Every Flipkart package that reaches a customer’s doorstep carries the untold efforts of a Wishmaster who sometimes battles challenging roads, weather, and circumstances to bring joy home. Through the year, thousands of delivery heroes take on the responsibility of ensuring that no home is left waiting. And this year’s festive season rush was no different.
Flipkart’s Wishmasters and delivery hub teams adapt and improvise to ensure timely deliveries. This is the story of their commitment to ensuring that every package is delivered to the right place and on time. Read their stories in their own words.
The Desert and the Sea: A Wishmaster’s Story of Determination
My name is Chenthoor Pandi. I’m 23 years old, and I have been working with Flipkart for three months now. I found out about this role through a friend who is also a Flipkart Wishmaster. I live with my parents and sisters in Suganthalai, in the Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, while my younger brother works in Coimbatore. Every day on the job brings a new experience.
The areas I deliver to are very unique. One is Theri Kaadu, a red sand desert and the other is the Kayalpattinam beachside, where fisherfolk families live. Each location comes with its own set of challenges.
Delivering to Theri Kaadu means preparing myself before I begin the ride. On some days, the red sand from the desert travels with the wind. I usually travel by bike, with my mask on and visor pulled down.
There are many families living in the region, of which some are very regular, and they now recognize me. That familiarity makes my work a little easier. Of course, sometimes new customers show up and I have to figure out the route afresh, learning the terrain one delivery at a time.
On the other hand, the challenges near the coast are completely different. The fisherfolk head out to sea very early in the morning. That means their phones are often out of reach when I try to find their location.
To manage this, I ask the neighbors for directions. They know each other well, which helps. But even then, there are times when four or five people have the same name, and it’s hard to identify the right customer. I look at the addresses carefully, matching them with door numbers to avoid mistakes.
Sometimes, customers are close to shore on their boats and can give me directions. If they’re still at sea, I continue deliveries to other locations and come back to them when I know they would’ve returned from fishing for the day.
Everyone at the hub knows each other, and everyone is familiar with these localities. When the need arises, I call members from my hub and the information they give me comes in handy.
Tirunelveli: The Hub’s Collective Grit
My name is Thandeeswaran, and I work as a Team Leader at the Flipkart Hub in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. My journey started in 2015 as a Wishmaster. I was promoted to a Team Leader in 2019. Today, I am responsible for leading 54 Wishmasters along with a team of four sorters.
Work here comes with its own set of challenges. Tirunelveli is a flood-prone area. Two years ago, we faced a flood situation that brought everything to a standstill. Customers had ordered necessities, but for three days, we simply couldn’t deliver shipments. Once the rains subsided, the whole team came together, and within two days, we cleared the backlog with the support of Wishmasters.
On a regular day, our hub delivers thousands of packages. That’s no small task, but we plan systematically. Every Wishmaster comes with the same level of energy on a daily basis.
Battling Festive Rush and Rains with Resilience in Dindigul
I am Muppudathy A, the Hub-in-Charge at Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. I have been with Flipkart for more than three years now. My daily responsibility involves allocating staff across 22 field codes and handling deliveries. We currently have 65 Wishmasters, seven sorters, and a team leader.
In Dindigul, local temple festivals bring a completely different challenge. When the festivals start, the entire town joins in. Roads get blocked across the city, and routes are diverted.
Rain adds another layer of difficulty. Being close to Kodaikanal means heavy showers are a routine part of our operations. But during those times, we split shipments, prioritize, and make sure that critical packages are delivered to every customer.
We manage these periods by careful rostering of our Wishmasters. They like participating in the festivities too, and we like offering them that flexibility. We adjust shifts and packages to ensure we clear shipments even during peak disruptions.
Across deserts, coastlines, flood-prone towns, and festival-filled streets, Flipkart’s Wishmasters and hub teams in Tamil Nadu fulfil the promise of delivering every package on time. Team work and determination come together to ensure every order reaches the right doorstep.
