Marketplaces use Digital Literacy to lure retailers

With increase in competition, online marketplaces have been seen to compete amongst themselves on the basis of services and the quality of services offered to customers, in addition to a number of services to ease the online selling experience for sellers and retailers. Quality of products by a seller is not dependent on how big or small he is. Sometimes small retailers are the ones who have different and ethnic products.

However, they are also the ones sometimes unable to enter online selling and are limited due to lack of computer and internet knowledge. But with the huge potential in them, marketplaces are now turning their attention to tapping into these retailers by competing on the basis of equipping them with the required technical and digital knowledge.

Yes, Indian ecommerce giants like Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal and eBay have now upped their game in luring small retailers by offering them not just the marketplace platforms for selling their products, but also by teaching them digital literacy thus enabling them to utilize the platforms better and sell more effectively.

Using digital literacy as bait, Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal and eBay are attracting more retailers to their platforms by coaching them on the following:

• How to use computers

• Send emails

• Click photos

• Upload products with information and descriptions if possible

Additionally, complex tasks like warehousing and inventory management are also taught.

Snapdeal’s Digital Literacy plan

With more than 20,000 registered online sellers, Snapdeal currently approves a seller only after he or she has gone through their training via video and written communication. After this, the seller goes through a quiz, the success in which determines his or her approval as a Snapdeal seller.

Snapdeal plans to start offline classroom programmes by this month end in top cities of India.

eBay’s Digital Literacy plan

eBay India has about 30,000 registered Indian sellers on its platform. Two webinars are conducted every week explaining about selling on eBay. Every aspect if selling on eBay is explained like how to take a picture, how to create listings, manage ratings and feedback, fee calculator etc.

To make retailers get comfortable with online selling and take advantage of the ecommerce opportunity in India, eBay has made ‘learn-to-sell’ training manual, which are now available in six Indian languages. Also, it offers a toll-free helpline number to assist sellers who may get stuck at any point while selling online.

Flipkart’s training for retailers

Flipkart has expertise in warehousing and inventory management and plans to incorporate these topics in their training modules so as to enable retailers in understanding the operations that complete the purchase cycle of a buyer.

Flipkart also trains sellers to handle important aspects like writing effective image and catalogue guidelines, handling speedy deliveries and using quality packaging.

Amazon’s strategy to lure retailers

Amazon has a Small Business accelerator (SMB accelerator) which has teams spread across various Indian cities to help merchants understand the process of online selling and help them to get onboard. They help sellers to set up accounts, manage inventory and payments, while also teaching them business analytics to track their performance and improve where needed.

How retailers benefit from marketplaces’ digital literacy services

• Most retailers who are comfortable with computers also use these services; helplines and training manuals/videos help them to smoothen online selling when they get stuck somewhere.

• Sellers find eBay’s inputs on quality of images, timely fulfillment of orders and improving customer feedback helpful.

• With digital reach, sellers can get crucial information on how competitors are pricing products and thus gauge their performance.

• Sellers are able to manage their inventory more effectively.

Opportunity for Indian Online Sellers with Marketplaces’ Digital Literacy services

Such services and training can be quite beneficial in marketplaces where sellers from different regions directly sell products to consumers. It is important to understand the technology provided by these marketplace platforms in order to utilize them in the best possible manner and maximize business to ensure success.

As a seller, you can equip yourself with all the knowledge and expertise you would require to sell online with these training modules and webinars. Once you have the basics covered, you will be able to devise your own marketing and selling plan which would suit your business and selling pattern in the best way and get as many customers as possible and create your brand identity.