Today in the 21st Century, the words of Mahatma Gandhiji still have their significance. In this world of globalization and rapid digital penetration in the life of citizens, hunger for services with ease of availability matters the most. There is a dire need of an efficient catalyst for inclusive growth through bridging urban–rural divide with commercially viable solution. This is where Gram-Haat makes its presence felt.
Gram-Haat, a Rural Retail business model of eRMPL Technologies LLP is working on click and brick model using off-line and on-line activities and catering service needs of rural consumers and businesses. In an Interview with Insights Success, Sanket Jasmin Desai, the Chief Business Officer of the company sheds light on its inception, unique facilities, major achievements, and so on.
- Could you please give us an overview of the company?
Gram-Haat®, the eRMPL Technologies LLP Rural Retail Initiative is connecting Urban brands with Rural Consumers and business. We are the only initiative addressing 4 (A) challenges of Rural segment – Awareness, Acceptance, Affordability and Availability in single go. Our Assets-light, Technology based bricks and mortar model operate at Tire-II & beyond serving Rural market for their daily needs of Product – Service – Consultancy from Agriculture, Finance, Education, and Health & Hygiene, Govt Services, and Personal & Household care through On-line and Offline process. Today with 14000+ PoS / IT equipped Outlets Gram-Haat® serves appox. 40M population aiming to reach to 150m from 45000+ Outlets by 2021.
- Kindly tell us about your company’s inception and how the idea of it was conceived.
Walking down the memory lane of 2012-14, while working for corporates, I travelled more than 15000 Tire-II/III Towns and Villages and analyzed that in spite of infrastructure growth and digital connectivity still people need to travel 25-35 Kms or end-up paying premium price with not assured quality for their various needs for Urban brands. Two-sided value proportionate solution was the need of hour and that’s how the Gram-Haat® initiated to bridge urban brands’ offerings and rural demands at most viability. It took 2 Years for the pilot to create 83 CoFos in Western India.
- Could you tell us about the mission and vision of your company?
Gram-Haat® is the widest spread rural retail outlet serving 500M Indians through 50+ most valued brands & start-ups in the space of Agriculture, Finance, House-hold and Personal Care.
- Who or what are the inspirational factors behind the organization?
Today in the 21st Century, the words of Mahatma Gandhiji still have their significance. In the rapid world of Globalization and Digital Penetration in the life of citizens, hunger for services with ease of availability matters most. There is the need for an efficient catalyst for inclusive growth through bridging urban-rural divide with commercially viable solution, and here “Gram-Haat®” appears. We have been working on the principal to create entrepreneurship in rural area, where minimum 10th pass youth who is having inclination towards business with basic knowledge for IT can work with Gram-Haat®. We not only give him earning opportunity but also increase his capability to serve rural citizen in various modes. Gram-Haat® is connecting urban brands at most affordable cost for out-reach & logistics and to create actual social and economic impact on the life of people where real India resides. We take an opportunity to share credits with our mentor Mr. Amit Varma (Ex. President RIL) who taught us “Out-reach”.
- Kindly give us an idea of the facilities or process that the company deals with.
India has 2 largest infrastructure set-ups in Rural 1. India-Post and 2. Panchayat Office. To create the asset light model with public engagement we are operating Gram-Haat® from every single Gram-panchayat building on margin sharing business. In turn the model is CoFo. Urban brands have tie-up with us to promote – market – sell their products / service / consultation. Gram-Haat® operators are continuously trained on digital services and product marketing and sales by associated business partner’s trainer. IT equipped with connectivity outlet serves On-line as well pre-sales activities are done through Events & promotions at village level. Gram-Haat® contributes appox 42% digital transactions of Gujarat from various Financial Inclusion initiatives i.e. AePS Payments, Money Remittance, Bharat Bill Pay, Recharges and so on so forth. www.gram-haat.in
Their single largest platforms where at no cost any brands or start-up can reach to more than 40M beneficiaries and create own market space through Gram-haat®. eRMPL is Rural Technology & Innovation continuum.
- Please tell us about the major factors behind the success of the company.
Gram-Haat® is founded by Rural and Retail Industry experts and has Advisory Board members from Agronomy, Insurance, Banking, Telecom, e-Market Space, Education, e-Governance and Hospitality verticals to empower the Gram-Haat® initiative. All of us have high level of synergy to build the best Solution for Rural. Together we continue to effectively innovate, operate and market Gram-Haat®. Initiative is operationally supported by sister companies – SdMC & Kanan Solutions and functionally by parent company eRMPL Group.
- Could you tell us about the awards and recognitions that have been earned by your institution so far?
Gram-Haat® has been awarded with Grant & Recognition as Top 20 Start-ups by CIIE and IIM-A at The Power of Idea as well Sanket got selected for Fellowship program by Royal Academy of Engineering, London for the said project. Continuing the march, eRMPL Technologies LLP inked MoU with State Government of Gujarat during Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2017 for rolling-out B2B & B2C and G2C support Services at 14000 Gram-Panchayats of the State. The company is recognized as Start-up by DIPP – Govt of India. Committed to Empowered India.
