The rising demand for skilled professionals in e-commerce and quick commerce industries is driving online marketplaces, logistics firms, and D2C startups to establish and expand in-house training academies. These academies aim to upskill existing delivery partners, warehouse executives and delivery centre managers, while also preparing fresh talent for careers in supply chain and logistics.
In January, logistics startup Ecom Express, which is preparing for an IPO, launched ‘E-Pathshaala’ to help delivery partners navigate last-mile delivery challenges. The platform provides regional language content, certification, progress tracking and mobile-friendly access. Since its inception, nearly 65,000 users have engaged with the courses, completing over 7,000 modules.
Flipkart’s Supply Chain Operations Academy (SCOA), launched in 2021, aims to upskill 16,000 candidates by 2025. In 2024 alone, over 4,000 candidates were trained and certified, with more than 50% securing roles at Flipkart. The programme provides hands-on training at Flipkart facilities along with online learning.
As e-commerce evolves, these academies are updating their curricula to address new industry demands, such as dark stores. Flipkart’s SCOA, for example, has introduced a warehouse associate training module, covering roles such as picker, packer, quality check executive, and data entry operator. “This academy equips students and professionals with essential skills for careers in e-commerce, retail, and warehousing, while also meeting the industry’s demand for a skilled workforce,” said Hemant Badri, senior vice president of supply chain, customer experience, and re-commerce at Flipkart.
The surge in quick commerce is further fuelling demand for skilled workers as Zepto, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart collectively plan to hire over 400,000 people by March 2025. Currently, they employ approximately 260,000 individuals, including 60,000 salaried employees and 200,000 delivery partners.
Other companies investing in workforce training include Shiprocket, Delhivery, Swiggy, and Urban Company. Shiprocket Growth Academy, launched in May 2023, aims to upskill 100,000 merchants over the next two to three years. These programmes typically require a minimum educational qualification of a 10th-grade pass and basic proficiency in English and math for candidates aged 20 to 35.
Beyond logistics and e-commerce, industries such as diagnostics, food and beverage, and eyewear are also developing specialised training programmes. Lenskart, for instance, offers centralised training through its retail and optometry academies, with a 30-60 day course followed by certification.
Diagnostics startup Orange Health launched an internal training academy in Bengaluru a year ago, addressing gaps in industry standards and patient interaction. So far, it has trained over 500 phlebotomists in medical best practices, bedside manners, and company-specific procedures. “Many industry practices weren’t aligned with medical best standards. Today, we have training centres in every city we operate in,” said Tarun Bhambra, co-founder of Orange Health.
A National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) study estimates India’s demand for skilled workers at 103 million, while the supply stands at only 74 million, highlighting a significant gap.
“This rapid e-commerce expansion necessitates a workforce skilled in logistics, inventory management, and tech-driven solutions. The emergence of in-house academies underscores the increasing complexity of supply chain operations,” said Shantanu Rooj, CEO of TeamLease Edtech. According to IBEF data, India’s e-commerce market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 27% to reach $163 billion by 2026.
While some brands are experimenting with offering certifications, experts do not foresee training becoming a standalone revenue stream for e-commerce and D2C startups. “Training and certification are not core competencies for these companies, and establishing them as business verticals would require significant investment. I don’t see this evolving into a revenue-generating model,” said Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD and CEO of CIEL HR.