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Online marketplace Snapdeal has launched its omni-channel platform named as ‘Janus’, referring to the Roman God of beginnings, transitions, gates, doors and doorways. The platform integrates offline and online retail channels to provide a seamless and differentiated shopping experience to its customers.
Besides offering the convenience of online discovery and ordering, the platform will also allow its customers to access value added & expert services as a part of their purchase including demonstration, installation and activation or returns at a store near them.
The platform will power an ecosystem of leading brands including Large Format Retailers (LFRs), small businesses and technology startups. The first categories to go live will be mobile phones in partnership with The Mobile Store (TMS), automobile tyres in association with Michelin, inverters and batteries in partnership with Luminous and fashion products with Shoppers Stop.
The “Janus” omni-channel platform is backed by deep understanding of consumer behaviour and partnerships with leading retailers, brands and service providers across the country. “This platform will blur the lines between offline and online retail, demonstrating that both channels can act as gateways to each other,” said Kunal Bahl, co-founder & CEO, Snapdeal.
Snapdeal’s platform aims to fulfil this need in partnership with its ecosystem partners. For instance, a customer will get an option to pick up or get their phone delivered from the nearest TMS store within 2 hours of ordering. The TMS trained agent will also offer to set up and demonstrate phone features in addition to offering services like sim resizing, data transfer and screen guard installation, all in the comfort of buyer’s home. However, the customer will be able to access these services at the nearest store only in case of “pickup” option.
The services will be available across 70 cities in India while similar value added services will be available across product categories through the omni channel platform.
Various studies have shown that 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. Thus, indicating the need of an omni-channel platform.
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