Free website offer from iPay.in poised to optimize ‘kirana’ stores for ‘Zero Moment of Truth’ in India
IPay.in, the startup we wrote about recently, has started offering free websites for ‘kirana’ (local grocery) stores. Bringing small businesses online is the holy grail of monetizing local commerce.
There are many companies who have undertaken this noble mission. Google tried Get India Businesses Online, while GoDaddy is also incentivizing small businesses to come online. Shopify.in is making it easy for shops to setup their e-commerce store online. Locally, Hyderabad-based Nowfloats is an emerging player that is scaling fast in the sector. What Google calls ‘Zero Moment of Truth’ won’t spare ‘kirana’ stores, as we start to search information from our mobile phones about businesses around us.
At present, iPay.in partner merchants make over 22% additional revenues. Small businesses have another deal for free. Thanks to iPay Tech India (P) Ltd, Hyderabad-based patent pending technology driven e-commerce enabler, is building and offering free websites. Every retail partner of iPay can now boast their own website that will facilitate retailers connect with their customers, and explore enhanced business opportunities. All ‘kirana’ and small retail stores affiliated to iPay can now have a portal powered by NowFloats, another Hyderabad-based startup. IPay has picked a good partner, and using this platform, ‘kirana’ shop owners don’t have to be tech savvy; they can update their sites via an SMS.
Commenting on the innovative offering, Mr. Krishna Lakamsani, Founder & CEO, iPay Tech India (P) Ltd.,
says “Our approach to retail business is to empower small traders who have strong human relations with customers, and maximize trade potential by unlocking the virtual world. At present, we have 600+ retail partners and we at iPay are working towards providing free websites to each of our present and future partners. These partners in turn unlock an enormous business opportunity for themselves and iPay. This combination of internet, mobile and neighbourhood retailer is a first-of-its-kind business proposition in retail industry.”The main content of the website will include the general details about the retailer, and it will be SEO optimized page that makes the business discoverable via search engines. The trader can post any updates through the tablet provided as part of ‘Business in a box’ by iPay. The updates on stock, offers, schemes will reach instantly to all the customers who are subscribed to the retailer/trader. Customers looking for specific products can now browse, select and order the same from their neighborhood trader and be assured of better customer service.
Retailers can use this service to maintain the database of their walk-in clients. Regular customers are given best service and are kept updated with latest schemes. These portals will enable traditional mom & pop retailers cater to the needs of the new-age customers who are driven by internet and spoilt by the wide choice offered through e-commerce.
