Unmanned
retail is the next big thing offering the hassle-free, faster and smoother
retail experience to the millennials. GruBox, an unmanned retail chain, first
of its kind in India whose idea is to put retail inside the offices and
coworking spaces which adds lot of value to daily life of employees. Its user-friendly mobile app is intended
for the instant, personalised and smooth retail experience. Users can view
their transaction history
and share feedback. Product choices are machine learning driven offering
demand driven customization.
retail is the next big thing offering the hassle-free, faster and smoother
retail experience to the millennials. GruBox, an unmanned retail chain, first
of its kind in India whose idea is to put retail inside the offices and
coworking spaces which adds lot of value to daily life of employees. Its user-friendly mobile app is intended
for the instant, personalised and smooth retail experience. Users can view
their transaction history
and share feedback. Product choices are machine learning driven offering
demand driven customization.

In an
exclusive interaction with Startup Terminal; Mr. Nishant Misra, Co-Founder
& CEO of GruBox and Mrs. Prerna Singh, Co-Founder & CBO of GruBox share
more details about the company and futures plans.
exclusive interaction with Startup Terminal; Mr. Nishant Misra, Co-Founder
& CEO of GruBox and Mrs. Prerna Singh, Co-Founder & CBO of GruBox share
more details about the company and futures plans.
Excerpts:
ST:
When did you start your venture GruBox?
When did you start your venture GruBox?
Answer: On the go food distribution in
India currently has many bottlenecks. As a team of engineers, we started
working on a retail that can be smart and suitable for us. Keeping the twin
aspects of demand driven food choices and convenience in mind, we launched Grubox
in March, 2017.
India currently has many bottlenecks. As a team of engineers, we started
working on a retail that can be smart and suitable for us. Keeping the twin
aspects of demand driven food choices and convenience in mind, we launched Grubox
in March, 2017.
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L to R: Mr. Nishant Misra, Co-Founder & CEO of GruBox and Mrs. Prerna Singh, Co-Founder & CBO of GruBox |
ST:
Can you explain the basic idea behind the venture?
Can you explain the basic idea behind the venture?
Answer: 95% of India’s on the go food service market is
unorganised and is served via manual kiosks. The kiosks often serve poor
quality food and slow order delivery. Also, the product choices are similar across kiosks. Our motto is
to make food more convenient, interesting and accessible.
unorganised and is served via manual kiosks. The kiosks often serve poor
quality food and slow order delivery. Also, the product choices are similar across kiosks. Our motto is
to make food more convenient, interesting and accessible.
About GruBox
GruBox is
a machine learning tech
driven unmanned retail. Our user-friendly mobile app is intended for the
instant, personalised and smooth retail experience. Users can view their transaction history and share
feedback. Product choices are machine learning driven offering demand driven
customization.
a machine learning tech
driven unmanned retail. Our user-friendly mobile app is intended for the
instant, personalised and smooth retail experience. Users can view their transaction history and share
feedback. Product choices are machine learning driven offering demand driven
customization.
GruBox
works on highly scalable proprietary technology which is based on machine
learning and complex algorithms. The tech-driven supply chain
network supports all the food and beverage requirements of clients while
minimizing stockouts and food wastage.
works on highly scalable proprietary technology which is based on machine
learning and complex algorithms. The tech-driven supply chain
network supports all the food and beverage requirements of clients while
minimizing stockouts and food wastage.
ST:
What business opportunities do you see particularly in the unmanned retail
industry in India?
What business opportunities do you see particularly in the unmanned retail
industry in India?
Answer: Last-mile unmanned retail channel
is free of conventional grinding. For example, it is always a few steps away.
Users can find products easily in app and order, without any wait. There is no
cashier interaction. With great fintech ecosystem, cashless transactions are
very smooth and user friendly. Overall it is a completely tech enabled retail
experience, from ordering to delivery. This is totally new for Indian market.
is free of conventional grinding. For example, it is always a few steps away.
Users can find products easily in app and order, without any wait. There is no
cashier interaction. With great fintech ecosystem, cashless transactions are
very smooth and user friendly. Overall it is a completely tech enabled retail
experience, from ordering to delivery. This is totally new for Indian market.
ST:
How has been the journey of Grubox so far? Any major challenge faced during this
tenure?
How has been the journey of Grubox so far? Any major challenge faced during this
tenure?
Answer: The need for GruBox is centered
around customer experience. This is why we are always working towards improving
our tech and service.We want to be the first preference of our clients and
users. The goal is to actualize ease of transaction for a customer and minimize
stock outs. We also keep a window for new products to keep people coming back
to us.
around customer experience. This is why we are always working towards improving
our tech and service.We want to be the first preference of our clients and
users. The goal is to actualize ease of transaction for a customer and minimize
stock outs. We also keep a window for new products to keep people coming back
to us.
Challenges
Our first and most important challenge is to have people
try us. Once
they do that, they
know that Grubox is much faster, smoother and friendly, and they continue using us.
From location owner point of view, having Grubox is a great offering for its
audience.
try us. Once
they do that, they
know that Grubox is much faster, smoother and friendly, and they continue using us.
From location owner point of view, having Grubox is a great offering for its
audience.
Answer: We are still learning and growing with new modules
across segments. We have to buckle down and continue pushing. The more we work on this,
the better will be our services!
across segments. We have to buckle down and continue pushing. The more we work on this,
the better will be our services!
ST: What are your future
plans?
plans?
Answer: GruBox wants to become a leader
in the unmanned retail space in India. And we
are making efforts to
assemble products and grow geographically.
in the unmanned retail space in India. And we
are making efforts to
assemble products and grow geographically.
ST: How big is your
team? Are you planning to hire more?
team? Are you planning to hire more?
Answer: With more
than 30 employees, we are currently working to
expand our intellectual and creative base. As
a team, we are constantly on the lookout for talent.
than 30 employees, we are currently working to
expand our intellectual and creative base. As
a team, we are constantly on the lookout for talent.
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