Why should the average consumer care about knowing more about MSMEs

Consumers have come a long way from the times when logistics and distribution channels in the marketplace were not very streamlined. The demand and supply balance were not optimised either, at least in a lot of sectors.

Today, the ecosystem is entirely different. Our marketplace is robust. There is a good demand and supply balance and the consumer has ample choices while making a buying decision. It is also easier to gather information on the availability of products and compare prices before the actual purchase.

The Digital Shift

In recent times, e-commerce has emerged as a game-changer for not only the consumer but also other stakeholders like sellers, artisans and entrepreneurs. As is evidenced by the numbers, e-commerce has boosted the economy by increasing productivity, encouraging innovation, and driving better shopping experiences.

For the consumer, shopping online is simple, convenient, and saves effort and cost. While e-commerce platforms like Flipkart have been part of the growth story, they have enabled and supported MSMEs of the country in their own way.

MSMEs are Crucial to the Country’s Development

Why should the average consumer care about MSMEs, you might think. The reasons are the manifold ways in which the MSMEs impact the economy positively.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises or MSMEs are an important part of the Indian economy. Not only do they generate employment opportunities but also help in the development of the backward and rural areas.

Greater innovation

They're more flexible. Because of their size and simpler structure, they have a greater capacity to adapt to changes. That's the reason MSMEs have been quick to adopt the digital model of selling and online transactions.

Adopting E-commerce to bring products to consumers

These MSMEs aim to have an enhanced customer base and increased profits by using e-commerce technology. MSMEs rightly believe that the use of e-commerce will boost their business growth.

Contribution to economic growth

This pivot of MSMEs to e-commerce has kept the economic engine running. This is particularly true in recent times when we saw a major shift to digital out of necessity. With the help of e-commerce, these enterprises could enhance the promotion of their products and services through direct, attractive and interactive contact with customers.

Better consumer engagement

Consumers benefited immensely from this shift. For them, the nature of communication with the company they are buying from has become open and feedback oriented. It facilitates direct customer reach for the enterprise getting them valuable and genuine engagement.

Employment opportunities

There has been a dynamic development of the entrepreneurial environment. In addition, these MSMEs have led to the growth of their own supply chains leading to employment generation.

Being the part of the e-commerce ecosystem has also enabled these MSMEs to build infrastructure.

Supporting MSMEs beyond Business Opportunities

While e-commerce has changed the way the medium and small enterprises conduct business, they still need support in other ways.

I recently read in the news that Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, has started a large number of initiatives for lakhs of MSMEs, small-scale sellers, artisans, weavers and handicraft partners, helping them in every way possible.

These efforts at Flipkart’s end, ranging from financial benefits, health and safety benefits, support them through existing seller policies.

They had even exempted sellers from paying storage fees for their inventory in the Flipkart fulfilment centres. There have been no cancellation fees on orders that have been cancelled.

If the seller partners are taken care of so well by a large organization such as Flipkart, it’s a very welcome step.

If the average consumer is well-informed today, then their responsibility is also to support MSMEs in their own way by pledging to buy from them. Every time you order something online from an e-commerce platform like Flipkart, you help boost the economy. MSMEs in tandem with e-commerce strengthen local economies, create more jobs and opportunities and build the economic and social fabric of the society.

References

1.    https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/flipkart-introduces-a-slew-of-initiatives-to-support-sellers/article34509028.ece/

https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/sme/cafe-sme/msme-tech-d2c-approach-lets-msmes-reach-consumers-directly-get-direct-feedback-unlike-traditional-export-market/2090146/