Target participants
Rural residents in various regions of India who have attempted to order products online, and potentially local shopkeepers or informal delivery agents who facilitate goods movement in these areas.
The problem
Rural residents across India often face significant challenges in receiving products ordered online directly to their homes. Despite the growing reach of e-commerce platforms, many remote villages and smaller towns are still considered "undeliverable" by conventional logistics networks. This forces residents to travel long distances to collect parcels from district hubs, rely on informal delivery chains, or simply forgo online shopping altogether.
This problem isn't just an inconvenience. It limits access to a wider variety of goods, often at better prices, impacting their quality of life and economic opportunities. Traditional addressing systems in rural areas can be informal or non-existent, making pinpointing delivery locations difficult. Furthermore, the cost and infrastructure required for last-mile delivery to sparsely populated regions often make it financially unviable for many e-commerce and logistics providers to expand their services fully.
Research question
What are the core challenges and unmet needs of rural Indian residents when attempting to receive online product deliveries at their doorstep, and how do current logistical limitations impact their access to e-commerce?


