Flipkart launches safety feature for delivery staff

NEW DELHI: E-commerce major Flipkart has launched an SOS button to help its field executives raise quick alarm in cases of medical or safety emergencies.

"To ensure greater safety for Field Executives (FEs), popularly known as Wishmasters, Flipkart has unveiled Project Nanjunda, a unique SOS button in the Field Executive's Mobile app," Flipkart said in a statement.

The Nanjunda Button brings a new set of enhanced safety standards for the field workforce and will enable the executives to raise an alarm in the event of an emergency.

The project has been named after the deceased wishmaster, Nanjunda Swamy, who passed away under tragic circumstances recently in Bengaluru.

"Flipkart Wishmasters form the backbone of our business, delivering wishes daily to millions of customers across India. Ensuring their safety is a primary priority for us. Over the days following the demise of Wishmaster, Nanjunda Swamy, our teams have worked relentlessly to deliver this feature in less than a month - in order to ensure our field staff is safe while on their delivery trips," Flipkart Chief Operating Officer Nitin Seth said.

In an emergency, a field executive can trigger an SOS by pressing the Nanjunda button, which sends SMS and Email notifications alerting the hub-in-charge and nearest field executives.

To operate this feature, only mobile network connectivity is required and not mobile data connectivity.

Last month, 28-year-old Nanjundaswamy was found murdered in Vijayanagar in Bengaluru. Working as a delivery man with Flipkart, he was allegedly murdered by a gym instructor to get hold of the mobile phone he had ordered, as he did not have money to pay in return.