Bengaluru: Application-based companies that offer two-wheeled vehicle rental see a surge in demand from shipping agents, whose numbers in the city grow.
Pandemic has accelerated the trend of getting almost everything delivered at home.
Companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, Dunzo, Telyport, Rapido, Porter, Lynk, Pindrop, Amazon, Flipkart, Grofers, Jiomart, Licious and Bigbasket employs thousands of shipping personnel in the city.
Many people lost their jobs or facing salary cuts after the Covid-19 crisis also took the delivery gigs.
Those who cannot buy new two wheels rent scooters and bicycles for the job.
According to Vogo, twowheeler rental startup, shipping executives and frontline workers only contributed 8 percent of the total demand in September 2020.
This increased to 54 percent in April this year as the second wave of Covid-19 gripping the city.
“From 54 percent, people racers contributed 46 percent of their use.
Personal use, which is the biggest contributor to being asked for normal times, only contributing 20 percent of use during the same period (April 2021),” Vogo spokesman said.
Many Vogo customers rent scooters for a minimum of two to three days, use a vehicle repeatedly or keep one for an emergency.
VIVAKANYA HALLEKERE, CEO and Co-Founder Bounce, rental of two-wheeled vehicles, said that the labor industry was one segment that had witnessed a positive change due to the nature of the pandemic.
“There has been a big demand for home, food, and other products,” he added.
Amit Gupta, Founder and CEO of Yulu Bikes Electric Scooter rental company, said that more delivery executives used its services than before.
“They consisted of 3 to 4 percent of daily active users on September 2020, increased numbers to around 12 percent in June 2021.
We launch a long-term rental plan, including benefits such as non-limited battery swaps, to provide more value for customers,” he said , According to Vinay Sarathy, the president of the Food Giving Food Partner, many workers first bought smartphones and then rented scooters because they were affordable.
“Everyone cannot afford to buy a new scooter.
Some people deliver food in the cycle,” he said.
The transfer of workers from the city after the pandemic has created the need for more personnel.
“We work closely with several NGOs to enable communities and women who are marginalized to access bounce bones at low costs and learn how to drive two-wheeled vehicles,” Hallekere said.
“We have also worked with leading hyperlocal shipping companies to support their shipping personnel.”