MUMBAI DABBAWALA SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION• Dabbawalas collect dabbas (tiffin's) from houses and deliver it to offices.

• 5000 people deliver 200,000 dabbas daily.

• The dabbawalas use predominantly 3 means for transportation – bicycles,

handcarts and local trains.

• They are literate generally up to understanding alphabets.

• Average age 2015 of dabbawalas is 52 years.

• Fees ranges from Rs.300 to Rs.400 per month depending on the distance.

• Income equally distributed among them.

NEW RECRUIT Generally the friends and relatives of the dabbawalas

Needs to bring along a few things 2 bicycles

1 handcart

Rs.20 for a Gandhi cap

Undergoes training for 6 months

Probation period of 6 months

Why are they famous? 125 year old

Mistake that they make is less than 1 in 6 million.

Recognized as delivering six sigma level of accuracy.

Almost no technology used until recently.

Only manpower used.

A dabba changes almost 6 hands before reaching the office of the customer.

Sorting done on the trains.

Innumerable documentaries made on them by BBC, Discovery etc.

Prince Charles and Richard Branson met them

ProcessA dabbawala starts his day at around 9 A.M.

Collects around 40 dabbas from houses

Generally works in a group of 20-25 people

Sorting done at meeting point or on the trains

They deliver the dabbas by 12.30 P.M.

PROCESS CONTINUEDRecollection process starts at around 3 P.M.

Collection of empty dabbas from office.

The whole process starts in the reverse way.

This process again takes around 3 hours.

The coding on the Dabbas

SWOT ANALYSIS

Strength• Teamwork• Discipline• Time

Management• Low or no IT

cost• Commitment

Weakness• High

dependence on trains.

• Education level is very low.

• Fund flow is very limited.

• Big problem during unforeseen circumstances like breakdown of cycle and trains and also during monsoon.

Opportunities• Tie up with

caterers to serve meal to the customers.

• Expanding network to other cities.

• Payment option through the use of internet.

Threats• Fast food

restaurants chain

• Restaurants providing delivery services.

• E-Commerce website like Foodpanda.com

FLOW AND USAGE OF INFORMATION In the 21st century everyone is using Management Information System in some way. They have also joined the league to use the information available in the market and have started inducing technology in their super efficient system.

SMS – If a Mumbaikar wants to avail the service of a dabbawala he/she can simply send one SMS to the dabbawala mentioning the address of both pick up point and drop point and the dabbawala will come to their house.

Website – The dabbawalas have started their own website www.mumbaidabbawala.in wherein corporates can advertise and their brand can reach 2Lacs households.

Latest collaboration with Flipkart

Tapping on the country's renowned supply chain, online marketplace Flipkart has

tied-up with the 'Dabbawalas' to ensure last mile delivery to consumers.

 Dabbawalas will initially collect Flipkart marketplace shipments from the delivery

hubs and deliver it to customers, while picking their dabbas.

Initially they will be using a paper-based tracking system with the idea being to

gradually train them on the usage of apps and other wearable tech.

IMPACT OF IT/INTERNET Ease of getting customers

Cost cutting

Time saving

Increase of radius of delivery

VISIBILTY: More people knows about dabbawalas

Reduction in conflicts

Allocation of customers became easy

Expand their network to more cities.

FUTURE PROSPECTS They can introduce a lot of internet based systems which will improve

their efficiency.

Introducing tracking system – if they can track their delivery through GPS reducing time delays.

Introduction of Payment through Online Payment methods such as Debit card, Credit Card and Internet Banking.

Collaboration with restaurants and delivering restaurant food on pre-demand.

Prepare an App just like the website.

Start delivering to schools.

NEGATIVES

Overdependence on local trains

Hindrances during natural disasters

Working of the APP Change of location – notification, before 9am

Cancellation notification

Partnership

Ordering through other partnered restaurants.

Advertisements for corporates will earn revenue for dabbawalas.

Payment through app like debit card, credit card.

Dabbawala wallet.

Registering new customers.