E-commerce in India has grown rapidly since 2020. According to IBEF, the market is expected to reach USD 188 billion by 2025 and grow further to USD 350 billion by 2030. The logistics sector is growing too, with a projected value of USD 380 billion by the end of 2025.
In this blog, we break down what e-commerce logistics means for you as a seller. From storage and packaging to shipping, tracking, and returns, logistics now covers every step. As more brands sell directly to customers, a strong logistics setup is no longer optional, it’s a must.
What is e-commerce logistics?
E-commerce logistics includes everything from storing products to managing stock and shipping orders sold through an online store or marketplace. This includes everything from managing inventory to picking and packing customer orders for delivery.
The process generally begins with the movement of inventory from the manufacturer, and it ends upon the arrival of the shipment at the customer’s doorstep. Order fulfillment critical mechanism in e-commerce logistics-includes:
- Inventory control
- Warehousing and storage
- Picking, packing, and shipping orders
Order fulfillment can be done internally by the retailer or outsourced to a 3PL provider. Operationally, businesses should always keep inventory running on timely replenishment at distribution centers located strategically close to their customers. When the business opts to outsource logistics via 3PL, it must ensure that the 3PL firm can execute timely and accurate deliveries.
How do e-commerce logistics companies work?
E-commerce logistics powers the entire process of getting online orders from the seller to the customer’s doorstep. Once a customer places an order, logistics companies take charge of the entire fulfillment cycle, covering everything from picking, packing, and shipping to doorstep delivery. They also manage returns, exchanges, and refunds when necessary, ensuring a smooth end-to-end experience for both the brand and the customer.
Major challenges for e-commerce sellers and their solutions
Amazon’s promise of delivery within one or two days has increased customer expectations of buyers, who, in turn, expect every online seller to fulfill the orders at the earliest. Therefore, D2C brands and marketplace sellers have started to invest in 3P warehouses and distribution hubs in strategic locations.
The use of smart shipping portals and technology integrations such as AI, machine learning, AR, advanced robotics, and process automation must be considered by logistics companies to remain competitive. These give the capacity for the faster processing of shipments with fewer errors and inefficiencies.
Top e-commerce logistics companies in India
Many logistics and courier service providers are competing in India to serve the different requirements of the e-commerce sector. For any online business, a dependable and scalable logistics partner is the key to seamless supply chain management and on-time deliveries. Choosing the best logistics company in India becomes imperative for smooth e-commerce deliveries, whether one runs a small online store or a huge marketplace operation.
Here’s a top-10 list of logistics firms in India which you may explore courier solutions that you can trust.
Bigship
Bigship is one of the fastest-growing logistics aggregator platforms in India. Hence, it is meant to simplify shipping for e-commerce sellers, D2C brands, and SMEs. Offering multiple courier partners, real-time tracking, tools for automated shipping, and competitive pricing, Bigship has made itself a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes. In addition, with its AI-based courier recommendation engine and NDR/RTO management tools, Bigship helps sellers save costs, reduce return rates, and improve delivery efficiency.
Founded: 2019
Service Area: 29,000+ pin codes across India
Key Features: Smart courier recommendation feature, branded tracking pages, COD services, and automated NDR panel.
Blue Dart
Blue Dart is among the most recognizable names in the logistics industry, with a very wide delivery network across India and internationally through its association with DHL. The company boasts of having an air hub in Chennai, with support from the airport-based fleet of 6 Boeing 757 freighters and 11,122 ground vehicles. Its domestic hubs cover metropolitan cities and major centers such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Indore, Pune, Kochi, and more.
Founded: 1983
Pin Code Coverage: 22,300+
Additional Services: Cash on Delivery (COD), express shipping, scheduled deliveries, weather-resistant packaging, and computerized proof-of-delivery.
Delhivery
Delhivery, located in Gurugram, is one of the most recognizable e-commerce logistics companies in India. The company builds flexible and trustworthy supply chains cheaply and thus has successfully evolved itself into a reliable logistics partner. With a client base of 23,000+ active sellers such as e-commerce companies, D2C brands, online marketplaces, retailers, and SMEs across several industries, Delhivery is basically an online delivery choice.
Founded: 2011
Pin Code Coverage: 17,000+
Infrastructure: 21 Automated Sort Centers, 122 Gateways, 93 Fulfillment Centers, 2,521 Direct Delivery Centers, and 86,000+ Ensured Workforce.
DTDC
Headquartered in Bangalore, DTDC Express Limited is another prominent name in the courier and logistics industry in India. DTDC has contributed and reshaped logistics services in India for over 30 years now, with 7 Zonal offices, 20 Regional Hubs, and 430+ operational locations. With its robust global presence, DTDC operates in 240+ international locations, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, China, UAE, and major Asian countries.
Founded: 1990
Pin Code Coverage: 10,500+
Key Services: Domestic cargo for bulk shipments, express parcel delivery for smaller packages, and intracity drop-and-pick solutions for urban customers.
Ekart Logistics
Headquartered in Bangalore, Ekart Logistics, also known as Ekart Courier, was formerly a Flipkart in-house supply chain arm and continued to evolve into a trusted shipper for many companies throughout the landscape of India. It promises to deliver same-day delivery in 13 cities and next-day delivery in 50 cities with great coverage of speed and reliability. That reputation of Ekart earned in e-commerce logistics is due to its automated shipping solutions, smooth reverse logistics, and efficient returns management.
Founded: 2009
Pincode Coverage Number: 3,800+
Value-added Services Include: Same-day delivery, next-day delivery, and COD services.
Shadowfax
Shadowfax is the biggest player in hyperlocal deliveries and e-commerce fulfillment. With more than 100,000 active delivery partners spread across 900 cities, it manages over 20 million shipments every month, also offering services like under-30-minute deliveries, quick API integrations, real-time tracking, and tech-enabled security. Shadowfax ensures end-to-end fulfillment with speed and precision.
Founded: 2015
Pin Code Coverage: 7,600+
Key Services: Hyperlocal deliveries, e-commerce shipping, and quick-commerce solutions.
XpressBees
XpressBees from Pune is known for simplifying shipping, in a way, and “delivering happiness” with every shipment. Running an arm of third-party logistics, the company assists in cross-border logistics solutions by air and surface transportation. The company handles over 3+ million shipments daily with the assistance of a skilled workforce and is considered amongst the top logistics companies and service providers in India.
Founded: 2015
Delivery Coverage: 2,500+ cities
Network Strength: 3,000+ offices, 52+ cargo airports, 100+ hubs, 10 lakh+ sq. ft. warehouse space, and 35,000+ on-ground executives.
Ecom Express
Ecom Express operates out of Gurgaon to make delivery more efficient and operationally sustainable for e-commerce sellers. The company offers tech-based automated solutions in its portfolio, including Ecom Express Services (EXS), Ecom Fulfilment Services (EFS), and Ecom Digital Services (EDS).
Founded: 2012
Pin Code Coverage: 17,000+
Network Coverage: Over 2,650 towns, 2,930+ operational facilities, and over 10 lakh sq. ft. of fulfillment center space.
India Post
India Post, headquartered at the New Delhi office, is the government-based postal department of India. It has an excellent network of about 155,000 post offices, making it the largest postal network globally. It was operationally established to cater to individual mail needs but has now extended its service provisions to the fast-rising e-commerce logistics industry.
Founded: 1854
Pin Code Coverage: 19,100+
DHL
DHL, being one of the oldest, most experienced, and reputed courier companies around the globe, is also the pioneering force in the logistics sector worldwide. Created initially in the USA and now headquartered in Germany, DHL made international expansion by the late 1970s. It offers all kinds of services, including the courier of parcels around the world, express courier, air, road, and ocean freight, and also complete supply chain management.
Founded: 1969
Delivery Coverage: 220+ countries and territories.
Evolution of e-commerce logistics
The landscape of e-commerce logistics has undergone a series of crucial phases over several decades. A broader timeline for its transformation is as follows:
- 1970s: Traditional retail stores were supplanted with delivery directly handled by suppliers and wholesalers.
- 1980s: Retailers streamlining deliveries by setting up and running their distribution centers.
- 1990s: Retailers now ship non-food products, and global sourcing also becomes a commonplace activity. This transformation gave rise to import hubs and delivery centers dedicated to exchanging goods.
- 2000s: The emergence of e-commerce changed logistics forever as retailers went on to construct e-fulfillment distribution networks to serve the rising demand of customers the world over.
Modern Logistics Chain
Today, direct links between suppliers and retailers have grown, but global logistics involves many steps to make sure customers get their orders quickly and properly.
- Suppliers-Manufacturers or producers keep inventory ready to ship. They ship goods to fulfillment or distribution centers once a purchase order is granted.
- Fulfillment Centers-Large warehouses positioned near the final customer where orders are selected, packed, and shipped to allow for quick delivery.
- Distribution Hubs-Various regional storage and dispatch points for e-commerce brands for reduced transit times at lowered shipping rates, separate for D2C and B2B needs.
- Sorting Facility-Enabled to sort and organize bulk shipments of thousands of SKUs for large e-commerce operations.
- Carriers-Logistics service providers who, through networks of roads and skies, take parcels to their final destinations, including FedEx, UPS, Blue Dart, and DHL.
E-commerce Courier Recommendation
To an e-commerce seller, selecting a courier partner is crucial as the very essence of delivery speed, shipping costs, and customer satisfaction depends on it. Bigship’s automated courier recommendation engine automatically selects the best courier for each shipment, considering factors such as return rates, delivery time, and price to ensure smooth and cost-effective deliveries.
NDR Dashboard
If managed well, returns and failed deliveries can be detrimental. With Bigship’s NDR (Non-Delivery Report) dashboard, you can quickly keep tabs on shipments that were not delivered, get in touch with these customers immediately, and seek their feedback through automated IVR and SMS. This proactive system thus helps reduce your RTO (Return to Origin) rates by up to 25%, saving you time and expenses.
Conclusion
The e-commerce logistics world has evolved from a simple supplier-to-retailer model into a complex, technology-driven network designed to meet ever-growing customer needs. From same-day deliveries to AI-powered tracking, the modern logistics chain is no longer just about shipping products, it’s about ensuring speed, accuracy, and an exceptional post-purchase experience.
Bigship is the smart courier recommendation as they offer advanced NDR management, real-time tracking, and a multi-carrier network, empowering e-commerce businesses to streamline shipping, reduce RTOs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Sellers who partner with the right logistics solutions can bring a vast difference in their logistics services.
Sign up with Bigship today and experience hassle-free e-commerce shipping like never before!
