Flipkart’s Top Executives Turn ‘Delivery Boys’

After bringing the shopping experience to homes, Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal will now show up at the doorsteps of some customers, personally delivering goods and trying to gain insights into the online buyer’s psyche.

“Over the next 15-20 days, everyone will go out and deliver to customers, starting with some of the leaders,” said Binny Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart, India’s largest online marketplace.

While Flipkart has grown to become an e-commerce juggernaut valued at over $15 billion, the gesture is also a reminder of Flipkart’s early days back in 2007, when the two Bansals scurried across Bengaluru on their scooters to deliver books.

“We want to learn more about the market, customers and understand what the need is for the future — also to thank them,” said Bansal, who has seen his personal fortune swell because of Flipkart’s valuation. Both the Bansals debuted on Forbes’ rich list this year with an estimated wealth of about $1.3 billion each.

Joining them for the home visits will be Mukesh Bansal, who heads Flipkart’s e-commerce business, and leaders including Punit Soni, chief product officer, Ankit Nagori, chief business officer, and KV Anand, senior vice president customer experience. Earlier this week, after Flipkart kicked off Big Billion Days, a five-day shopping festival offering discounts, the company sent 50,000 postcards to prospective buyers in some of India’s remotest areas, encouraging them to shop online.

Flipkart CEO Sachin Bansal tweeted: