ABCC-2026-003: "FORTY OR FIFTEEN: SHOULD ZOOMCART SHIFT TO QUICK-COMMERCE?" 

Category: Operations Management

Abstract: This case examines whether Zoomcart, a fictional grocery delivery platform operating through a third-party marketplace model, should transition toward a first-party quick-commerce model built on dark stores and inventory ownership. Faced with a competitor offering 15-minute delivery, Zoomcart must evaluate customer demand for speed, the operational constraints of its existing model, and the economic trade-offs of vertical integration. The case explores service design, platform strategy, last-mile logistics, and the balance between operational control and cost efficiency, challenging students to assess whether faster delivery requires incremental optimization or a fundamentally different operating architecture.