Sodexo, the leader in employee motivation & benefits services, today announced an innovative solution in partnership with Grofers.
Employee motivation and benefits service provider, Sodexo, has launched an IVR-based payment solution that will facilitate users having Sodexo Meal Cards to pay for groceries and other food items on delivery. 3 million daily users benefit from Sodexo meal benefit solution and its acceptance network pans across 1500 cities of India including small towns. Headquartered in Paris, France, the paper voucher company operates in over 80 countries all over the globe. However, it has the highest chunk of market share in India.
The Gurugram-based e-grocer startup, Grofers already accepts Sodexo vouchers on delivery. However, this partnership will facilitate their digital acceptance as well. Recently, the company received DIPP (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion) approval for food retail in India pertaining to which, it is planning to invest $40 million in its food retail unit. Meal vouchers contribute to 2 percent of the total orders per month Grofers receives. It is hoping that there will be a substantial increase in the number post the partnership.
According to Sodexo, this partnership will provide security and hassle-free platform for their 3 million daily users who food and non-alcoholic beverages. As home delivery of food is becoming exceedingly popular, this solution will become very popular as it further minimizes the need for cash.
When paying via Sodexo Meal Card, the consumers need to just dial the IVR and enter their card details. Also, as an introductory offer, first-time users of the Grofers app can avail a 20 percent cash back on their order.
In November 2016, the firm launched their venture capital arm, Sodexo Ventures with around $60 million capital fund which aims to invest in startups with a high growth rate and boost the group’s expertise in a variety of sectors like Food-Tech, health and wellness, data, mobility and smart buildings.
In May 2017, Sodexo joined hands with Zeta, a financial technology startup which provides a smartphone-based payments technology solution to overcome a major regulatory hindrance put forth by the Reserve Bank of India of discontinuing the use of paper vouchers by the end of this year.