iWorld
ZEE5 Intelligence Monitor launches new report on Quick Delivery Services (QDS)
Mumbai: ZEE5, India’s largest home-grown video streaming platform and multilingual storyteller for entertainment seekers, has unveiled the new edition of its intelligence monitor which signifies key trends and insights within the Quick Delivery Services (QDS) segment. This comprehensive research highlights the emergence of Quick Delivery Service (QDS) apps as a revolutionary force in the consumer landscape, reshaping buying trends across both metro and non-metro regions with last-mile access to everyday goods and services. Additionally, it sheds light on the growing preference of today’s women for QDS apps.
ZEE5’s Intelligence Monitor on the Quick Delivery Service segment offers valuable insights for marketers and businesses, paving way for pioneering initiatives to target potential audiences and navigate this dynamic industry. The report further suggests that the ratio of metro users as compared to non-metro users of QDS apps stand at 53:47, which is drastically evolving in the post-pandemic era. The QDS ecosystem is witnessing phenomenal rise in demand on the back of emergence of individual consumers as a user category.
Key highlights of the QDS report:
· 66 per cent of consumers use QDS apps every week, whereas 54 per cent of women engage with QDS apps every week
· 1 out of 2 consumers rank convenience as the top reason for using QDS apps
· 79 per cent of non-metro respondents have tried a QDS app; whereas 61 per cent of non-metro respondents are regular users
· 38 per cent of users find comfort in shopping from the privacy of their homes
· 59 per cent of users make personal care purchases on QDS platforms
· 44 per cent of consumers use QDS apps to pick and drop packages within the city
· 78 per cent of respondents have tried a QDS app
· 56 per cent of respondents display high loyalty to QDS apps
On the release of the ZEE5 Intelligence Monitor QDS report, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited chief operations officer – revenue Rajiv Bakshi said, “The appeal of doorstep delivery is the main draw for QDS apps, but trust and privacy also play a role. Women users benefit uniquely from time-saving, and QDS apps are on the verge of nationwide adoption, especially among non-metro users. ZEE5 Intelligence Monitor – Quick Delivery Services (QDS) is the latest edition undertaken to identify trends, map behaviours and deliver actionable insights into consumer’s attitudes towards products and services across categories. In the digital age, QDS apps empower women and promise future innovations for businesses. This report, with its data depth and creative capabilities, offers QDS players a great opportunity to communicate their value effectively.”
The report suggests that India’s digital evolution is taking a new turn, with next-gen consumers as well as non-metro users embracing Quick Delivery Service (QDS) apps. This trend underscores the importance of customization for regional success such as specialized product categories and localized delivery strategies, which strongly resonate among diverse preferences, offering an edge in this dynamic landscape. Innovations in the QDS ecosystem, empowering small brands and reshaping grocery shopping among smaller town consumers driven primarily by convenience and time-saving opportunities.
ZEE5 Intelligence Monitor is a pioneering effort to bring industry-specific consumer insights based on research conducted by one of India’s largest entertainment platforms, ZEE5. Aimed at aiding business leaders and marketers in their decision making, in addition to tracking consumption and buying habits, this research also provides an insider view on factors that influence consumers’ purchase decision process. The report also showcases varied point of view and nuanced perspectives from leading brands and experts from the broader marketing ecosystem.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
