From The Economic Times · ANI · · 1m 10s
Quick-commerce pricing discipline emerges
Discounting moderates as quick-commerce platforms raise delivery thresholds.
In brief
Discounting moderates as quick-commerce platforms raise delivery thresholds. Quick-commerce platforms are reducing discounts and increasing delivery and cashback thresholds to balance growth with profitability. Originally reported by The Economic Times.
Jefferies research
Jefferies reports quick-commerce platforms are moderating discounting intensity while raising delivery and cashback thresholds to balance growth with profitability.
“Overall, discounting remains a key acquisition lever, but intensity continues to moderate”
Discounting levels
Discounting ranges from 12 per cent to 19 per cent across platforms, with personal care at 29 per cent and dairy products at 3 per cent.
“Discounts ranged between 12 per cent and 19 per cent across the platforms tracked”
Category-specific discounts
Personal care has the highest average discount at 29 per cent, followed by basic staples and packaged food at 17 per cent each.
“Personal care remained the most heavily discounted category, with average discounts of 29 per cent”
Delivery thresholds rise
Amazon Now raised cashback minimums by 7-25 per cent, while Zepto increased free-delivery threshold from Rs 99 to Rs 199.
“Amazon Now raised minimum spending requirements for cashback offers by 7-25 per cent”
Platform strategies
Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart maintained stable discounts at 14-16 per cent since March 2026, while Zepto offered the highest discounts at 19 per cent.
“Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart have kept discounts broadly stable at 14-16 per cent since March 2026”
User engagement shifts
Monthly active users increased slightly in September, but app downloads declined across platforms, indicating no impact on overall industry growth.
“SensorTower data showing a slight month-on-month increase in monthly active users across all tracked platforms in September”
The short version
Quick-commerce platforms are reducing discounts and increasing delivery and cashback thresholds to balance growth with profitability.
