Inside Zepto’s dark store: A glimpse of quick commerce at India AI Impact Summit 2026

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 has wrapped up three exciting days filled with groundbreaking insights, live demonstrations, and engaging discussions on artificial intelligence. Amidst the AI-focused agenda, Zepto's rapid-delivery service stood out, offering a convenient solution for attendees craving snacks and essentials on the go. Situated at the Bharat Mandapam, the Zepto dark store provided instant access to a variety of items, including snacks, beverages, and even electronics. Located right outside Hall 3, the 1,200 sq ft store was also home to a Zepto café, serving freshly brewed coffee and quick meals to keep attendees energized throughout the event. Utilizing the Zepto app, attendees could easily place their orders by selecting their hall number as the pickup location. Each hall had a designated area for order collection, ensuring a streamlined process. Impressively, Zepto was able to deliver orders within just 15 minutes, despite the high traffic and numerous requests typical of such a large-scale event. Approximately 50 staff members were on hand to manage picking, packing, and delivering orders efficiently. As soon as an order was placed, it appeared on the handheld devices used by the staff, which guided them through the aisles in the quickest route possible. This system eliminated unnecessary backtracking, with the devices showing one item at a time for improved efficiency. Once items were selected, they were scanned and packed into labeled bags. Instead of navigating through crowds, delivery personnel brought orders to 11 designated pickup points around the venue. While specific order totals for the three-day event have yet to be confirmed, Aadit Palicha, CEO and co-founder of Zepto, highlighted a significant milestone on February 17, the second day of the summit, when the service completed 1,000 orders. This impressive figure underscores the strong demand for Zepto's offerings during the summit.