Business

Quick commerce is the future of e-commerce, often referred to as E-commerce 2.0 and Q-commerce. The service is gaining popularity in developed countries and even in our neighboring country, India. In this article, I will discuss everything about quick commerce in Nepal, its growing popularity, potential, the companies currently adopting it, its future prospects and more.

What is Quick Commerce?

Q-Commerce is a relatively new term in the e-commerce industry. As the name suggests, it’s all about speed. In simple terms, it refers to how quickly an e-commerce company can deliver products to its customers.

Its main goal is to deliver daily necessities, such as groceries, medicines, snacks, Beverages, Personal Care Products, Household Essentials and other everyday products, as quickly as possible.

Quick commerce presents a significant opportunity not only for e-commerce buyers in Nepal but for the global market as well. Customers can receive the products they order online faster than ever before—often within 10-60 minutes.

It is not only beneficial for buyers but also for e-commerce owners. As an e-commerce owner, you can serve more customers in less time, which translates to more customers, more sales, and eventually, higher profits. In my opinion, if you are an e-commerce owner and start implementing quick commerce now, you have the potential to capture a large portion of the market. However, it does come with its own set of challenges.

Current Scenario of Quick Commerce in Nepal

Nepal is far behind other developed nations in the e-commerce industry. When it comes to quick commerce, none of the large e-commerce companies have implemented it in Nepal. However, I have noticed recently, and have even experienced, that companies like Daraz can deliver a few types of products on the same day, albeit rarely.

It’s true that no major e-commerce companies have taken quick commerce seriously in Nepal. If a company were to come forward and start quick commerce in Nepal, it could capture a large number of customers and significantly increase e-commerce sales. But it’s not that easy.

We do see a few small e-commerce companies delivering products within the same day in their local areas, especially those with Facebook and Instagram pages, which have a smaller customer base.

Food delivery services such as Pathao Foods and Foodmandu are engaged in quick commerce in Nepal, but they do not offer a wide range of products.

So, we can say that the current scenario of Q-commerce in Nepal is not ideal. Even in the capital city, Kathmandu, it sometimes seems impossible to deliver goods within an hour due to unmanaged roads and traffic jams.

Why Q-Commerce is Important

Imagine this scenario: you are a buyer. If you see a product online on ABC website, order it, and receive it delivered within a few hours, that’s great. In contrast, if you order a product from XYZ website and it arrives after two days or even longer, which experience makes you happier? Obviously, it’s the first one, right?

So, when you need something next time, would you choose ABC website or XYZ website? The answer is likely clear: ABC, of course.

From this example, it’s evident that quick commerce is beneficial not only for buyers but also for sellers.

Challenges of Starting Quick Commerce in Nepal

If you’ve read the previous sections and are an e-commerce owner, I’m sure you’re eager to adopt quick commerce to boost sales and revenue for your business. However, it’s not that simple, especially in Nepal. This is primarily due to our country’s geographical challenges.

Currently, most e-commerce companies in Nepal are based in the Kathmandu Valley, as the majority of orders come from this region, and it’s feasible to deliver quickly here. In my opinion, while quick commerce is not yet practical for larger e-commerce companies across the country, it is possible to implement it in Kathmandu Valley and a few other cities like Chitwan, Pokhara, and Butwal. However, each of these areas will require dedicated warehouses or local vendors to ensure smooth operations.

A few months ago, we tried to implement quick commerce at Online Tarkari Pasal in Kathmandu, aiming to deliver products within an hour. However, we faced challenges, with one major reason being the road conditions and heavy traffic jams in the city. Nowadays, we are delivering within 2–3 hours. While this is still an example of quick commerce, we have yet to achieve delivery within 60 minutes.

Here are the key challenges of implementing quick commerce in Nepal:

• Geographical Challenges: Due to Nepal’s difficult terrain, it’s challenging to deliver products as quickly as required for quick commerce.
• Transportation Issues: The current infrastructure and transportation system make it difficult to ensure fast deliveries.
• Manpower: Quick commerce requires a larger workforce to handle operations in a short time frame.
• Budget: More investment is needed for advanced technologies to perform tasks quickly and efficiently, as well as to monitor operations in a timely manner.
• City-specific Branches and Vendors: For multi-vendor e-commerce platforms, it’s essential to have city-specific branches and local vendors to meet the demand for fast deliveries.

Benefits of Quick Commerce in Nepal

• It can create more employment opportunities, providing jobs in areas such as warehouses, tech teams, and deliveries.
• It can transform the buying behavior of Nepali consumers.
• Nepali people can meet their immediate needs without having to leave their homes.

Future prospects of Q-commerce in Nepal

In the coming days, Nepali entrepreneurs can launch quick commerce in their local areas to serve their communities with specialized products.

This will benefit both buyers and sellers. Buyers can receive products quickly and access locally available, produced, or manufactured goods. For sellers, this approach does not require significant budgets or a large workforce.

Conclusion

Lastly, in a country like Nepal, which faces transportation and road problems, spreading quick commerce services to far-off villages is very challenging. While implementing quick commerce in larger cities like Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, and Chitwan is feasible, rural areas present a different challenge. Only local entrepreneurs can operate quick commerce in these regions with very limited markets, as poor road conditions make it difficult.

I encourage everyone reading this blog to consider starting quick commerce in their own villages or towns to attract more customers on a modest budget and with minimal manpower. It is a new and promising business idea in Nepal that can be easily adopted locally on a small budget. Quick commerce is the future, so embrace it as soon as possible.

In a small country like Nepal, small businesses could be beneficial for the localities to earn a good amount of passive income which can also be turned into their main income.

Nepal’s economy is mostly dependent on the agriculture industry as it employs about 60% of the workforce. Other than this, Nepal is known for its history, culture, and tourism. If worked upon, Nepal’s tourism industry could acquire immense success.

There are many opportunities available in different sectors in Nepal. This article consists of 50 ideas for small businesses that could profit a lot of people and the country itself.

1. Homestay Tourism

You could start homestay tourism if you come from a beautiful village and have a property with a nice view. Simply refurbish your home and add a few tourist-friendly amenities, and you’re ready to go. It will be extremely beneficial if you can get your village neighbors to do the same.

2. Apps to simplify agricultural transportation

Agriculture is an important source of economy for the people of Nepal. An app that works as a mediator between local grocery shops, food restaurants, and organic agricultural farms and helps in taking orders from the stores and restaurants and connecting them directly to the farm people and later executing the transportation of farm items at once to all the shops and restaurants can be considered as a doable idea to run a small business.

3. Online travel websites that are specific to Nepal

Travel is one of the popular industries in Nepal. A website that suggests good travel destinations, plans itinerary, customize your travel plans, book tickets, and hostels and hotels can be a good idea for starting a small business in Nepal.

4. Poultry farming

In Nepal, poultry farming is increasing. Poultry, as an industry, is expected to generate around 3.5 per cent of GDP, with approximately 65 billion rupees already invested, in Nepal. As a result of this growth, Nepal has risen to become self-sufficient in these poultry goods. As an ambitious poultry farmer, this implies that the majority of the support systems you’ll need are already in place.

5. Online Shopping

Be it a developing country or a developed country, online shopping will never lose its scope. Especially during the pandemic, people prefer to shop everything online, so an e-commerce website would be a good business to start. It would be even better if the online shopping business is a bit niched. For example, online shopping websites for buying items that are popular in Nepal only.

For Example: I also own an online store which delivers vegetable and fruits inside Kathmandu. And I am generating good amount of profit from that store too. Check Out the Store once, If you are interested or planning to start ecommerce store in Nepal.

6. Start-ups for innovative farming techniques

Farming is a booming industry in Nepal. If you are looking for starting a business, bringing in modern technology that works better and are easier to use than the traditional farming methods could be a lucrative idea.

7. Movers and Packers

Moving is difficult and chaotic, and many individuals prefer to work out the entire packing process with the help movers and packers agent. Starting a business of movers and packers can help a lot of customers easily move to different parts of the country with their luggage and packages in safe hands. If done efficiently, you will end up getting more customers and your business will be a success

8. Beekeeping

Rent some land on the outskirts of Nepal or outside the valley, set up a few hives, and go! Beekeeping has also received support from several donor-funded business programs in Nepal.

9. Fast food centers and Tea/coffee shops

We all know how much Nepalese enjoy tea and coffee. Their days begin with a cup of tea or coffee. So, for a minimal investment, tea and coffee are some of the best and most successful companies. Make sure you choose the correct location for your shop before you launch it. Because the appropriate location is such an important aspect of any type of business. I recommend starting it in front of government organizations, school, colleges etc.

10. Meat shop and fresh house

Meat consumption has increased as Nepalese income has increased. The Kathmandu Valley alone is believed to devour 20 million rupees worth of meat per day. And it’s growing at a breakneck pace. I am confident that your business will expand consistently if you can maintain good hygiene and quality in your shop.

11. Bakery shops

People love cakes, bread and pastries. If you love baking cakes and muffins and want to turn your hobby into a skill that pays off, then opening a cute and cozy bakery is not a bad option.

12. Travel guides for tourists

Do you adore local history of Nepal’s small towns and cities? Become a tour guide if you haven’t already. The job of a tour guide will require you to do a lot of studies to do and gain expertise in it, but that’s half the pleasure. You can provide tours that focus on a particular aspect of your city’s history, and that will set you apart from the others and make the small business of a tour guide successful.

13. Crop Farming

Nepal is a landlocked country sandwiched between two of the world’s most populous countries, India and China, and home to the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. The southern Himalayan range of Nepal is a gigantic plain of alluvial soil, which is known to be one of the most productive soils, having been covered with snow in the northern Himalayan range. This soil sets the path for the country’s excellent crop farming. Farmers could self-sufficiency and trade crops such as rice, wheat, millet, barley, coffee, and others.

14. Dairy Farming

Dairy farming is a type of agriculture that involves the production of milk for the sale of dairy products, either on a farm or at a dairy plant. Nepal has 7.2 million cattle and 5.4 million buffalos, according to government statistics.

Dairy farming has become a lucrative business option for persons who are active in agriculture because of the large number of dairy cows and buffalos in the country.

15. Fish farming

Protein items, such as cheese, eggs, and fish, account for a bigger portion of the average family’s food budget and are essential components of a healthy and well-balanced diet. Hence, fish farming is a good option to start a small business in Nepal.

16. Handicrafts (offline and online)

Making handcrafted novelties is a fun and unusual way to start a small business. There’s undoubtedly a market for whatever you manufacture, whether it’s jewelry, knitted comfort goods, or even personalized wigs. Use creative social media marketing to reach out to your audience, and use keywords that describe your products to optimize your website for search engines.

17. Cafes

Are looking forward to owning a café filled with coffee aroma amidst mountains in cold weather and just sitting and observing people sipping their coffee that you made with a huge smile on their face? If that is the case, then a café business is the best option for you.

18. Mobile Vans for selling food items

With a mobile van that serves food, you can test out your ideas. It’s a terrific method to learn about your state’s food and restaurant licensing laws, see what people enjoy and don’t like, and establish a loyal following before opening or investing in a physical site.

19. Cloud kitchen

In the time of the pandemic, the concept of cloud kitchen is turning into a lucrative business and if you want to serve people with your delicious hand-cooked food, opening a cloud kitchen can earn you a good amount of money and blessings.

20. Rooftop farming

If you are a city dweller with a home in Kathmandu, on the other hand, you may start a rooftop garden of organic veggies and fruits. People are pursuing organic and healthier vegetables and fruits as concerns about pesticide use in commercially grown vegetables and fruits grow. Why not start rooftop farming and perhaps assist your neighbors in doing so as well?

21. Neighborhood composting and biogas

The notion of backyard composting is well-known in Nepalese cities, and many people practiced it until they became accustomed to city waste collection. Currently, the concept is proving difficult to sell because few individuals see a need to return to it. Composting, on the other hand, could be a viable commercial venture if done on a small scale. Then, as a preliminary phase, it can be mixed with anaerobic bio-digestion to produce biogas cooking fuel.

22. Basketry

Basketry is the art of creating baskets out of vegetable fibers, twigs, grasses, osiers, bamboo, and rushes, or synthetic materials such as plastic or other synthetic materials. It is a beautiful craft of weaving interlaced structures and mainly containers. Basketry is widely practiced in Nepal, particularly in rural. There are probably some new ideas, materials, and techniques that could be used to improve it even more and make it a more “competitive” technique for city use.

23. Biogas electricity plants for villages

A reasonable alternative for permanent electricity supply for communities is a mix of biogas, biogas-based electricity generators, biogas storage facilities, and photovoltaics. In addition, when biogas is in short supply, syngas from biomass gasification will be used.

24. Delivery service

Lunch boxes aren’t the only thing you can deliver, by the way. Businesses that supply a variety of commodities or assist people and offices in relocating are also on the rise. You can start delivering goods from your own vehicle, and turn it into a company later.

25. Consignment Shop

Consider shopping consignment if you have a sense of style but don’t want to invest in a brand-new boutique’s inventory. It will enable you to design a wardrobe that reflects your aims and aesthetic without incurring the costs of running a boutique that sells fully new garments.

26. Graphic Designer

If you are tech-savvy and love to design, creating a graphic design website to showcase your skills and turning it into a freelance job will help you earn money out of it and like this, you can start a small business of yours with the skill of graphic designing. Also, many people in Nepal are not well aware of graphic designing and might end up needing your help and also get inspired by your work. So, graphic designing is a useful and lucrative small business you can look into.

27. Event Planner

If you love to host parties and arrange all the party stuff within hours and creatively put together all of it to turn your venue into an exhilarating party place, then event planning could be a really good option for you to start as a small business in Nepal.

You can learn and gain expertise in a single type of event, such as weddings or business meetings, or you can set yourself up as a jack of all trades event planner.

28. Travel Planner

The job of travel agents might be at risk in the time of digitization, but individuals with a craze for traditional travel arrangements are still in demand. Consider selling your services as a more modern approach to travel planning if you always organize the perfect vacations with beautiful hotels, the perfect location, and a bevvy of wonderful restaurants set up for every evening.

29. Blogger, Vlogger and Youtuber

If there’s a topic you’re passionate about, chances are there’s a large audience interested in it as well. A blog, vlog, or YouTube channel can be utilized to create an online community with monetizable involvement.

Read More: 15 ways to make money online in Nepal

Apart from these, there are a lot more small business ideas that you can execute to earn revenue out of your skills, in Nepal –

30. Plywood making

31. Training centers for hiking and trekking

32. Digital Marketing Agencies

33. Online training classes for trending digital courses like coding, digital marketing, blogging, marketing, business development, entrepreneurship, etc.

34. Online apps that connect the app users with at-home services for plumbers, painters, electricians, barbers, beauticians, etc.

35. Food and grocery delivery apps

36. Online and offline real estate business

37. Schools that provide quality education

38. Goat and sheep farming

39. Homestays and hostel service providers for tourists

40. IT companies

41. Export/Import services

42. Mo-Mo stalls

43. Automobile services

44. Institutions for national level entrance exams

45. Translator

46. Bamboo furniture

47. Second-hand bookshop

48. AV company and photography services

49. Selling organic food produce

50. Electronic Repair Shop

Conclusion

As discussed above, the list of ideas to start a small business in developing countries like Nepal is never-ending. All you need is dedication, planning and skills to build the idea into a successful business.