COD vs prepaid economics in Indian e-commerce: the real numbers
On a typical ₹800 D2C order, a 100% COD mix delivers ~₹110 contribution after RTO, while a 100% prepaid mix delivers ~₹220 — roughly double. The 6 most effective levers to shift mix toward prepaid are: prepaid discount, free shipping nudges, partial COD, UPI 1-click, post-purchase confirmation friction, and platform-level prepaid badges.