Surviving the Q-Commerce Wave: How Kirana Stores Can Fight Back
𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐-𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐯𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐊𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 India’s kirana stores have withstood decades of disruption—from the rise of supermarkets to the e-commerce boom. But today, they face perhaps their toughest challenge yet: the rapid rise of quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart. What once gave kiranas an edge—personal relationships, hyperlocal convenience, flexible credit—is now being outpaced by 10-minute deliveries, app-based ordering, and deep discounting. Delivery-based income, especially post-COVID, is shrinking. From major metros to towns like Mangaluru, kiranas are feeling the squeeze. But here’s the turning point: many kiranas are not giving up. They’re evolving. Digital transformation is no longer optional—it’s existential. Tools like Near.Store and KiranaPro are helping these shops digitise inventories, manage real-time stock, streamline payments, and even plug into ONDC’s public infrastr...