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Recently, apps like Meesho have been popular in India and other places, changing the face of online shopping. Meesho is a mobile app that allows users to resell products, from clothing to electronics to home goods, by sharing listings on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. It has enabled the creation of a business through a social network by requiring little capital to start a business.
The entry of reseller and e-commerce platforms has democratized entrepreneurship, allowing homemakers, students, and small retailers to earn money without significant capital. This model creates economic opportunity for the individual and increases the market reach for suppliers and manufacturers. Thus, the e-commerce industry is now more inclusive of diverse consumer needs and preferences.
The success stories of Meesho and alike have inspired different apps across the globe, significantly contributing to growing social commerce, which takes the best attributes of social networking and e-commerce. This would reflect a sea change in shopping behavior, given that shoppers use peer recommendations and social networks to make purchasing decisions. As an aftermath, these businesses are thus adapting by fashioning user-friendly, socially integrative platforms tailored to meet demand.
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Meesho, started in 2015 by IIT Delhi alumni Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, emerged as one of India’s most prominent social commerce platforms. Using social media platforms, Meesho has empowered a vast network of individual resellers, especially women, to become entrepreneurs with less investment in the business. This approach resulted in massive growth, with Meesho showing a Gross Merchandise Value of over $5 billion and 120 million monthly active users in 2022.
Manufacturers and wholesalers list their products on Meesho’s platform, providing various items across categories such as fashion, electronics, and home goods.
Individuals, often homemakers or aspiring entrepreneurs, select products from Meesho’s catalog to promote within their social networks. They share product details, images, and descriptions with potential buyers via social media platforms.
When a customer expresses interest, the reseller orders through the Meesho app. Meesho manages the logistics, including packaging and delivery, ensuring a seamless user experience for both resellers and end customers.
Meesho empowers individuals to become resellers without requiring any upfront investment. This model has democratized e-commerce, allowing a vast network of resellers to earn income by leveraging their social connections.
Meesho generates revenue by charging a commission on each sale made through its platform. This commission is deducted from the margin set by the reseller, aligning Meesho’s earnings with the success of its resellers.
By tackling the critical areas of product sourcing, inventory management, and logistics, Meesho lowers the barriers to entry for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. That way, they could focus on sales and customer engagement without the burdens of traditional retail operations.
Meesho has enabled millions of women and homemakers to become entrepreneurs without requiring any capital at the initial level. Thus, it has created a new sense of independence through entrepreneurship among various people across the country and given them much-needed financial independence.
Meesho has reached a vast section of India’s population through social media without requiring complicated marketing strategies. The platform integration simplifies the selling process and increases the chances of making sales through personal networks.
Meesho provides end-to-end support for resellers by offering training, logistics, and payment processing. This reduces operational burdens and ensures that even those with little experience in business operations will succeed.
Developing successful e-commerce apps like Meesho requires integrating several essential features catering to resellers and customers. These features streamline operations, fostering growth and user engagement.
Developing apps like Meesho involves a systematic approach to ensure a robust, user-friendly, and successful platform. Let’s delve into each step interactively and elaboratively:
First, identify your target market and understand their needs. Are you catering to homemakers or small business owners, for example? Determine the product categories you want to offer and your target geographical regions. A detailed market analysis will give you specific directions for customizing your app to meet the audience’s needs.
Partnering with a good mobile app development company can be challenging, but it all starts with picking the right company. Choose an e-commerce or reseller-based platform development company. Check their portfolio, client testimonials, and expertise in the latest technologies. A good development team will always guide you through the product’s technical feasibility, ensuring scalability, security, and app alignment with your business objective.
User experience matters most when the user stays as well as becomes. Co-collaborate with designers to design an intuitive and attractive UI design that is easy to navigate. Account for user journeys of resellers and customers so that aspects such as viewing products, creating orders, and accounts management will all be accessible and effortless.
Incorporate features that facilitate the reseller model, such as:
Conduct thorough testing for any problems and fix them. This would involve functional testing, usability testing, security evaluation, and performance analysis. Beta testing with a selected group of users can help get valuable feedback and make the required adjustments before launch.
Once testing is over, launch your app on relevant platforms such as iOS and Android. Design a marketing plan to increase your app. Engage social media, influencers, and targeted adverts. Provide incentives through discounts or even referral bonuses to attract your first set of users and promote word-of-mouth.
Apps like Meesho require a well-structured technology stack that ensures scalability, performance, and a seamless user experience. Below is a recommended tech stack for the front-end, back-end, and database components, along with insights into the role of scalable cloud computing in marketplace app development.
Implementing scalable cloud computing is crucial for marketplace app development, offering several benefits:
Developing an e-commerce app like Meesho in India presents several technical challenges. Understanding these challenges and implementing effective methods to build a successful platform is important. Below, we explore key technical hurdles and propose solutions to address them.
Ensuring a smooth and intuitive user experience to retain customers is essential. Slow loading times, complex navigation, and designs that do not respond can result in user dissatisfaction.
A focus on clean and responsive design for multiple devices and screen sizes can be achieved with efficient coding practices to load quickly and easily. Conducting usability testing regularly can catch problems before they become issues.
Real-time inventory management is complex because a store has many vendors and thousands of products. Incorrect stock levels can result in overselling or even stockouts, damaging customers’ trust in the store.
Integrate a robust inventory management system that updates stock levels across all sales channels. Utilizing cloud-based solutions can facilitate synchronization and provide scalability. Automated alerts for low stock levels can help in proactive inventory replenishment.
Catering to a diverse customer base requires supporting multiple payment options, including cashless transactions like credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and cash on delivery. Ensuring secure transactions across these methods is complex.
Partner with credible payment gateway vendors that support various payment methods and comply with security standards like PCI-DSS. Data security encryption protocols as well as regular security audits, can also protect transaction information.
As the number of users increases, the application must ensure that it will not be congested by growing traffic and more transactions. Non-scalable applications may present slow response rates and system failure.
Scalable cloud services dynamically adapt according to demand. Load balancing and database query optimization ensure better performance. Periodic performance testing provides information on bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
The legal environment of e-commerce, with its data protection laws and regulations, is complex. Noncompliance can result in penalties in court and damage to reputation.
Stay informed about relevant laws and regulations, such as the Information Technology Act in India. Implement data protection measures and ensure transparent business practices. Consulting with legal experts can provide guidance tailored to your business model.
Coordinating with multiple logistics partners and managing the supply chain efficiently can be challenging, especially given the varying service levels and coverage areas.
Develop APIs that integrate with logistics partners to allow real-time tracking and updates. A centralized supply chain management system can streamline operations and improve coordination.
Customer data, which is often sensitive, must be protected from breaches and privacy violations. Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, making this an ongoing challenge.
Implement robust security and transparency, including encryption, firewalls, and regular security audits. Educate employees and users about security best practices. Keep updated on the latest security protocols and compliance requirements.
Establishing credibility in a competitive market takes time and consistent effort. Negative reviews or service lapses can significantly impact reputation.
Focus on producing quality products and providing excellent customer service. Encourage satisfied customers to give feedback and solve problems urgently. Transparency in operations creates trust and loyalty among users.
Partnering with a professional e-commerce app development company offers numerous advantages that can significantly impact the success of your online business. The key benefits are:
A marketplace app like Meesho involves various costs influenced by multiple factors. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand the financial aspects:
| Factor | Details |
| Estimated Development Costs |
|
| Features and Functionalities |
|
| Technology Stack |
|
| Development Time |
|
| Design and User Interface | Custom designs and animations add to costs. |
| Platform Choice |
|
| Development Team Location | Rates vary by region. Developers in North America charge more than those in Asia. |
| Ongoing Maintenance | Post-launch updates, bug fixes, and feature enhancements require an ongoing budget. |
| Backend Infrastructure & API Integration | Connecting with third-party services can add additional costs. |
| Security Measures | Implementing security protocols to protect user data adds to the overall cost. |
Indian social commerce space is CityMall, founded in 2019 by IIT Delhi and IIT Roorkee alumni Angad Kikla, Naisheel Verdhan, and Divij Goyal. CityMall focuses on serving users in small towns and villages, offering a mobile-first platform for buying and selling everyday products like groceries and household items. CityMall has built a community-driven e-commerce model that resonates with users in Tier II and III cities by enabling micro-entrepreneurs to set up virtual stores on WhatsApp. The platform has attracted significant investment, raising $600K in two funding rounds, and continues to expand its reach and services.
Launched by Flipkart in July 2021, Shopsy enables individuals to start their own online businesses by reselling products through social media channels. By adopting a zero-commission marketplace model, Shopsy has attracted a large user base, with over 100 million users by August 2022. The platform offers various products, including fashion, electronics, and home goods, catering to diverse consumer needs.
Founded in 2017, GlowRoad is a social commerce platform that allows users to discover and sell products through social networks. The platform offers a variety of products, including fashion, beauty, and home goods, and provides tools for resellers to manage their businesses effectively. GlowRoad has gained popularity among women entrepreneurs, empowering them to start their own businesses with minimal investment.
Established in 2018, DealShare is a social commerce platform that offers affordable products to users in Tier II and III cities. The platform offers a wide range of products, including groceries, household items, and personal care products, and offers discounts through a group-buying model. DealShare has experienced significant growth, raising $83 million in funding in 2021.
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Embarking on the journey to develop an app like Meesho requires careful planning, a skilled team, and a commitment to quality. To ensure the success of your project, consider partnering with a reputable mobile app development company.
Techugo is the best mobile app development company with a proven track record of delivering innovative, user-friendly applications. Our expertise spans various industries, and we have collaborated with Fortune 500 companies to create impactful digital solutions. By choosing Techugo as your development partner, you can leverage our experience and technical proficiency in shopping app development to bring your idea to life, ensuring it meets the highest quality and functionality standards.
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