Zepto Adds Pay Later Feature to Diversify Beyond 10-Minute Delivery Focus

A 'Pay Later' option and real-time photos of fresh food were among the new in-app features released by the fast commerce platform Zepto on 24 March. A change in focus from rapid shipping to "behaviour-led commerce" is behind Zpeto's decision to make these changes.

The business claimed that the field of fast commerce is progressing beyond the "race to the fastest 10 minutes" moment. These days, it's all about making regular shopping easier and providing smarter service to clients. Recently introduced, the 'Pay Later' function allows users to set up an in-app repayment plan with no interest for 15 days. The capability enables a one-tap checkout process without the need for one-time passwords (OTPs) or third-party redirects, making it ideal for low-value, high-frequency orders.

More New Features by Zepto

The service offers immediate credit of up to INR 10,000, as stated in the product interface that Zepto released. Zepto Pay Later is a built-in BNPL experience, according to a LinkedIn post by Zepto Co-Founder Kaivalya Vohra. Now more than ever before, shopping will be effortless. The firm intends to rapidly expand this to include all users after getting it up and running for a modest percentage. Plus, with the launch of Real Lens, the company is giving customers access to time-stamped photos of locally sourced, freshly pulled food.

We are making shopping on Zepto more seamless than ever 🚀 Meet Zepto Pay Later, a BNPL experience built completely inside the Zepto app. Shopping is now going to be smoother than ever. It’s… | Kaivalya V.

We are making shopping on Zepto more seamless than ever 🚀 Meet Zepto Pay Later, a BNPL experience built completely inside the Zepto app. Shopping is now going to be smoother than ever. It’s already live for a small percentage, and we plan to scale this up to the entire user base very soon.

LinkedInKaivalya V.

Consequently, they will be able to switch between regular catalogue photographs and real ones. Zepto believes this will close the "trust gap" in online transactions, leading to more sales and fewer customer complaints. An additional feature called "Add After Checkout" has been added to the platform. Customers may now easily add forgotten goods to an existing order within a certain time range without placing a duplicate order. This new functionality also keeps the original delivery deadlines intact.

The Future of Quick Commerce in India

The capital deployment is being driven by the fast commerce segment's rapid expansion in India. Competitive intensity is expected to stay high over the coming quarters, according to analysts following the industry, particularly after Zepto's fundraising reset capital expectations.

As of right now, the data indicates that the industry is still incredibly well-funded. With over INR 40,000 crore in total funds, the next round of the quick-commerce competition will be determined by the ability to turn that capital into a sustainable scale without degrading unit economics, not by who can raise the most money.