Blue Dart’s Big Bet On Northeast, Drones & Faster Deliveries

In this conversation with Riddhima Bhatnagar of Business Today, Balfour Manuel, Managing Director of Blue Dart, offers a deep dive into the company’s strategy, the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape, and the future of logistics in India. Manuel explains why Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities have now overtaken metros in growth, driven by rising aspirations, brand awareness, and seamless access to products through e-commerce. He highlights how electronics, smartphones, and fashion continue to dominate demand, while segments such as life sciences, renewable energy, and pharma distribution are emerging as major opportunities. The conversation also explores Blue Dart’s expansion into the Northeast, which Manuel believes will become a crucial gateway to global trade as India strengthens ties with economies like Thailand and Vietnam. He sheds light on Blue Dart’s investments in aircraft capacity, automation, integrated hubs, and cutting-edge innovations including 4-hour deliveries, robotics-enabled operations, and their lesser-known but fast-growing drone delivery network, which already handles thousands of packages daily. Manuel also discusses the company’s partnership within the DHL Group, strengthening international reach and enabling seamless end-to-end movement of goods across borders. From tackling high return rates with solutions like Store at the Door, to reducing logistics costs and improving last-mile efficiency, he outlines the path toward a more competitive and future-ready logistics ecosystem.