Snapdeal, ShopClues, others form e-commerce lobby group

E-commerce companies Snapdeal and ShopClues as well as a bunch of other startups have come together to launch The E-Commerce Council of India (TECI), a not-for-profit, membership-driven organisation.

TECI’s founding members include product and services marketplaces such as Snapdeal, ShopClues, UrbanClap, Shop101, Flyrobe and Fynd, according to a press statement. Digital-first fashion brands Bewakoof, Breya and Rustorange are also among the founding members.

Online brands Mamaearth, Superbottoms and Azah, which focus on specific segments like baby-care products and women’s hygiene products, are also part of the group.

Flipkart, majority owned by US-based Walmart Inc., and Amazon are not part of this group.

TECI’s launch comes a year and a half after Ola co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal and Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal came together in 2017 to form IndiaTech, an industry body to represent local ventures and compete with global rivals. Flipkart is no longer part of the group. Online classifieds platform Quikr, messaging app Hike, Japanese investor SoftBank and venture capital firms Matrix Partners and Kalaari Capital are the other members of IndiaTech, according to its website.

TECI said in the statement it aims to work with private and public stakeholders and solve issues regarding data privacy, logistics, payment processes, resolution of disputes, consumer protection and policy advocacy.

“The association also expects to provide thought leadership for the e-commerce sector and articulate the voice of the sector in the media, at industry events and in industry consultations with the government,” the statement said.

TECI members account for more than 7.5 lakh online sellers and service providers, the statement said.

Kunal Bahl, CEO and co-founder of Snapdeal, said TECI will work with the policy makers to help the sector develop to its full potential and in a way that creates lasting benefits for India.