Zepto launches 10-minutes medicine delivery service in four cities

With the launch of its medicine delivery service in 10 minutes, Zepto has crossed yet another frontier in quick commerce in India by doing this all across the four prominent cities. Having revolutionized grocery delivery with a promise of ultra-fast delivery, the company is now venturing into something else in the healthcare space, trying to make essentials available to customers in record time. This is done as convenience, speed, and reliability become vital aspects bemusing the way to purchase not only daily essentials but also healthcare products.

A Zepto delivery rider speeds through the city—symbolizing India’s surge in ultra-fast, 10-minute quick-commerce.

The service works and is live in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad; a rapid expansion to other cities is on the cards in the months to come. The company ensures that through its dense network of dark stores and efficient delivery systems, customers are able to order prescription medicines for delivery in just 10 minutes. This is done on the micro-warehouse model, wherein strategically located micro-warehouses are stocked with full listings of pharmaceutical products in the market so that the riders can deliver orders for medicines in minutes.

This innovation is going to fill in a serious gap for the customers. Typical chemists, including those offering e-pharmacy services, can take hours or even a day to deliver medicines, which can be a major hassle when the need is immediate. Zepto entering this field ought to greatly decrease wait times for people who need a quick turnaround for prescribed drugs. The delivery also includes over-the-counter products, health supplements, and basic medical supplies, further establishing itself as a stop solution for immediate healthcare needs.

Safety and compliance have remained at the forefront of the new service. Zepto partners with licensed pharmacies and ensures that all prescription medicines will be delivered only after the relevant prescription has been uploaded and verified by a licensed pharmacist. The company has also developed protocols to ensure that all temperature-sensitive medications are handled according to the requirements for transit.

The diversification into healthcare fits neatly into Zepto's bigger picture, that of being more than just a grocery delivery app. By taking advantage of and driving home the necessity-based pharmaceutical market, it enhances its value proposition and the diversity of its customer base. Furthermore, it also places itself directly in competition with more established e-pharmacy players like PharmEasy, Tata 1mg, and Netmeds, with speed being the single most important factor in favor.

As quick commerce in India evolves, the 10 minutes that Zepto is using for medicine delivery might just set new business standards. Well, that is if they manage it to work, for which purpose it would involve an absolute overhaul of the view of delivery of these healthcare products, making it possible to make an urgent delivery of medicines as normal as ordering groceries or meals.

The success of this project will, however, depend upon the conformance with the highest degree of reliability, medical regulation compliance, and product availability without dilution of delivery time. If achieved, Zepto will have redefined convenience in healthcare just like it did for groceries.