Quick Service Delivery & a Silent Trade-off

The impact of Quick Service Delivery (QSD) in our lives cannot be overstated. Its influence in both metropolitan and Tier I & II cities is undeniable. QSD has not only increased convenience but also addresses urgent household needs in a timely manner. For nuclear families, where manpower support is limited, time is saved. However, a recent visit to a relative’s home prompted me to reflect on one of the  consequences of QSD which is mostly overlooked.

I visited a relative’s place a couple of weeks back. It was a weekend, and a special menu was to be prepared with me as the ‘guest of honour’. It was a non-vegetarian item. As the preparations began and the marination process started, it was realized that several essential ingredients (like yogurt, powdered black pepper etc.) were not available. This resulted in a verbal duel between the husband and wife regarding whose responsibility it was to ensure the availability of these cooking ingredients.

Anita argued, "You could have picked up those items on your way home from the grocery store after purchasing the mutton. You could have been more mindful, don’t you think?"

Kumud retorted, "You should have at least reminded me."

"You decided to prepare the meal, so isn’t it your responsibility to plan and ensure everything is available? You didn’t even bother to ask me," replied Anita.

As the argument escalated, I felt uneasy and decided to intervene. Eventually, it was agreed that rather than walking ten minutes to the nearest grocery store in the scorching sun, it would be wiser to use a popular QSD app to place the order. Both of them finally agreed to this solution and peace the household descended much to my relief. Within ten minutes, the groceries arrived at our doorstep. After resolving the issue, I couldn’t help but reflect on why this situation occurred and whether it could have been avoided.

It seems that, under the guise of convenience, we are unconsciously and silently trading off a fundamental discipline: planning and execution. This discipline has always been integral to the smooth running of many Indian households. It starts with preparing a shopping checklist before heading to the grocery store or even a departmental store. All it takes is a few minutes to check the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator to identify which items are running low, then write down the names of items to be purchased. While some may dismiss this practice as outdated, it instills an important life skill—planning and execution.

This practice is like a drill that helps us to be more focused and mindful instead of forgetful. This is exactly what happened between Anita and Kumud. Moreover, consider the service charges that come with using this facility. While it may not significantly impact our finances, it raises questions about financial wisdom. Impulse purchases can further exacerbate this issue.

Although the convenience provided by QSD apps has contributed to job creation and economic growth in our country, it comes with undeniable costs. Being overwhelmed by lack of time is often used as a convenient excuse, but dependence on these services does not hold up under scrutiny most of the time.