E-commerce Business Jarur Dekhe! Logistics Explained. #FoundersUnfiltered

Introduction

Welcome to this special breakfast event where we have the pleasure of hosting Gaurav Mangala, the founder of Picture.com. In this engaging session, Gaurav talks about his journey and insights into e-commerce and logistics. Here's what transpired in the discussion:

Introduction to Gaurav Mangala and Picture.com

Gaurav Mangala, the founder of Picture.com, shares his entrepreneurial journey. Graduating in 2013 with a degree in Maths and Computing from IIT, Gaurav initially joined a consulting company. There, he met Ankit, a fellow IIT graduate from Kanpur, and they both decided to start their venture. They came up with the idea of making all offline interviews online, introducing innovations in real-time peer video conferencing and collaboration tools.

Evolution and Expansion of Picture.com

Picture.com aimed to transform the interview process by creating a platform where interviews could be conducted more efficiently, enabling real-time collaboration and coding tests. Eventually, Gaurav and his team expanded into logistics, addressing the challenges faced by e-commerce businesses in managing their supply chains.

Picture.com's Logistics Solutions

Picture.com provides an end-to-end logistics solution for e-commerce platforms. Their service encompasses order generation, courier services, customer interaction, and visibility through a logistics panel. Customers can track their orders, ensuring a seamless delivery experience.

Highlights of Picture.com's Services

Logistics Panel: Offers visibility and tracking of orders throughout the delivery process.
Order Management: Manages everything from order placement to delivery.
Customer Interaction: Sends messages to customers regarding delivery status, ensuring clear communication.

Gaurav’s Entrepreneurial Journey

Before venturing into logistics, Gaurav and his co-founder, Ankit, worked in IT consulting and then started developing platforms to move offline interviews online. Their initiative transitioned from doing campus recruitments to handling large-scale logistics for e-commerce, which eventually led to starting Picture.com.

Challenges and Innovations in Logistics

Gaurav outlines the logistical challenges and innovative solutions they have implemented:

Packaging and Labeling: Initially, they managed packaging and labeling in a rented house before scaling up to larger operations.
Delivery Optimization: They developed proprietary algorithms to optimize delivery routes, ensuring efficiency.
Customer Validation: Introducing address and phone number validations to minimize returns and improve delivery accuracy.

Future of Logistics with Picture.com

Gaurav envisions further advancements in the logistics sector. He discusses the potential use of drones and other technological innovations to enhance delivery systems. However, he emphasizes the importance of addressing security and infrastructure challenges.

Marketing and Customer Onboarding

Gaurav explains the strategies for onboarding customers and marketing their logistics solutions. They focus on digital marketing, cross-selling, and notifications to attract and retain clients.

Conclusion

Gaurav shares his thoughts on the importance of adapting to changes and continuously innovating in the business landscape. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to be flexible and persistent, ensuring they evolve with the market and customer needs.

Keyword

E-commerce
Logistics
Real-time Collaboration
Order Management
Customer Interaction
Delivery Optimization
Packaging and Labeling
Address Validation
Drones
Digital Marketing

FAQ

Q: What services does Picture.com offer for e-commerce businesses?
A: Picture.com offers end-to-end logistics solutions, including order management, courier services, customer interaction, visibility through a logistics panel, and delivery tracking.

Q: How does Picture.com optimize delivery routes?
A: Picture.com utilizes proprietary algorithms to find the shortest and most efficient delivery routes, ensuring timely delivery and reducing logistical costs.

Q: How does Picture.com handle customer address validation?
A: Picture.com performs address and phone number validations to minimize returns and improve delivery accuracy. They use a two-step filtration process to confirm the validity before dispatch.

Q: What future innovations does Picture.com plan to implement in logistics?
A: Gaurav discusses the potential use of drones for deliveries, but also highlights the need to address security and infrastructure challenges before wide-scale implementation.

Q: What marketing strategies does Picture.com use to attract customers?
A: Picture.com leverages digital marketing, cross-selling, notifications, and customer engagement activities to attract and retain clients.

Q: What advice does Gaurav Mangala give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
A: Gaurav advises entrepreneurs to be adaptable, continue innovating, and persistently address market and customer needs to succeed in their ventures.