A few weeks ago, we reported that there were talks of a business deal between social media giant Facebook, and telecom heavyweight Jio. Well, not only did the deal happen at a whopping $5.7 billion, but its first implication is now live too.
What Is JioMart?
JioMart is an online to offline business platform where customers place their orders online but the items selected are purchased from local grocery (kirana) stores. Jio has released the features of this service:
- Savings and offers
- 50,000+ grocery products
- Free home delivery with no minimum value orders
- No questions asked returns
- Express deliveries
However, it must be noted that Free Home Delivery, Savings and Offers, and Express Deliveries will only be available once the JioMart App rolls out.
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How To Use JioMart?
1. JioMart has a registered WhatsApp number: +91 88500 08000
2. The customers are supposed to send a message ‘Hi’ on the contact number to get a link.
3. This link will take them to a webpage where they would be directed to fill their address and contact details. The link will be active for just 30 minutes.
4. The users can then choose their desired products from a list.
5. After placing the order, the customers get the location of the local store from where they can pick up the order.
For the time being, JioMart is only functioning in Navi Mumbai, Kalyan, and Thane. Currently, the option to cancel or modify orders is not provided by the service. In order to do that, you need to contact the store directly. Also, cash is the only mode of payment for now.
“In the very near future, JioMart and WhatsApp will empower nearly three crore small Indian kirana shops to digitally transact with every customer in their neighbourhood. This means all of you can order and get faster delivery of day-to-day items from nearby local shops. At the same time, small kiranas can grow their businesses and create new employment opportunities,” Mukesh Ambani said in a video.
JioMart plans to connect 20 crore customers to 3 crore offline stores covering every nook and corner of the country.
Advantages Of JioMart Over Its Competitors
JioMart is a direct competitor of services like DMart Ready, Dunzo, Grofers, and other online retailers. E-commerce websites like Flipkart and Amazon can also suffer a direct hit from Jio.
Its biggest advantage will be the ability to reach remote parts of our country where all these e-commerce giants and delivery services have failed to reach. This will be easier for JioMart as the point of contact established is a nearby kirana store rather than a distant warehouse.
This WhatsApp based operation may have surely been a big part of the Facebook- Jio deal which was announced recently. Even though the current version seems incomplete, JioMart will surely see more users once the service is in full swing.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Techcrunch, Moneycontrol, Jio
Find the Blogger: @ShreyashDhumal3
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