Apollo International Helping Traditional Players Enter Online Retail Space

Apollo International Helping Traditional Players Enter Online Retail Space

The e-commerce space is growing at an exponential rate in India with newer players joining the already crowded space. The industry itself may reach $100 billion by 2020.

However,amidst all these growth stories and escalating valuations traditional retailers, who comprise of 90 per cent of the entire retail market in India, are suddenly feeling left out.

These offline players may be a little late to the party, but they are trying to compensate this delay with their in-depth knowledge of the retail market. However, knowledge of the traditional market may not be sufficient to play the new game being played on the online space.

Among the challenges faced by these new entrants include understanding & exploiting the ever-evolving digital technologies and also the massive logistical infrastructure needed to reach the doorstep of every customer across the country.

It is in this setting that Raaja Kanwar, the founder of Apollo LogiSolutions, among the fastest growing logistics players in India, decided to partner with LYCOS to provides end-to-end solutions for traditional retailers who want to join the e-commerce bandwagon.

The new joint venture – ApolloLYCOS Net Commerce (ALN)– aims to provide cutting edge technology and solutions to those offline retailers who are now looking at extending their presence in the digital market.

ALN plans to design, develop and sustain e-commerce platforms for brands by enabling a full-cycle fulfilment. The exhaustive list of services provided include setting up of platforms, online brand promotion, digital marketing of their products and services, driving engagement and sign ups, fulfilling orders and inventory tracking and management, order delivery and reverse logistics. All this without compromising data security and consumer privacy,

"We saw that many traditional retailers had their eyes set on the e-commerce space. But lack of expertise and shortage of talented resources prevented many of these players from entering the cut-throat space of online retailing.

It is thereby we thought of joining hands with Lycos to offer the best of our respective expertise and credibility to customers who are all geared up to claim their space in the growing ecommerce market in India" said Raaja Kanwar.

A business-to-business company, ALN's strength will also lie in leveraging the technology and digital marketing services of companies and providing a unique service to clients.

The focus will be on enabling offline retailers, domestic, international brands and even shopping malls to promote more online and expand their customer base.

The joint venture also saw the entry of LYCOS in India. LYCOS, which is one of the original and most widely known Internet brands in the world, has today become one of the biggest global one-stop shop for the e-commerce world. LYCOS' expertise ranges from digital media, marketing, and Internet of Things.

The entity also heavily banks on the logistical prowess of Apollo LogiSolutions. Customers of ALN will benefit from the company's 800000 sq.m of warehouse capacity, a presence in over 100 countries and 3 terminals spread across the country. The capacity and reach are expected to grow further in the next few years.

"Among the biggest advantages our partnership offers is that we make the operations of our customers more efficient, lean and profitable.

The combined expertise of Apollo Logi Solutions and Lycos will empower retail brands with the best techniques & customized strategies which will help them leave a mark on the online retail space in India.

ALN's endeavor is also to bring unique digital shopping experience to Indian consumers, where they can interact directly with global brands they love" added Mr Kanwar.