siliconindia | | September 20199Since the price of products on both online & offline platforms will now be almost same, customers who were completely reliant on online shopping may move back to local retailersOpportunity for Other Digital PlayersThe policy has opened a new route for brick-and-mortar retailers to expand into the digital domain and complement their offline operations through newer digital business models. Take, for instance, the recent shift towards recreating physical shopping mall in the digital medium by merging real estate and digital spaces through cutting-edge technological tools. Working on a zero-commission model, such state-of-the-art digital shopping malls allow retailers to enjoy exclusivity benefits within their region. This eliminates the possibility of preferential treatments, while also delivering more immersive, engaging digital shopping experiences to their end-customers. Such emerging digital commerce models are also addressing major issues such as refunds, payments, fake products, and poor quality goods. This move is thus an opportunity for new-age digital players to craft unique offerings that deliver better value to all stakeholders involved.Ensuring that Money is Made & Circulated Only in India The new FDI policy will also contribute to the `Make in India' campaign by ensuring that money made in India remains in India. This wasn't the case earlier due to the heavy penetration of e-Commerce players selling foreign-owned brands to Indian shoppers. The money will now circulate only in the Indian market, putting an end to exclusive customer deals. For instance, brands won't be giving away free products, as there won't be any partnership between them and online retail platforms. Impact on customersSince the policy prevents exclusive marketing, it now halts online marketplaces from exclusively selling a product. Hence, manufacturers will now be mandated to sell their products on all marketplaces, which is why the products which earlier were only exclusively available on Amazon or Flipkart will now be available everywhere, giving customers more choices than ever. Besides, since the price of products on both online and offline platforms will now be almost same, customers who were completely reliant on online shopping, even for basic needs such as clothing and groceries, may move back to local retailers. This, however, is not guaranteed; one of the main reasons why consumers adopted online shopping was the level of convenience that it delivers. Newer business models which combine the trustworthiness and transparency of offline retail with the convenience of online shopping might emerge as the big winners here.The Road AheadGiven that the recent policy changes are a step towards creating a robust e-commerce sector in India, online marketplaces should start evaluating their business practices. Apart from creating long-term stability, it is envisioned that the policy changes will lead to more players working towards the mutual benefit of all involved, including stakeholders, merchants, and consumers. This policy will also bring more innovation to the country's retail sector and unlock fresh business opportunities for local retailers who have so far been left relatively untouched by the digital wave.
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