The Mumbai Dabbawallas are known for their model of excellence. One error in a million deliveries (read Six Sigma). The system is foolproof. So much so that the sheer imagination of one delivery going wrong becomes a movie; Lunch Box.

Yet some agencies try to play with the system. Is there room for change?

Microsoft and Unilever tried distributing samples and flyers through the system but Dabbawalas found this too disruptive. The experiment was abandoned. Some Western schools tried to replace their cycles with motorbikes, which also failed.

The Dabbawala system is tuned for efficiency but not change. And yet they are leaders in last-mile delivery. Non-tech, low carbon footprint, simple. It works like magic.

Are you tuned for change? or are you tuned for efficiency?

Pick one.

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