Thursday February 8th (the eighth) 2018

The dabbawala service

The dabbawalas deliver 200 000 meals every day. There are about 5000 employees who are illiterate (= they can't read or write) and don't use any technology. However, the service is very accurate, they only make one mistake/error in a million thanks to a code (colour + number).

The dabbawalas service started 128 years ago, in 1890 and they only use bicycles, local trains and hand-drawn carts.

To join the association, the employees need to bring a long wooden crate, two bicycles and twenty rupees (=the Indian currency) to pay for the uniform.

The sercice has developped (they deliver 400 000 meals everyday) so they need new technologies (you can text/sms them or log on to their website if you want to order a delivery.)