Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is venturing into the Indian market with the launch of its online store through Snapdeal.
Snapdeal is an Indian online platform that hosts online stores just like ecommerce giant, eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY). The service has been a major success in the country, thus attracting the attention of major firms such as alibaba. Many clients in India use the platform to purchase a wide range of products including mobile devices, vehicles, and clothes.
Customers will be able to access Microsoft products such as Lumia smartphones and tablets, software and computers using the online store. The new service will make deliveries over more than 5000 towns and cities within the country.
Microsoft previously used the same strategy in 203 when it launched an online store on eBay in the United States. Additionally, the company launched an online store a year ago through Amazon India. Despite the recent moves to penetrate deeper into the Indian market, Microsoft already had an online presence in the country through its website.
The decision to approach Snapdeal for its services was highly influenced by success of the Indian e-commerce platform as well as its wide reach in the country. The approach makes it easier because it avoids using the long road where Microsoft would have to work hard to capture the attention of the local market. Snapdeal provides an already established highway that will allow the software and tech company to compete with other brands.
Snapdeal was established in 2010 as a dealsite but has since grown into a lucrative e-commerce business. The Indian based firm managed to obtain investments from other companies including eBay which managed to be the top investor with an investment worth $134 million.
The partnership is a great opportunity for Microsoft to rapidly expand sales in India. The country has been experiencing increased demand for mobile devices and thus the need for the tech firm to take advantage of the situation. Since the acquisition of Nokia, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has been on a mission to strengthen its presence in both online and in physical stores.
