Ecommerce After lockdown India Current Update:

Supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will remain prohibited during the lockdown period, the govt said on Sunday. Earlier the Ministry of Home Affairs didn’t explicitly exclude the availability of non-essential items by online sellers in its list of revised guidelines.

The government had earlier said that the vehicles employed by e-commerce operators would be allowed to ply with necessary permissions. the rules didn’t specify that e-commerce companies would only be allowed to deliver essential goods — implying that they might be ready to deliver non-essential goods also. The new guidelines issued on Sunday stated that that specific clause would be excluded from the first set of regulations.

Following the first guidelines, e-commerce companies like Amazon and Flipkart sought clarity on items that would be sold through these platforms. within the first phase of lockdown between March 24 to Pan American Day, the govt had only allowed the delivery of essential goods, including food, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment through these platforms.

In fact, e-commerce sites like Flipkart and Amazon had already started preparing to extend delivery after April 20. consistent with the sources that Business Today spoke to, Amazon acquired permission to resume the delivery of non-essential goods in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa. Flipkart had acquired permission from Odisha. The e-commerce firms were, albeit, facing logistical challenges.

Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary-General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), welcomed the revised guidelines and said, “CAIT demolished sinister plan of E-Commerce Companies to trade non-essential commodities. Accepting the objection of CAIT, the MHA excluded the permission granted earlier and now e-commerce can trade only in essential commodities. because of Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh & Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.”

Meanwhile, a pointy fall in FMCG sales was recorded within the last week of March when the coronavirus lockdown started, Nielsen India data showed. the bulk of retail channels except modern trade took a tough hit within the period thanks to the lockdown. the normal trade, e-commerce, and cash and carry saw a steep plunge in sales, it added. the sole trade category that posted six percent growth within the period was modern trade.

E-commerce platforms including Amazon, Flipkart others will now be ready to deliver non-essential items once the state enters lockdown 3.0 from May 4. However, the delivery of non-essential items via e-commerce will only be applicable to people residing in green and orange zones. In areas falling under the red zone, e-commerce can deliver only essential items. the govt extended shutdown for 2 more weeks till May 17 to regulate coronavirus cases within the country.

Until now, e-commerce was allowed to deliver essential items only during the lockdown period but after new guidelines from the middle, people would be ready to order non-essential items, however, only those that are residing in green and orange zones are going to be ready to take the advantage of this facility as e-commerce delivery of non-essential goods in red zones will still remain prohibited.

The government has classified districts into four categories counting on the number of coronavirus cases which are Red, Orange, Green, and Containment Zones. Red Zone (having several coronavirus cases), Orange Zone (few coronavirus cases), Green Zone (not even one coronavirus case or no COVID-19 case within the last 21 days) and containment Zone (sealed zone or hotspot where coronavirus cases have surfaced).

The government extended lockdown for 2 more weeks on Friday evening and issued guidelines for states, districts of how they’re going to operate during the third phase of nation-wide lockdown through some relaxations have also been provided to the green and orange zones once they will enter lockdown 3.0.

Sitting idle for nearly 45 days, hope rekindled for many sellers as leading people from green and orange zones began ordering and receiving non-essential items like stationery, apparel, footwear, and electronics from leading e-commerce platforms.

Snapdeal said it received 75 percent orders for non-essential items from several green and orange zones across the country on May 4, and shipped key products including steel utensils, and electronics like power banks, smartphones, and laptop chargers, among others.

“The overwhelming response by both buyers and sellers on Day 1 of e-commerce deliveries being allowed for non-essentials and essentials may be a reflection of the important role e-commerce plays in fulfilling the requirements of the country,” a corporation spokesperson said during a statement.

Snapdeal which has over 5 lakh independent registered sellers expects nearly 90 percent of them within the non-restricted zones to move on the platform by in the week.

However, thousands of orders for Jaipur continued to get on hold while deliveries to several parts of Maharashtra were disrupted but “will commence over subsequent 2-3 days”, said the corporate.

The company recorded 24 times jump in products in users’ shopping carts and wishlists since the beginning of the lockdown.

Flipkart said that with e-commerce being allowed for essential and non-essential products in orange and green zones in specific states, it’s seeing a rise in searches for products.

“The increase is in categories like laptops, consumer electronics (such as headphones), mobiles, air conditioners, coolers, T-shirts, and other essentials,” said Anil Goteti, Senior vice chairman at Flipkart.

“We are working with lakhs of sellers and MSMEs across India and helping them prepare their businesses and workforce to form products available for consumers during this time of need,

The Centre last Friday announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown for 2 more weeks from May 4, with certain relaxations to regions categorized as orange and green zones.

An Amazon spokesperson welcomed the government’s decision to permit e-commerce in Orange and Green Zones to serve people safely with products that they have and haven’t been ready to access thanks to the lockdown.

“Millions of small and medium businesses and traders will now be ready to jumpstart their businesses and livelihoods across their workforce,” said the corporate spokesperson.

Guide to registration of seller in Flipkart

More details Ecommerce after lockdown