Snapdeal unveils its omni-channel platform

Snapdeal has announced the launch of its omni-channel platform. A global first by an online marketplace, the platform integrates offline and online retail channels to provide a seamless and differentiated shopping experience to customers. Through this platform, customers shopping on Snapdeal will be able to enjoy the convenience of online discovery and ordering along with faster hyper-local fulfilment. Omni Channel will allow them to access value added and expert services as a part of their purchase, including demonstration, installation, activation or returns at a store near them.

Snapdeal’s omni channel platform will power an ecosystem of leading brands, large format retailers (LFRs), small businesses and technology start-ups. The first categories to go live on omni-channel will be mobile phones in partnership with The Mobile Store (TMS), automobile tyres in association with Michelin, invertors and batteries in partnership with Luminous and fashion products with Shoppers Stop.

Speaking at the launch, Kunal Bahl, Co-founder and CEO, Snapdeal said, “We are thrilled to be the first online marketplace to launch an integrated omni-channel platform, opening a new chapter in enabling the success of retailers and brands in India. Our teams have worked tirelessly to build a seamless omni-channel platform which we call 'Janus', referring to the Roman God of beginnings, transitions, gates, doors and doorways. This platform will blur the lines between offline and online retail, demonstrating that both channels can act as gateways to each other. Our newest addition to Snapdeal’s digital commerce ecosystem, the Janus omnichannel platform is backed by our deep understanding of consumer behaviour and partnerships with leading retailers, brands and service providers across the country. The synergies between online and offline commerce in India will be unlocked like never before. We are confident that our customers will find our omni channel offerings to be very intuitive, making their shopping experience extremely convenient”

Various studies have shown that consumers switch between online and offline before making purchase decisions. 77% of consumers browse in stores before making a purchase online and 55% consumers conduct on-the-go mobile research before making a purchase in-store. In certain categories of products like mobile phones, majority customers follow up their online purchase with a visit to the store for accessing related services like data transfer, screen protection etc.  These trends clearly indicate a need to create channels for customers to seamlessly access the benefits of both online and offline to create a delightful buying experience.

Snapdeal’s omni channel platform seeks to fulfil this need in partnership with its ecosystem partners. For example, customers buying their phones on Snapdeal will have the option to pick up or get their phone delivered from the nearest TMS store within 2 hours of ordering. TMS trained agents will also help set up and demonstrate phone features in addition to offering services like sim resizing, data transfer, screen guard installation, all in the comfort of buyer’s home. Customers will also be able to access these services at the nearest store if they chose the pickup option. These services will be available across 70 cities in India. Similar value added services will be available across product categories through the omni channel platform.