Joining the list of traditional, industrialist business houses launching ecommerce platforms, Tata Group is gearing up to enter this segment with the launch of its own marketplace named Tata CLiQ.
Tata CLiQ will integrate the online experience with omnichannel support at brick-and-mortar stores. It will be hybrid online retailing venture, aimed at taking on the likes of Snapdeal and Flipkart together. It will be a combination of a portal that will list brands and handle payment transactions and brick-and-mortar stores that will set prices, deliver products and provide customer support.
The experience for consumers will be different from that offered by pure-play e-commerce companies such as Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal, claims the company.
The eCommerce marketplace platform will be available for consumers from 29th May. It will be available across all platforms – website, mobile site, Android mobile app as well as iOS mobile app.
The platform will be a part of the company’s new arm called Tata Unistore. Initially, the online marketplace will focus on apparel, electronics and footwear. Over the next few months, it is planning to expand by adding more categories, brands and features.
Ashutosh Pandey, chief executive officer (CEO), Tata CLiQ, said,
Clique and Click came together to form the perfect name for our platform, which curates authentic and exclusive products for customers with impeccable taste. A name that says shopping online is now so easy and trustworthy, that all it takes is a click.
The backbone of the platform has been built by Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS). As per the report, the group has already signed up with around 80 brands, which will be offered on its website as well as through omni-channel options.
Many corporate giants have recently jumped into the eCommerce segment. In October last year, Aditya Birla Group launched a new online fashion store – abof.com while Reliance recently launched a fashion eCommerce platform named AJIO.com.
According to the report from Knight Frank India Pvt. Ltd and Retailers Association of India, the share of modern trade will slip from 17% in 2013 to 13% in 2019, while that of e-commerce companies will jump from 2% to 11% in the same period.
A report from Goldman Sachs states that the e-commerce market will account for 2.5% of India’s gross domestic product by 2030, growing 15 times and reaching $300 billion.
