India Post announced its full-fledged entry into the e-commerce business, where it will leverage its parcel business for end-to-end delivery of products.
Communications Minister Shri Manoj Sinha on Friday launched the e-commerce portal of the Department of Posts providing an online market place to rural artisans and public sector units to sell their products.
“The primary objective is to provide a medium to sell products for small artisans. However, anyone who wants to sell their product can sell on the site. We have not set any limitation,” Sinha said, adding that unlike other e-commerce players, the India Post service will be able to pick up and deliver products in over 1.5 lakh places through its well spread out network.
“The Portal will provide an e-market place to sellers especially to rural artisans, self-help groups, women entrepreneurs, state and central PSUs, autonomous bodies to sell their products to buyers across the country,” a Communications Ministry statement said.
The products will be shipped through the postal department`s Speed Post service, it said.
India Post has delivery network up to remotest villages through its 155 000 post offices which no one can match, the minister said.
“We will also facilitate return of products service like it is available for customers on other e-commerce platforms,” India Post Secretary A N Nanda said.
Shri Sinha also launched the internet banking facility for Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) customers which are under Core Banking Solution (CBS). Now, around 17 Crore POSB accounts will be intra-operable and customers can also transfer funds online to RD and PPF accounts of Post Offices. This facility will help customers to do their transactions without physically visiting post offices.
