Everyone in India is familiar with delivery boys, but one company is paving the way for delivery girls. Hey Deedee is pioneering that movement and economically empowering women in the process.
Started in 2016 by Revathi Roy and a co-founder, Hey Deedee was the result of Revathi’s experience in the field of logistics, transportation, job creation, and women’s empowerment for over a decade. It was clear to her that there was a great opportunity for women in the delivery sector.
Over the last three years, Hey Deedee has overcome a lot of ups and downs on its road to success.
“The main challenges are mobilization, capacity building, retention, and, of course, money. There is no formula or a textbook to follow when it comes to dealing with employees. So, every day is a learning and we devise innovative ways to handle challenges,” says Revathi.
WhatsApp is helping. Revathi says that they use WhatsApp and its multiple features extensively in their day-to-day operations. These include live location, which allows Revathi and the team to take attendance of all their staff, even when they are on the road. All details about the package, delivery location, and time are shared with the fleet through WhatsApp, and the real-time feedback from customers, also on WhatsApp, allows them to have a clear check on employee performance.
Looking forward, Revathi says that she is certain that Hey Deedee will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and succeed in transforming the lives of women who work with them — so one day people will be just as familiar with delivery girls as they are with delivery boys.