The best time to move your business online has come. With the infrastructure expansion and driving internet usage, people have become more reliant on digital services. India, in particular, has seen exponential growth in the number of internet users and the volume of transactions. With the growing interest into the digital world, it is only wise to take a step in the online era so that your business stays updated.
As you begin the offline to online migration several questions come to mind. One of them is- Where do you start from?
Well, you do not need too many resources to start your online business. Just make a list of the products and services you provide and select an eCommerce platform. One you have selected the best eCommerce platform, quickly build a store and upload your products to get started.
However, choosing the right eCommerce platform is not so easy. There are a lot of factors that you have to keep in mind before you select one. To make the selection easier, we have come up with a list of the top 12 best eCommerce platforms for startups in India. This list will help you avoid the confusion and choose the best digital partner.
Top 12 Best eCommerce Platforms in India for Startups
There are various factors that need to be considered when deciding on the right ecommerce platform to launch your products. To make your decision making a little easier, here’s a comprehensive list of the top 12 ecommerce platforms in India that all SMEs and startups should consider.
- Amazon
- Flipkart
- IndiaMart
- Snapdeal
- Cred
- Meesho
- Shopify
- MyDukaan
- Myntra
- Paytm
- Shopclues
- Pepperfry
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According to Statista, Amazon India outperformed every other marketplace in the first half of 2021 by hosting over 295 million users on the platform. The website sells a range of products from diverse categories. From electronics, furniture, and clothing to jewellery and medicine, you can find almost everything on Amazon India.
Moreover, Amazon is one of the most trusted platforms when it comes to online shopping. Listing your products on Amazon India can help you establish a good brand image and boost initial sales. You can contact their seller support team to know more about the onboarding process and the required documentation that you need to present.
Amazon India Seller Registration- Click here for more details
Flipkart is India’s homegrown eCommerce giant which was partially acquired by Walmart in 2018. Starting in 2007, the company has grown to become the second-biggest online retailer of India. Like its competitors, Flipkart also sells a wide range of items and delivers to all serviceable pincodes in the country.
Flipkart categorises its sellers on the basis of their performance on the platform. They are given Bronze, Silver or Gold category. Better category gives a seller an edge over the competition as Flipkart offers additional features for them. Selling on flipkart is also pocket friendly as the marketplace charges a competitive platform fee on the basis of your product category.
Above all, you can benefit from the popularity of Flipkart among the Indian consumers. The brand also does targeted marketing efforts to bring more customers on its platform. For instance, Flipkart’s Big Billion Days is an annual sale that welcomes thousands of new shoppers on the platform. A seller can expect their order volume to grow during this period.
Flipkart Seller Registration- Click here for more details
IndiaMart is a B2B marketplace that was founded in the year 1996 by Dinesh and Brijesh Agarwal. The company offers a lucrative service of connecting the right sellers and buyers from across the country. They have made sourcing easier for Indian businesses by finding trusted suppliers with competitive rates and delivery timelines.
IndiaMart could be of great advantage if you are a manufacturer or wholesaler who is yet to move online. They also offer a membership program under which the company connects you to relevant buyers for your products. IndiaMart also hosts a number of other programs and benefits for sellers. For instance, you can get a website designed and hosted for your business via IndiaMart InterMesh.
IndiaMart Seller Registration- Click here for more details
Snapdeal is among India’s top homegrown online marketplace. The platform was launched in 2010 by Rohit Bansal and Kunal Bahl. The company is among the most trusted online retail outlets in India. It generated a traffic of over 50 million users in April 2021.
Snapdeal offers trusted shipping and other seller fulfilment features to facilitate online selling for over newbies. When it comes to serviceability, Snapdeal serves around 5,000 pin codes across India. Therefore, it will not be wrong to say that Snapdeal is one of the top marketplaces in India.
Snapdeal Seller Registration- Click here for more details
Cred is the new talk of the town when it comes to online selling in India. The company which began its business model by offering credit card payment services has now forayed into lending and the online marketplace model. It sells different kinds of products ranging from clothes to electronics and food.
However, when it comes to selling and buying on Cred, there is a catch. The platform is only open to a limited number of users. You need to have a credit card and a good credit history to be able to use the application. Cred offers exciting discounts for users while providing valuable insights for business owners. Using Cred you can not only sell your products but can also get efficient feedback on it by users who are most active on online marketplaces.
Cred hosts buyers with excellent credit scores and purchasing power. These people are more likely to make a purchase than a normal consumer. This saves marketing costs for the seller and promotes buyer retention in the long run.
Cred Website- Click here for more details
Meesho is one of the fastest growing online marketplaces in India. It was founded in 2015 by Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal. The credit for Meesho’s rocket growth can be given to its zero commission and seller support model. The platform charges a flat zero percent commission on orders and does not charge a shipping fee to sellers.
Several sellers who were earlier selling on other platforms have registered on Meesho and experienced exponential growth in their order volume. Meesho has also recently introduced a range of other shipping benefits for sellers including a no penalty model. According to the founders, Meesho will soon be adding more beneficial features for sellers. This will ensure that more small businesses and individuals join Meesho and start selling online.
However, there are limitations associated even with the best eCommerce platforms. To get rid of these constraints you can opt for a brand website. Hire a trusted vendor for web design in India and get a custom website live for your business. This will give you more flexibility in terms of managing funds, shipping and marketing.
Meesho Seller Registration-Click here for more details
Shopify is a multinational eCommerce company that serves as a proprietary eCommerce platform for online stores. It offers several services like payments, marketing, hosting and customer engagement tools for businesses.
According to an estimate, more than 1 million businesses currently use Shopify to power their online stores. You can use its free website builder tool to build a website for your business. The process is super easy and takes no technical expertise to do.
Shopify also has several free and paid apps to help you manage different aspects related to online business. You can greatly benefit from its marketing, shipping and data analytics tools. They will help you automate different processes, saving crucial time and money in the initial phase.
Shopify Seller Registration- Click here for more details
MyDukaan is one of the biggest competitors to Shopify. It offers similar services but with additional functionalities. Using MyDukaan, small businesses and entrepreneurs can build their online stores easily and sell using social media and other digital marketing efforts.
You can have payments, shipping and other critical resources set-up within minutes via MyDukaan. If you build these via conventional methods then these tasks could take anywhere between hours and days depending on your technical expertise. Moreover, the dashboard is super awesome and aesthetically pleasing. You can process orders without any hassle, allowing you to better manage your time and focus on key business areas.
MyDukaan Seller Registration- Click here for more details
Myntra is one of the most well-known fashion marketplaces to emerge from India. The platform has become the greatest one-stop online destination for an evolving Indian consumer base’s fashion needs.
Myntra has a large selection of fashion for men, women, and children, ranging from high-end clothing to casual wear. In terms of market statistics and accessibility, becoming a vendor on Myntra pays out handsomely. For the entrepreneur, Myntra’s in-house team of specialists and professionals study the current fashion trends.
They also assist with sales, from store management to cataloguing to end-to-end supply chain management. You can concentrate on your brand and quality as a fledgling entrepreneur while Myntra handles marketing and sales.
Myntra Seller Registration- Click here for more details
Paytm is an e-commerce company based in India that started as an e-wallet and e-recharge service. It has evolved into an e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of services to its consumers throughout time.
Paytm users may now use the app to pay domestic bills, book tickets, and take advantage of a variety of e-commerce options, such as buying and selling consumer products. Apart from this, you can also visit Paytm Mall to buy and sell products. This marketplace by Paytm has seen some drop in new buyers over the past few years. As a result, many sellers have left Paytm Mall. However, you can use this to your advantage and get better visibility in your niche products.
Paytm has a simple 5-step process for becoming a seller. This also offers you access to what is arguably India’s largest domestic e-banking and e-commerce venture. Paytm provides a variety of loan solutions, including their flagship Paytm Bank services, which are extremely beneficial to startups and small businesses. These features can assist you, not just in selling but also running your business.
Paytm Seller Registration- Click here for more details
Founded in 2011, shopclues is among India’s top 50 best eCommerce platforms. With a team that has over 75 years of combined experience in the Internet, technology, and retail, the company has grown to become a leader in rural India. In a well-established ecosystem, Shopclues maintains the seller-buyer relationship.
The company was founded to make shopping easier for customers by offering a variety of products such as clothes, electronics, gadgets, kitchen appliances, accessories, home decor, and more. In 2014, Shopclues debuted India’s first wholesale marketplace TVC as well as a window app. The platform’s competitive commission rates makes it a favoured choice among sellers.
Shopclues Seller Registration- Click here for more details
With over 60 lakh registered clients, Pepperfry is among India’s best eCommerce platforms for furniture and home products. Customers’ buying habits have changed dramatically as a result of the pandemic. To satisfy the utilitarian and aesthetic components of daily living, homes are today playing several functions. This is fantastic news for businesses like Pepperfry and its sellers.
Pepperfry is the ideal online marketplace to invest in for beginners because of the growing demand for products such as beds, mattresses, dining tables, closets, decor, lights, and space-saving products. Consumer needs and developing marketing trends are always at the forefront of the brand’s marketing initiatives. Hence, it keeps attracting new customers.
The average transaction size on Pepperfry is also better than most other platforms. If you have a business that forays into any of these products then registering on Pepperfry could be a good idea.
Pepperfry Seller Registration- Click here for more details
Conclusion
The world will continue to evolve and it is best that you keep evolving your business with it. People from even the remotest areas of the country now have access to fast internet. With an online store, you can sell to anyone, anywhere and anytime. Make use of the time and opportunity and get an eCommerce store built for your business today. It will put your business model a step forward into the future resulting in better volumes and profits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which e-commerce platform is best in India?
Amazon is the biggest online retail platform of India. It dominates the majority of traffic in metro and tier 2 cities. The company is also extending its seller support services to tier 3 cities to make online selling easier for local businesses.
What is the best ecommerce platform for small business in India?
Millions of small businesses in India prefer low-commission marketplaces like Shopclues and Meesho. Shopclues charges competitive commission rates whereas Meesho offers a zero percent commission model. This has helped it become the best ecommerce platform for small business in India.
What is the future of ecommerce in India?
The Indian eCommerce market is expected to reach USD188 Billion by 2025 and USD350 Billion by 2030. In 2022, it is predicted to rise by over 20% reaching USD75 Billion in volume.
What will retail look like in 2025?
By 2025, we may see a sharp shift in consumer buying habits. This will force businesses to adopt an online or hybrid model of selling goods and services. Startups and new technologies will fuel this shift as consumers look for modern facilities at competitive prices.