In the last few years, there has been a stark increase in e-commerce and online retail transactions across India. From ordering electronics, clothing, and cosmetics to getting daily groceries online, Indian consumers have come a long way when it comes to adopting e-commerce in their daily lives.
This creates huge potential for the development of this industry in the upcoming years. Moreover, as per reports, this segment is predicted to reach $150 billion by 2026. And majorly AMAZON and FLIPKART are the two huge ecommerce players.
As an E-commerce seller one has to create account on these two platforms. In the era of burgeoning digital trends, the e-commerce sector reigns supreme.
A growing number of individuals now opt for online purchases over traditional brick-and-mortar shopping excursions. This shift in consumer behavior propels a surge in traffic to e-commerce platforms, rendering it one of the fastest-growing industries globally.
However, to capitalize on this growth, sufficient financial resources are essential. Here, we delve into the advantages of availing Flipkart seller loans and Amazon seller loan.
Thus, if you are an entrepreneur getting ready to set up his/her new business, knowing the future of ecommerce in India is essential.
Future of E-commerce in India – Growth Prospects
In comparison to China, where the e-commerce industry contributes to around 50% of its retail market value, the Indian segment accounts for only 7%. This indicates that there is ample room for this sector’s growth in the upcoming years.
As per market reports, by 2027, India’s online grocery market is expected to reach $26.93 billion, expanding at 33% CAGR. Additionally, by 2030, the country’s Business-to-Business (B2B) ecommerce segment is predicted to reach around $200 billion.
Alternatively, by 2027, the Business-to-Consumer (B2C) segment is predicted to expand at 8.68% CAGR. Furthermore, by 2030, India’s online shopper base can reach approximately $600 million and become the second-largest worldwide.
Factors Affecting the Future of E-commerce in India
Now, there are several driving factors behind these above-mentioned growth prospects. Let’s take a look at them below:
Growth of E-commerce in Smaller Indian Cities
As per reports, Indian consumers are estimated to spend around $160 billion on ecommerce transactions by 2025. Among them, the highest order volumes are predicted to come from Tier-2 cities. This is mainly due to factors like urbanization, internet penetration, and limited product variety at local stores.
For instance, in 2023, during the first week of festive sales across all major platforms, almost 60% to 65% of online sales volume came from non-metro cities. Thus, an increasing number of ecommerce platforms are focusing on increasing their markets in smaller Indian cities.
For example – During its first few sale days, Meesho received almost 60% of its business from Tier-4 cities. The ecommerce company achieved this feat by focusing on promoting low-cost products across markets present outside metro cities.
Also Read:- Meesho Seller – Registration, Login, New Account Creation
Improvement in E-commerce Technology
The future of the ecommerce industry will leverage a wide array of technology that can enhance customer experience. For example, virtual try-on allows customers to try out various accessories in an augmented reality environment.
This enables them to virtually try out numerous products which in turn aids their purchase decision. Moreover, voice search integration enables users to find their desired products hassle-free. Some platforms also integrate chatbots that can interact with users, understand their requirements, and make personal product recommendations.
Apart from this, one-click checkout and eWallet integrations, allow customers to seamlessly pay for their purchases, which adds to their user experience. Adapting new technology for ecommerce business is important in coming years.
Also Read:- Popular Digital Payment Methods For Retail Shops
Marketing via Social Media Channels
As users spend an increasing amount of time on social media, such platforms have become a major sales channel for the ecommerce industry. To promote community buying and social-led commerce, major social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook already feature integrated shop features.
Moreover, research states that almost 74% of customers trust the word of influencers when it comes to making purchase decisions. Thus, major companies are actively collaborating with them to increase brand awareness and actively expand their customer base.
Omnichannel Experience
To provide a consistent shopping experience regardless of the platform, the omnichannel approach will be a predominant factor in the future of the ecommerce industry.
Major platforms are thus ensuring that they have the same stock availability, product pricing, and promotion across all their channels, ensuring a seamless user experience from any device.
Some ecommerce businesses are also developing ‘shop online and collect offline’ models. This helps them effectively reduce delivery costs, facilitate a better customer experience, drive sales of additional products, and seamlessly handle returns.
Also Read:- Best Ways To Bring Your Business Online For Retail Shops
Offline Retail Stores by D2C Brands
Several direct-to-customer (D2C) brands like Lenskart, Mamaearth, Pepperfry, Nykaa, etc. are opening physical stores to provide the in-store experience. This not only boosts their omnichannel presence but also allows them to access the customer base that prefers to shop for products offline.
Also Read:- How to Get Financing for D2C Brands
Hyperlocal Delivery Channels
Nowadays people also shop for products like medicines, groceries, and other FMCG goods online, which they want to be delivered within the least possible time. Thus, major ecommerce players are developing hyperlocal delivery channels.
Companies like Tata Croma, JioMart, Apollo Pharmacy, Reliance Digital, Amazon enable customers to order products online and get them delivered via their nearest retail outlets. Similarly, some players like Nykaa, D-Mart, BigBasket, etc. process orders online and get products delivered from local Kirana stores.
Also Read:- How Kirana Shops Are Proving To Be The Backbone Of The Economy
This arrangement helps ecommerce retailers expand their network and improve last-mile delivery, while the local stores benefit from increasing business. In the future of ecommerce in India, this will be a prominent trend as the demand for super-fast deliveries becomes the norm among customers. Know how to start a Grocery Delivery Business in India
Subscription-Based Models
For products that are required by customers on a daily or periodic basis, most platforms are opting for subscription-based models. For example, Country Delight allows customers to opt for subscription plans to get their chosen products delivered to them on specific days of the week. This allows the company to have a steady revenue stream while the customers get their products delivered hassle-free on the designated dates.
To conclude, there are major growth prospects in the future of ecommerce in India. However, to leverage them, you need to adapt your business to these above-mentioned trends and learn the requisite digital skills in order to implement them in your business model.
FAQs
How does ecommerce benefit the retail market?
Ecommerce platforms allow retailers to access a wider market and offer a vast array of products to consumers, without having to lease/rent retail spaces. It also helps them effectively analyze customer data and make decisions that can potentially improve their business revenue.
How is ecommerce revolutionizing modern business practices?
Ecommerce channels allow businesses to collect and analyze customer data, which can help them identify changing consumer patterns, assess their requirements, and develop products accordingly. This will eventually change the way organizations operate, making them adopt a more customer-centric approach.
What are the various types of ecommerce retail model?
The various types of ecommerce retail models are Business to Business (B2B), Business to Consumer (B2C), Business to Government (B2G), and Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C).