Snapdeal Witnesses Surge in Orders as Lockdown Restrictions Ease

Snapdeal, India’s third-largest e-commerce platform, resumed non-essential deliveries following the relaxation of lockdown guidelines after May 3. While the platform experienced a surge in orders as lockdown restrictions eased, it acknowledges that returning to normalcy will require time and patience.

Reopening Amid Optimism

With 75% of non-essential orders originating from green and orange zones, Snapdeal witnessed a flurry of activity on the first day of Lockdown 3.0. Deliveries were made across India, spanning from Dehradun to Thiruvananthapuram and from Jamnagar to Jorhat. Sellers also displayed enthusiasm, shipping a variety of products, including steel utensils, footwear, and apparel, to different parts of the country.

Steady Growth Anticipated

Despite the initial surge, Snapdeal disclosed that orders reached only 50% of the pre-COVID Business As Usual (BAU) levels on the first day of expanded operations. However, the platform anticipates steady growth as more sellers join the platform and serviceable areas expand.

Consumer Preferences and Trends

Home products and apparel emerged as the top choices among consumers, with a notable demand for grooming products, kitchen utensils, appliances, footwear, and multi-pack items such as 3 & 5-packs of T-shirts and undergarments.

Operational Challenges in Red Zones

Snapdeal continues to face challenges in red zones, where it is neither delivering nor accepting orders for non-essential items. The company’s tech team is actively working to mark products available in green, orange, and red zones based on pin codes. This enables users to view the entire product assortment, but orders for non-essential items are restricted in red zones.

Improved User Experience

To ensure a seamless shopping experience, Snapdeal has implemented pin code-based product availability. For example, while a buyer in Gurugram can order a T-shirt, a buyer in Delhi, categorized as a red zone, cannot. Upon adding or updating their pin code, users receive real-time updates on product availability and delivery timelines.

Correction Note

A previous version of the story erroneously stated a 24x increase in orders. Snapdeal clarified that this surge would occur if additions to the ‘wishlist’ were included.