Talent demand in India for doorstep delivery and related functions in the broader logistics and web commerce chain is fast outpacing supply amid a robust economic recovery, reports The Economic Times, citing experts at staffing firms including Quess, Randstad and Ciel HR. The staffing firms said this talent demand potentially raises pay packets and festive-season benefits for the staff engaged in these roles at industries such as logistics, ecommerce and warehousing. "We are noticing a new trend this year where companies are offering joining and retention bonuses for roles of in-shop demonstrators, operations and supply chain," said Aditya Misra, chief executive, CIEL HR. "These incentives are not statutory payments and are aimed at attracting and retaining employees until the end of the contract so that continuity is maximised. These incentives range from 30% to 60% of monthly take-home salaries of such employees.” The estimated demand for last-mile delivery, logistics, supply chain, customer service and warehouse talent this year is 35% more compared with that for last year, executives at staffing and logistics firms told The Economic Times.

In the upcoming festive season, logistics and last-mile delivery companies are bracing for higher demand from not only big cities but also tier 2, 3 and 4 markets. Lohit Bhatia, President-Workforce Management, Quess Corp, said bonus or retention packages may come into play due to sudden spikes in hyperlocal and food-delivery segments beginning with the Durga Puja festival in October and extending through the rest of the festive season,

Quess Corp expects record hiring of seasonal workers this year. Hiring initiatives are expected to offer up to 60% of jobs in non-metros alone this year, said Bhatia of Quess Corp. "We expect the season to be better than the past three years across the key portfolios of retail, FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), FMCD (fast-moving consumer durables), ecommerce and logistics," said Bhatia.