The concept of dark stores is gaining traction in the Indian online shopping landscape, as major online platforms seek to expand consumer reach. This has resulted in an increase in rental rates across major cities. Dark stores, located in city centers and dependent on micro-markets within each city, generally command higher rental rates compared to warehouses. Rental rates range from Rs 40 to Rs 250 per square foot.
A “dark store” refers to a retail outlet or warehouse that is solely used for processing online orders and is not accessible to the public. These facilities are also known as dark shops, dark supermarkets, dotcom centers, or ghost stores. They function as distribution hubs for storing inventory and packaging products.
USAGE Fulfillment centers for various retail categories such as groceries, home goods & apparel brands
SIZE
Dark stores are typically 3,000 to 10,000 sq ft
In-city outlet sizes: Between 25,000 & 50,000 sq ft
OPTIMISED ORDER FULFILLMENT
Dark stores operate round the clock
Enable more convenient pickup schedules
They facilitate faster order processing
EFFICIENT ROUTE OPTIMISATION
They harness GPS and data analytics
Streamline delivery process for faster service
Can plan delivery routes that maximize van capacity
