Riding against the Clock: A Study on Personal and Professional Challenges Faced by Quick Commerce Delivery Partners in Puducherry

ABSTRACT The emergence of quick commerce (Q-commerce) has transformed the retail and logistics landscape by providing rapid delivery services within minutes. This study, titled 'Riding against the clock: A Study on Personal and Professional Challenges Faced by Quick Commerce Delivery Partners in Puducherry,' aims to analyze the occupational, psychological, and environmental difficulties encountered by delivery partners operating in this high-demand sector. The research focuses on understanding how professional challenges such as delivery pressure, physical exhaustion, digital workload, and lack of legal protection influence the well-being and performance of riders. The study further examines personal and environmental dimensions, including job satisfaction, absence of career growth, customer behavior, safety, infrastructure limitations, and public support. A structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 120 delivery partners representing platforms such as Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, Blinkit, and Dunzo. Primary data were analyzed using statistical tools such as ANOVA, Chi-square tests, correlation analysis, and percentage method to interpret relationships among key variables and assess the significance of observed patterns. Findings indicate that delivery partners face considerable professional strain and physical fatigue due to long working hours and digital monitoring. The study aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by emphasizing the importance of building resilient urban delivery systems and inclusive digital work environments. Keywords: Quick Commerce, Delivery Partners, Gig Economy, Occupational Challenges, Job Satisfaction, Work-Life Balance, SDG 9, Puducherry.