New Delhi: India’s ecommerce penetration has the potential to eventually match the scale of WhatsApp usage in the country, driven by rapid growth from smaller cities and towns and accelerated by investments in technology and artificial intelligence, said Meesho Cofounder and Whole-Time Director Sanjeev Kumar.
Speaking ahead of Meesho’s highly anticipated ₹5,421-crore IPO, Kumar highlighted that the company has only scratched the surface of the massive ecommerce opportunity beyond metros.
“In China or Indonesia, the number of ecommerce users tends to be similar to the chat app subscriber base. A good parallel in India would be the WhatsApp base of 800 million users,” Kumar said in an interview with Surajeet Das Gupta. He suggested that India could follow a similar trajectory as digital adoption deepens across non-metro regions.
Small-Town India Driving the Next Phase of Growth
Kumar pointed out that the next wave of ecommerce expansion is being led by Tier-2, Tier-3 cities and beyond, where first-time online shoppers are increasing rapidly. Affordable pricing, localised supply, and convenience have been important factors drawing new users to platforms like Meesho.
He emphasised that challenges remain in scaling logistics, payments and trust-building in smaller towns. However, he expressed confidence that the sector is positioned for strong long-term growth.
AI and Tech Investments to Strengthen Ecosystem
Kumar added that ecommerce firms are now investing heavily in AI-driven personalisation, vernacular interfaces and supply-chain optimisation — technologies that will play a crucial role in widening the online market.
“Our focus is on creating an inclusive ecommerce ecosystem that works not just for urban users but also for sellers and buyers in the smallest districts across the country,” he noted.
IPO to Provide Fresh Momentum
Meesho’s IPO, opening this week, is being closely tracked by the startup and retail sectors. The company is expected to deploy the raised capital towards technology development, expansion of its logistics network, and customer acquisition in deeper India.
Industry analysts believe that if ecommerce adoption indeed approaches WhatsApp-level user penetration, India would become one of the largest ecommerce markets globally.