LCommerce platform eSamudaay transforms into a Super App framework

Local commerce platform eSamudaay has transformed into a Super App framework. Using this framework, LCommerce entrepreneurs can launch local Super Apps exclusively for local communities. It will offer a gamut of services like grocery, kitchen supplies, apparel, services like food, health & wellness, and pharmacy. The Super App framework is currently testing newer verticals like mobility and home services like plumbing, electrical repair, and newspaper subscriptions. It has announced a timeline of 12 months to launch the Super App operational across 100+ cities including Mysore, Shillong, Mahoba, and Kochi.

eSamudaay’s first local commerce platform in Udupi has already transitioned into a super app. It is clocking over 100 orders/day and actively opening up its platform for more local businesses in smaller towns to come online through the super app. This evolution of the eSamudaay platform is to purely support local aspiring entrepreneurs and smaller businesses who lack technology support and market access. The developer-first platform has an open API architecture and developers across India can build modules on top of eSamudaay and tailor it as per the specific needs of a local circle. Its blockchain-based technology will ensure ownership of technology; the module lies with developers and local entrepreneurs. In the next 18 months, the eSamudaay developer community will have 100,000 members.

The Indian Super App Market Race

Morgan Stanley researcher Mark Goodridge estimates that the size of the super app market in Southeast Asia is currently worth about USD 4 billion. This is expected to accelerate almost six times to USD 23 billion by 2025. With increasing levels of digitization, greater affordability of smartphones, and a COVID-induced preference for digital, super apps are finding greater acceptance for their utility.

The salt-to-software conglomerate Tata group has been on an acquisition spree in the e-commerce space, with the acquisition of 1MG last month. In May, it had acquired a majority stake in online grocery seller BigBasket for an undisclosed sum of money, pitting it against the likes of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance and Amazon. The Tata Group conglomerate pits against Ambani’s Jio Businesses, Amazon's all-in-one app, and Walmart’s Flipkart for a pie of the online business that has grown exponentially during the pandemic.

The current super app narrative is predominantly controlled by large conglomerates. But, eSamudaay’s super app is not owned by one company. The app aims to decentralize everything from processes to technology and provide end-to-end assistance and offer all the digital tools to run the super app by a local entrepreneur. The local entrepreneur will own and operate the super app and the platform will give him the flexibility to launch as many verticals as possible in the super app. eSamudaay’s decentralized model enables the data to remain within a community for serving the needs of the community only. The app takes into account the requirements of communities from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Arunachal Pradesh to Rann of Kutch and allows the local entrepreneur to customize the super app based on the location, language, and culture of his/her/their communities.

Focus on decentralization, says Ravinder Mahori, Co-founder & CTO, eSamudaay

On the launch of the super app, Ravinder said “Decentralization is at the core of eSamudaay’s vision and we believe technology is an enabler and not a disruptor. The power should be given to the users, not just to operate the business but to build and own the technology as well. The eSamudaay decentralized super app allows local communities to embrace digital without losing the essence of its culture. We would also like to invite developers across India to build modules on top of eSamudaay. eSamudaay wants to do for commerce what WordPress did for websites. We are an open-source API and these modules can be used by digital entrepreneurs across small towns of India to serve the local community better. Together, we can ensure the human touch in local businesses is retained and sustained.”