A Hyderabad man, named Dinesh, recently joined Zepto as a part-time delivery partner to gain firsthand insights into the day-to-day operations of the delivery sector. The individual, inspired by a similar experience shared by a Bengaluru woman, documented his journey on X (formerly Twitter), sharing his observations, challenges, and the financial prospects of delivery work.
How Much Do Zepto Delivery Partners Earn?
Dinesh’s motivation was to understand the inner workings of the e-commerce delivery landscape. He revealed that Zepto’s full-time delivery partners can earn up to Rs 40,000 per month for nine hours of work each day. Part-time workers, putting in 4-5 hours daily, could earn around Rs 25,000 monthly, while those working exclusively on Sundays for nine hours can make up to Rs 12,000.
Dinesh noted that his experience included conversations with riders, customers, and store managers, which highlighted several operational challenges.
What Problems Did Dinesh Face?
In one of his posts, Dinesh pointed out issues with the document verification process, describing it as cumbersome and in need of automation. He found that images taken for verification often appeared blurry and lacked proper positioning, leading to inefficiencies and delays. Additionally, he criticized the lack of guidance for new delivery partners during training, mentioning that many experienced riders were too busy to assist.
Dinesh also highlighted basic workplace inadequacies, such as the absence of proper seating for delivery partners and non-functional water dispensers at the store. He described his struggle to acquire essential gear, noting, "Not sure how to get raincoat and other gear, store didn't have any. Got drenched."
Another significant concern raised was the lack of "mid-order support" and technical difficulties faced by delivery workers. According to Dinesh, some riders were compelled to use WhatsApp groups to update order status, and store managers appeared to be manually managing logistics.
Based on conversations with experienced delivery partners, Dinesh estimated that an average partner working eight hours a day could handle approximately 24 orders daily, translating to about 168 orders per week and potential monthly earnings of around Rs 32,941.
Since sharing his experience, Dinesh’s posts have garnered millions of views and sparked widespread discussion on social media regarding the working conditions of delivery partners in India.
Many users appreciated his insights, with some sharing similar experiences in the gig economy.
The discussion continues to shed light on the challenges faced by delivery workers and the need for improvements in their working environment.