A Comparative Study of Q-commerce and Traditional E-commerce: Implications for Supply Chain Efficiency and Consumer Loyalty in India
Keywords:
Consumer expectation, Consumer loyalty, E-Commerce, Q-Commerce, Supply chain managementAbstract
Quick Commerce (Q-Commerce) has emerged as a rapidly developing form of digital commerce that focuses on the delivery of daily necessities within a very short period, generally ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. Unlike traditional E-Commerce, which generally operates through larger warehouses and longer delivery schedules, Q-Commerce relies on dark stores, micro-fulfillment centers, real-time inventory management, and hyperlocal delivery networks. This paper aims to provide a comparative understanding of Q-Commerce and traditional E-Commerce, with particular emphasis on supply chain efficiency and consumer loyalty in the Indian context. The comparison focuses on delivery speed, inventory management, order processing, last-mile delivery, product availability, convenience, customer responsiveness, satisfaction, purchase intention, and loyalty. The paper concludes that Q-Commerce should not be viewed simply as a faster version of E-Commerce. It represents a distinct supply-chain and consumer-service model in which speed, technology, responsiveness, and convenience are closely integrated. The comparative perspective provides a basis for understanding the changing nature of digital retail in India and supports further empirical investigation into the relationship between Q-Commerce, supply chain efficiency, consumer satisfaction, and consumer loyalty.
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