As far as expectations are concerned, I hope the Budget this year brings in policies and taxation schemes which benefits the e-commerce sector and SMEs.
Online shopping is truly catching on in India. According to Assocham, estimated revenue from this sector is expected to be about $15 billion by 2015. There are over 100 million Internet users in India and this number is expected to cross 350 million by 2015, which will make India the second-largest Internet country in the world after China.
Logistics is an integral part of any business, and e-commerce is no exception. For a lack of efficient and cheap logistics, the government should invest in infrastructure and enable easy, efficient, reliable connectivity within India. Better logistics is required for e-commerce businesses/ SMEs to flourish in Indian rural heartlands. The growth for these two entities (e-commerce & logistics) must be simultaneous.
Last but not the least, one of the major drivers for this growth will also be the strengthening of the Indian economy, leading to a higher disposable income in the hands of people who will then be more open to shopping on the internet. The other important factor will be stricter regulations on online transactions by the government, reducing frauds and resulting in trust building for the medium.
