Managing printers at home often feels like an uphill task—costly maintenance, dried-up ink from infrequent use, and technical glitches can turn even a simple print job into a headache.
The product team at Blinkit recognized these pain points and launched the Print Store, a service that eliminates the need for home printers and brings professional-quality printing directly to users.
The product manager and the team are featured as one of the Upraised's top 50 Game Changers in 2024.
The Problem: Making Document Printing Effortless
Printing at home or through traditional print shops comes with several challenges:
- Maintenance Troubles: Home printers require regular ink refilling, paper management, and maintenance, which can be costly and time-consuming.
- Technical Glitches: Issues like connectivity failures or print quality inconsistencies disrupt workflows.
- Privacy Concerns: Sensitive documents such as legal papers or ID proofs are often mishandled in public print shops.
- Limited Accessibility: Finding a reliable print shop at the last minute is inconvenient, especially during off hours.
The product team at Blinkit addressed these challenges with a solution that’s as easy as ordering groceries or food online.
The Solution: Blinkit Print Store
The Print Store enables users to upload documents via the Blinkit app, which are then remotely printed at a nearby dark store and delivered to the customer.
Key Features of Blinkit Print Store
- Ease of Upload and Printing: Customers can upload documents directly from their devices, removing the need for personal printers or trips to print shops.
- Automated, Secure Printing: Printing is fully automated and executed without human intervention, making sure of both accuracy and privacy.
- Wide Accessibility: The Print Store is available in all Blinkit locations, making it accessible to a vast user base across India.
- Secure Handling: Documents are securely packed in envelopes and handed over to delivery riders with stringent checks to maintain confidentiality.
- Reliability and Efficiency: With a 97%+ average uptime and seamless operations, the Print Store ensures dependable service whenever needed.
Impact: Simplifying Lives, One Print at a Time
The Print Store has become one of the most-loved product features, with significant contributions to both user satisfaction and business growth:
- Increased Order Volume: Print Store orders now account for 1.5% of Blinkit’s total order volume, showcasing its popularity among users.
- Time and Cost Savings: Users save on the hassle and expense of maintaining home printers while benefiting from professional-quality prints delivered to their doorsteps.
- Enhanced Security: Stringent measures ensure document confidentiality and minimize the risk of errors, making it ideal for sensitive materials.
The Team Behind the Print Store
Anirudh Agarwal: SDE 3, Blinkit
Anirudh identified that many users face last-minute printing needs, which are often chaotic. There was a lack of solutions in the market, gave birth to Blinkit’s Print Store feature, allowing users to upload documents via the app and have them printed remotely at a nearby dark store. This built goodwill & trust amongst the users.
As a part of Upraised’s Game Changers, we're on a mission to celebrate high-impact problem solving & celebrate the individuals who brought these innovations to life.
If you're reading this, you're most likely interested in the product space. At Upraised, we help people break into Product Management and grow to Senior Product Managers (SPM) at one tenth the cost of an MBA and without quitting your job.