The trend has also led to an increase in the number of people employed for automated warehouse, inventory management, website / application design development, data analytics, AI-powered customer support, and the IoT.

A 3PL provider will help D2C brands scale their business in terms of:

• Managing infrastructure and order volumes through adequate manpower and storage space.
• Providing faster delivery
• Low shipping cost

D2C brands have become very popular in recent years. To compete with e-commerce giants and meet customer expectations, D2C brands need to improve their fulfillment capabilities.

By understanding what customers want and need, businesses can develop better products and services that meet those needs. This can be done by collecting data, analyzing it, and using it to improve their offerings. Additionally, businesses can leverage their brand history to create products that resonate with customers.

Today, millennials are increasingly spending money online, and they expect a personalized, convenient experience from brands. This presents an opportunity for brands to provide more value and a better experience to consumers. A D2C approach helps create a consumer centric business while increasing revenue and meeting growth targets.

Intent to hire trend by manufacturing sectors

Despite short-term setbacks due to the pandemic, the manufacturing sector has had many positive and robust outcomes. In the comprehensive overview of the mechanics of hiring, job growth, job creation, salaries and their drivers in our quarterly report, this progressive outcome has been further reinforced by data.

The intent to hire trend shows an impressive intent in sectors like Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals and FMCG with a remarkable intent of 92% and 79%, respectively. Electric Vehicle & Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, and Textile are some of the sectors that show a moderate intent to hire with a growth range from 4%-5%.

Employment outlook by job level and function

High job opportunities and demand witnessed growth in metro as well as non-metro cities. Junior level and entry level professionals ruled the roost in the hiring marketplace. The demand for entry level talent recorded the best every year.

Manufacturing firms are looking to scale in a post-pandemic world and are staffing their frontlines with young talent. Junior level talent (57%) commands the best demand hierarchically and is closely followed by entry-level talent (51%).

Festive season hiring demonstrated a high demand for young talents to be deployed in sales and marketing. These two are, moreover, the most focused functions companies are boiling down on. The hiring intent for sales topped the most with an impressive 95% high, followed by marketing and Information Technology at 79% and 77%, respectively.

Engineering and Blue Collar (both at 67%) have relatively significant hiring intent as well, and the healthy quantum of hiring in these functions indicates the thrust manufacturing firms are putting on operations.

Intend to hire by business size

The manufacturing industry is vital for global populations’ health and national security, and supply has increased and faced new challenges along the way. Driven by rising demand for increasing asset utilisation in manufacturing industries, large manufacturing firms witness hiring intent of 65% by a massive margin as they ramp up to cater to festive hiring demand and optimise production capacities. Small as well as medium-sized businesses lagged behind large firms by 41% and 39%, respectively.

Attrition trends

The Manufacturing industry seems to be doing a good job retaining talent, except for Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals. All other sectors sit pretty with low single-digit attrition rates.

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals witnessed a 3.42% increase and Manufacturing, Engineering & Infrastructure witnessed (1.62%) the highest increases in their attrition rates during the Jul-Sep 2022-23 quarter.

Some of the positive indicators to sum up from the employment outlook Q3 report include the following:

• India’s intent to hire for October – December 2022 is at 65%, an increase of 4% from last quarter.
• Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, FMCG, Agricultural & Agrochemical, Manufacturing & Engineering, and Electric Vehicle & Infrastructure sector are the top sectors with high intent to hire.
• Metro and Tier-1 cities lead the hiring spree with the highest Intent to hire of 91%.
• Mumbai (93%), Bangalore (90%), and Chennai (83%) are among the top cities looking to hire.
• The hiring intent for Junior level roles sees the highest intent to hire of 57%, followed by entry level positions at 51%.
• Sales (95%), Marketing (79%), and IT (77%) talent continue to be the highest in demand, followed by the demand for engineering and blue-collar roles.
• Notable double-digit attrition is observed in the Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Sector.

Despite an inconsistent global economic scenario, the majority of employers remain optimistic about their hiring intent and market demand amid pandemic and geopolitical conflicts.

Do grab the latest copy of TeamLease Employment Outlook Report Q3 FY23 (Manufacturing and Allied Industries Edition)

Why was the National Logistics Policy Launched? What are the challenges faced by the businesses?

One could reasonably speculate that India’s logistics have advanced greatly and caught up to international norms as a result of the third-party logistics (3PL) revolution and its accompanying Same Day/Next Day delivery services. Quite the opposite is true.

Indian companies are currently facing a struggle on the logistics front. In India, the cost to carry one metric ton of goods by air is ₹18, by road it is₹ 3.6, and by rail it is merely ₹1.6 per metric ton per kilometer, hence it stands to reason that a sizable portion of India’s goods are transported by rail.

But the reality is about 71% of India’s trade is conducted via roadways, whereas just 17.5 % is transported via rail, and a similarly small percentage is conducted via waterways. If you’re wondering why, it’s because India simply doesn’t have enough rails or trains to handle the volume of goods being transported.

Moreover, in India, passenger and freight trains share the same tracks, with the latter being given lower priority. There will consequently be holdups because of this Thirdly, you should always go with multi-modal transport for last-mile and first-mile shipments when sending anything by train.

Most businesses in India prefer to use road transport, where they simply reload trucks to get from A to B, rather than dealing with the complexities of the country’s complex logistics system, which involves more than 20 government agencies, 37 export promotion councils, 500 certifications, and 10,000 commodities.

How’s National Logistics Policy going to help in employment and employability?

In India’s logistics industry, qualified workers are in short supply. The Logistics Skill Council predicts that by 2022, the logistics industry will have increased to 2.2 Crore employees. Still, closing significant knowledge gaps in the logistics industry is essential if we’re going to satisfy this demand. Some professions, like truck drivers, find it difficult to attract and keep employees. This is because people have a negative connotation toward these occupations, and they are paid less than average. Further, workers have few options for making up for the salary they lose while in training. Training programmes don’t always cater to the needs of individual jobs. Coupled with the industry’s high turnover, this reduces the financial motivation for businesses to invest in staff training. Telematics, warehouse automation, mechatronics, etc., are just a few examples of the specific talents that will be necessary in the logistics industry as technology advances.

Employment: The combined efforts of the federal, state, and private sectors, according to experts, may produce massive job and entrepreneurship prospects for thousands of individuals. More than 2.2 crore people in India rely on the logistics industry for their livelihood; with this strategy in place, a large influx of new workers is anticipated.

Employability: The supply chain’s back-end operations and planning are where India is really starting to shine as a global powerhouse. So, it’s a great chance to be at the forefront of providing skilled labour to meet the demands of international supply chains.

This can only be accomplished if both the national and state governments are equipped to the teeth with state-of-the-art technology.

The Department of Personnel Training (DoPT) is responsible for the training of government officials; hence, they have developed the Integrated Government Online Training (IGoT) platform to create mandatory certificate courses with evaluation. It’s an online school for civil servants across the country.

The National Logistics Policy of India is touted to be a policy that is going to transform the logistical landscape of the country and is expected to be the next big step in making India ‘Atma Nirbhar’. Will this big step help India Inc. reach the $5 trillion mark? Only time can tell.

Outcomes 

As per the report on Workforce Formalisation, nearly half, 43% of all employers treat formalisation as a priority, and employers across sectors are split right down the middle on the question of priority accorded to formalization. Employers of large organizations report being greatly inclined towards prioritizing adopting formalization. An overwhelming proportion of this group (80%) has already initiated major steps in ensuring a formalised workforce. 

The FMCG sector is still respected by many and is considered the best place to work. The challenges faced by the FMCG sector today contribute to higher staff turnover, as talent chooses to move to other industries. This can be addressed by addressing the key areas: Absence of social security, lack of employee engagement, low wages, frequent business change, restructuring, and lack of leave and medical benefits. Good training and upskilling is a key to retaining talent and reducing attrition.

Healthcare organizations must manage the transition of current employees to new and different ways of working. They must also consider the needs of a future workforce that can deliver health outcomes in a health care system fundamentally different from today. Healthcare would adhere to statutory compliance as a step towards workforce formalization.

Way Ahead

As per the report on Workforce Formalisation, 61% of the employers in these three sectors expect attrition reduction to be the topmost business benefit as a consequence of formalization. In our recent webinar on ‘Formalisation of Workforce for Productive Outcomes, one of the speakers spoke a few things about how soon organizations will implement formalisation.

Firstly, how companies can train their employees to develop the right skill set. Further, provide them with skill badges and make them feel recognised and part of the system. Secondly, to provide insurance plans to gig workers in remote areas. Also, there was also a discussion about the Ayushman Bharat Scheme launched by the government.

Organizations should not look at this as a cost-saving or a CSR activity but rather ensure employees feel a sense of belongingness. A stable workforce performs better. The USP has to be the safety of employees at all levels. Formalising the workforce entails not only treating the employees with social security benefits but also having a reward and recognition programme.

Formalisation of the Workforce will also lead to a boost in productivity as well as the economy. The composition of People, Process and Technology should be evolving as a support to more formal employment.

The Wheel of Reinventing Continues

Flexible sourcing provides opportunities to explore alternative practice models and partnerships, enables the transition to flexible work structures and methods, and ensures that organizations have the right skills at the right time to respond. This enables companies to find the right mix by focusing on personal availability.

56% Employers are priortising Workforce Formalisation with Third Party Payroll, where 64% have initiated major steps and 67% are planning to implement within a year.

Workforce formalisation will be an immense change for businesses and will not only reduce attrition, enhance productivity, optimize workforce but also make them realise that the benefits of third party payroll outsourcing could be an important step for their overall success.

Click here to download your copy of the Report on Formalisation of Workforce.

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?