Comparative Analysis Of Delivery Fleet Models In India: Gig Workers Versus Employed Riders In The Food Delivery Ecosystem

Abstract

This Paper Examines The Comparative Performance Of Gig Worker And Employed Rider Delivery Models In India's Rapidly Expanding Food Delivery Sector, Valued At $45.15 Billion In 2024. Through Analysis Of Government Data, Corporate Disclosures, And Academic Research, We Evaluate Three Key Dimensions: Performance Metrics, Cost Structures, And Service Outcomes. Our Findings Reveal That While Gig Models (Swiggy, Zomato) Demonstrate Operational Flexibility With 7.7 Million Workers Delivering 5-22 Orders Daily, Employed Models (Amazon Fresh, BigBasket) Show Superior Service Consistency With 99.9% Uptime And Higher Customer Satisfaction Scores. Despite No Significant Perceived Differences In Service Quality, Gig Workers Earn Wages Below The Sustainable Level (₹265/day Average) Without Social Security, While Employed Riders Receive Comprehensive Benefits, Consuming 9.3% Of Revenue. Policy Implications Suggest An Urgent Need For Social Security Implementation And Sustainable Wage Structures To Balance Platform Economics With Worker Welfare..

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