MGM alumni give #vocalforlocal a big push with LCommerce company - eSamudaay

UDUPI: Giving #localforvocal idea a big push, alumni of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) College, Udupi have mentored and incubated what the founder Anup Pai says is the world’s first L-Commerce company – eSamudaay.com. Running the operations locally in this temple town is Udupi eSamudaay Digital Services Private Limited, locally owned entity that operates digital platforms bringing together all production and consumption of a town like Udupi.
Working on Software As a Service (SaaS) platform, eSamudaay will help local entrepreneurs to set up and grow LCommerce businesses. People of Udupi can now avail grocery; restaurant food deliveries, farm products, pharmacy services and curated local content through the eSamudaay consumer App. Producers and merchants of all sizes including home based producers have been onboarded this developing and evolving LCommerce model.
With already 50 merchants on board and 35 more in the pipeline, Shivanand Bhat, Udupi circle head, eSamudaay said this app has already seen 1000 downloads on date. The company has set a realistic target of 50000 downloads by the end of June this year. As and when more circles start local operations through companies set up there, the L-commerce platform is keen to explore circle to circle exchange of goods through local setups there.
eSamudaay.com in the next 12 months has drawn up plans to incubate 100 more LCommerce entities across India and enable at least 800 local businesses in Udupi go digital, Pai, who formerly founded banking analytics firm Fintellix said. Starting with Udupi, eSamudaay will create a network of entrepreneurs across India who will independently run local eCommerce initiatives that will serve producers and consumers in local communities.
It has so far launched grocery services, restaurant food deliveries, farm products and pharmacy service. It is also in the process of offering curated digital content for cultural institutions like Sri Krishna Temple and listing cultural events of Udupi on the app, Pai said. To start with, eSamudaay will offer its delivery network for local business while encouraging them to undertake local deliveries to areas close to their area of operation.
Through this SaaS model, each community will have its own Super App that will bring together producers and consumers and promote digitally driven commerce in the community. The super app will offer all products and services that are both available and needed in the community, ranging from groceries, kitchen supplies, apparels, services like food, health and wellness, mobility services, home-services and more services on the anvil.