Walmart-owned Flipkart on June 16, said it has set up a new fulfillment center (warehouse) in West Bengal, its second-largest in the state, that will help in creating nearly 3,500 direct jobs, reports The Economic Times. Spread across an area of over 2.2 lakh sq ft, the new facility in Dankuni will cater to the needs of Flipkart and Myntra customers in the region and bolster the e-commerce major’s efforts to ramps up supply chain infrastructure in the eastern part of the country.
The facility will also help thousands of sellers offer a wider selection and enable faster deliveries of customer orders within the region and neighbouring states while also helping create national market access, according to a statement.
Unlike traditional warehouses, fulfillment centers are equipped with a highly automated pick, pack, and shipping processes to facilitate safe and timely processing of orders. With the addition of this new facility in Dankuni, Flipkart now has more than 10 lakh sq ft of warehousing space in the state alone and employs over 50,000 people across all these facilities.
According to Flipkart, 52 percent of its customers in this region are from Tier II and beyond cities, reflecting the growing adoption of eCommerce services. The Eastern part of the country has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions for the eCommerce industry.
Also, Read This: Singapore-based Xander Acquired 31-acre Logistic Park In West Bengal
Hemant Badri, Senior Vice-President, Supply Chain at Flipkart, said, “We are strengthening our supply chain presence in West Bengal, and this expansion will help support small and medium businesses from the state while creating thousands of employment opportunities.”
On the new fulfillment center, Kalyan Banerjee, a Member of Parliament, said, “We have all benefited tremendously in the past few months with the relentless efforts of eCommerce companies. Flipkart has shown deep commitment in bringing a world-class, technology-enabled supply chain to the state and complementing the government’s efforts in meeting the needs of customers and safely delivering essentials.”
Flipkart has seven fulfillment centers in West Bengal, with a total area spread across 10 lakh sq ft and 152 delivery hubs. The state has the 10th largest seller base with 10,000 sellers.
E-commerce has seen strong growth in the country amid the pandemic as containment measures introduced millions to the convenience of online shopping, and prompted seasoned online shoppers to buy more.
Flipkart has partnered with Biswa Bangla — a West Bengal government entity — to showcase the traditional Bengali handicrafts, fabrics, and artifacts on Flipkart Samarth.
Also, Read This: Flipkart To Strengthen Grocery Supply Chain Infrastructure In Next Three Months