2 lakh MSMEs in Chennai to get digital makeover
Chennai, which accounts for nearly 15.24% of India’s micro-enterprises, has emerged as a hub for omnichannel retail.
‘Future Proofing of Indian Enterprises,’ a digitisation workshop in Chennai.
CHENNAI: Digitisation is the buzzword for MSMEs as a report by FIRST shows 72.5 per cent retails are open to adoption of digital tools to improve store offerings even as 53 per cent retailers are using it to improve collaboration across departments.
The Forum for Internet Retailers, Sellers & Traders, India (FIRST India) hosted ‘Future Proofing of Indian Enterprises,’ a digitisation workshop in Chennai aimed at creating awareness and supporting small businesses on the opportunities that will help them go digital and become self-reliant.
The workshop saw participation from Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, MP, sellers’ industry body representatives from Tamil Nadu like Chennai Jewellers’ Association, Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association, and Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal, besides industry players such as Amazon Pay, Tata AIA, Movin.
Chennai, which accounts for nearly 15.24% of India’s micro-enterprises, has emerged as a hub for omnichannel retail.The city’s thriving retail sector, known for its innovative and early adoption practices, has successfully established chains of stores that combine physical and digital retail experiences. This approach highlights the immense potential of digitisation for retailers. According to a report by FIRST, 72.5% of retailers have high acceptability for adoption of digital tools to improve store offerings with 53% retailers using it to improve collaboration across departments.
Addressing the event, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, said, “The state government stands in support of the transformative journey for the MSMEs, ready to facilitate their progress by seamlessly integrating traditional retail with the power of e-commerce. We have made significant investments, exceeding Rs 900 cr so far, emphasising our commitment to the growth of the sector. We recognise the pivotal role that TN’s vibrant MSME ecosystem plays in driving employment opportunities for more than 1 crore individuals and making substantial contributions to the state’s overall economy. To fully unleash the potential of these MSMEs, there is a pressing need to promote the adoption of hybrid retail models, strategically leveraging the abundant opportunities presented by e-commerce.”
Vinod Kumar, president, India SME Forum, and Trustee & president, FIRST India said, “Our mission is to empower MSMEs in Chennai by fostering digital literacy and equipping them with the necessary tools to leverage the lucrative $7 billion e-commerce market.
