Women bring home the sales, delivering festival wins for e-com firms

India's e-commerce industry is increasingly creating opportunities for women, hiring them in large numbers this festival season to cater to the surge in sales.

- PEERZADA ABRAR

E-commerce firm Flipkart announced that its supply chain expansion will generate over 100,000 job opportunities across India to meet high demand during the festival season. The company has launched 11 fulfilment centres across nine cities. Among the blue-collar workforce hired for this festival season, Flipkart reported a 24 per cent increase in women employed compared to The Big Billion Days sale event in 2023.

Prajakta Kanaglekar, vice-president of supply chain, tech, and CxHR at Flipkart, said that as the e-commerce sector evolves, the representation of women in traditionally male-dominated roles, such as warehouse operations and last-mile deliveries, is increasingly recognised as essential for unlocking new efficiencies and perspectives.

"These women are taking on key roles in warehouses, such as picking and packing, as well as in our last-mile operations across India, contributing to our growth and strengthening our operational capabilities," said Kanaglekar.

Among them is Kiran Rawat, a delivery executive (wishmaster) at Flipkart in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. To meet the increased demand during the festival season, Rawat noted that Flipkart provides her with constant support and guidance for smooth deliveries across the far-flung areas of Rishikesh.