Indians predicted to spend $16 billion on online shopping

Confessions from ecommerce shopaholics

We know it’s something we have been harping about time and again- but these recent figures are so thrilling, we just had to tell you again. A report by industry body CII and KPMG has declared that online retail spending in the country is expected to reach $16 billion (around Rs 1 lakh crore) by 2018. This is obviously great news for e-tailers.

Digital infrastructure key to success

At such a time when many retailers want to get online, what can give a seller an edge over others? The answer lies in creating a unique shopping experience for prospective shoppers. Recently Snapdeal realised how important the ‘shopper’s experience’ is in increasing sales and acquired Wishpicker.com to incorporate its personalisation software in customer interaction.

Also, with more and more shoppers now using their mobile phones to browse websites, it is extremely important to catalogue your product in a mobile-friendly way. Other ways to adapt to mcommerce is by creating efficient and easy-to-use mobile shopping apps.

According to KPMG India partner K Raman, “Digital infrastructure is a key enabling technology for a connected and instrumented world. It is expected to create tremendous opportunities for various technology players across verticals like smart cities, smart utilities, smart healthcare, smart transportation and more in India.”

If ecommerce thus marries effective technology, online marketplaces will take off to a wonderful ‘MoneyMoon’. On a serious note though, it’s time the online sellers prepare well to reap benefits from this ecommerce boom.