Hoping to bridge the internet divide to include low-income groups in the e-commerce revolution, India’s online marketplace Snapdeal.com has partnered with FINO PayTech in launching assisted e-commerce centers.
The move will give access to over 1000 products through the centers, which would be operated by FINO Paytech and be located in semi-urban, rural and low income residential areas across the country.
FINO PayTech is India’s largest alternate delivery channel, offering a business and banking technology platform combined with extensive services delivery c through which they enable end-to-end customer sourcing and servicing.
Snapdeal said in blog post that the plan is to set up assisted outlets across 65 cities and over 70,000 rural areas by the end of this fiscal year 2014-2015.
Through a exclusive page, shoppers logged in by a FINO agent would be able place an order, and receive the delivery. Some of the locations that will provide assisted e-commerce service include Dharavi (Asia’s Largest Slum), Varanasi, Valsad (Gujarat) Urban Villages of Noida, Gurgaon, Hyderabad and Jaipur.
Kunal Bahl, co-founder and CEO Snapdeal.com, said the initiative is a step to revolutionizing e-commerce in India.
"Together we aim to provide innovative, yet simple ways to reach and service those end-consumers who are still not exposed to the benefits of online shopping," he said.
Rishi Gupta, COO and Executive Director at FINO PayTech, added that the move is of strategic importance as it allows the partners to unlock the potential of its last mile deliver network.
"We believe this breakthrough initiative could be a potential game changer in e-commerce after the hugely successful ‘cash on delivery’ and ‘mobile app’ models," he said.