Instant Help’s Ground Reality, Shiprocket’s Second Act & More

India's convenience economy is booming, fueled by massive capital investment and aggressive discounting wars. However, gig workers on platforms like Instant Help are facing challenges. As the festive season approaches, the question arises: can these platforms build a business that values their workforce as much as customer convenience?

The platforms promise quick service through proximity, but workers argue that the time spent waiting and being idle often results in no income. Pay is increasingly linked to logged-in hours and tier-based performance, and gig workers claim that missed shifts, emergencies, and a lack of bookings make their take-home income highly uncertain.

Algorithmic control shapes who gets the next booking, pressuring workers to accept jobs to avoid account suspensions or reduced payouts. Concerns about safety are also prominent, especially for women workers who may accept jobs in unfamiliar locations due to the lack of time to assess safety. The festive season will be a litmus test for these platforms, as they must build a business that values the workforce as much as customer convenience.