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Meesho launches last-mile logistics marketplace Valmo

Entrackr · 10m

Meesho on Wednesday announced the launch of Valmo, a last-mile logistics marketplace that allows the network of micro-entrepreneurs to become Meesho partners and deliver orders in their nearby areas. Presently, only the logistics partners deal with Meesho’s orders but the company may open it for other e-commerce companies as well, a company executive said during a media roundtable. The move appears to be an attempt to raise a logistics infrastructure. “Valmo aims to create a national logistics solution by eliminating entry barriers for local players and helping them grow their businesses,” the company said in a press release. The company said it is building technological capabilities internally as well as with SaaS providers for deliveries through what it describes as the disaggregated network. It has also partnered ElasticRun, FarEye, LoadShare and Shipsy to create tech stack for Valmo. Meesho added that Valmo currently helps manage over 9 lakh orders on a daily basis which accounts for nearly 18% of third party e-commerce shipments in India. “Nearly 3,000 micro entrepreneurs who act as business partners ensure smooth functioning of these operations. This initiative has helped generate 35,000 indirect jobs through sustained engagement with these local partners,” the company said. It is worth highlighting that several companies including Amazon and Myntra have already tried to create such networks for last-mile delivery. That said, the move makes sense for Meesho which has emerged as the third largest e-commerce company after Flipkart and Amazon. Flipkart and Amazon both have separate logistics units: eKart and Amazon Transport Services. Unlike Valmo, both companies are full-fledged logistics units. Raising a full stack logistics infra requires a lot of capital and Meesho appears not to go that way. Meesho continues to work with Delhivery, Shadowfax, XpressBees, Ecom Express, among others for its logistics requirements.