National lockdown has affected business owners across the country. Looking at the reports available, over 7,00,000 kiranas or small businesses across the country had to close owing to various reasons such as relocating to their hometowns, the lack of customers, or no access to godowns that supply a new stock of materials.
Aman is one such business owner in the state of Rajasthan. After years of working as a clerk with a small advertising agency, he managed to save enough money to open his own sweet shop with his wife. Once the highlight of his clientele in the city of Jaisalmer, Aman soon found himself fighting for the survival of his store. Restrictions that required him to keep his shop closed for several weeks took a toll on his newly started venture.
Without a digital presence, there was no way for him to take orders online and fulfil them from his house. All this changed when his neighbour's daughter told him about Dukaan.
Brain behind the Idea
Dukaan enables local stores to become digital and use WhatsApp to sell their products. All a dukandaar needs to do is download the app, register their business, which takes less than a minute, and list their products. The link to their store can be shared with customers via WhatsApp for direct orders.
What's brilliant about Dukaan is that, unlike most digital initiatives that feel alien to those who aren't comfortable with technology, it uses a very familiar avenue to help people sell online.
Suumit, the founder of Dukaan, who grew up in Satara, Maharashtra, worked as a shop boy at his uncle’s small shop, where he would run errands for him. Here he also learnt the ins and outs of running a small business.
Suumit's story itself is an inspiration. After Suumit completed his 12th Standard, he spent one year working with his uncle in his clothing store located in Satara. He would do everything from arranging items on the shelves to helping with accounts and taxes. He later studied at Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli, and graduated in 2013. He claims that the shop is where he learned the discipline to run a business, the various tactics that help, and also the struggles.
How it all started?
The idea to start Dukaan struck thanks to a text message from a Jockey outlet which said they were now accepting orders on WhatsApp. What initially seemed like a long shot, soon made him realize that this is something that could actually benefit small business owners. In 48 hours, he along with his teammates Subhash, Anuraag and Kaustub created the Dukaan app for Android users, allowing them to move their businesses online.
The economic, social, and community impact is immense, and the inspiration for the app comes from a sincere understanding of the pain felt by small business owners in such times.
On the occasion of Janmashtami, orders for Krishna dresses and Pooja items shot up on the app, a proof of concept that technology that solves community needs in the hyperlocal context, is a smart solution for the future.
“Mujhe lagaa ki ye saal tho koi business nahiin hoga. Lekhin Janmashtami mein hamaari sales badh gayii. Ab Diwali ka intezaar hai,” posted a shop owner on the Dukaan app store.
Users' Point of View
Neeraj one of the users said," The Dukaan app was a blessing in disguise. The application was easy to use, and I could upload all the items present in the store along with the pictures and prices. While other e-commerce platforms have a minimum quantity for purchase, this application does not. That is what makes it unique, users can shop as though they are buying items from that tiny store at the end of the lane. Users can order one item, or 100 items, it is their choice.”
Another feature on the application is that the customers can choose to pick up the items from the store or have it delivered at home for a small delivery fee.
If you are a store owner, you can register yourself on the platform by downloading the ‘Dukaan app’ on the Google play store.
So far, 150000+ stores have been created on the Dukaan platform, over 500,000 products have been added in over 40 different categories of businesses, more than 400 cities are covered, and over 75000 orders, fulfilled. Today, the application has registered more than 4,00,000 stores across the country, with 2,00,000 products waiting to be sold.
Perhaps all that India's small and medium entrepreneurs need is for someone to truly understand their needs and their inhibitions in trying to bring them into the digital world. They can trust that the shift to digital platforms will indeed benefit them.
Suumit Shah is one of a kind and a gift to the nation. He truly understands how technology can be leveraged to work to the benefit of those who need it most.