Apollo 24|7, a healthcare company, has seen significant growth in its online business, with its 19-minute delivery service contributing to nearly 30% of daily orders. The service, which was first launched in Delhi and Noida in November 2023, has since expanded to six major cities and plans to scale to 20 cities by the end of 2025. The company expects its daily online order volume to rise to 60,000 by the end of the year, with the proportion of 19-minute deliveries remaining steady at 28-30%.
Apollo’s rapid delivery service is made possible through a combination of large-format stores and dark stores, with the company operating around 12-14 large stores and 10-12 dark stores. The service uses an in-house team for 19-minute deliveries, while other orders are fulfilled through logistics partners like Shadowfax.
Apollo’s CEO, Madhivanan Balakrishnan, believes that the company’s extensive product range and prescription validation model give it an edge in the market. The company requires customers to either upload a doctor’s prescription or schedule a verification call for prescription drugs, which helps to ensure that only valid prescriptions are fulfilled. This model is necessary for expanding beyond over-the-counter medications, and the company is prepared to adapt to the growing competition in the market.
While there may be challenges in implementing this model, Balakrishnan notes that the 19-minute delivery service has not posed a significant challenge for the company so far. With its continued focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, Apollo 24|7 is well-positioned to maintain its position in the market.