Reliance is all set to create a separate online marketplace for third-party sellers. It is in tune with the Indian government’s proposed e-commerce policy that prohibits marketplace operators from allowing their related parties as sellers on their platform. Although the Tatas and a few others are against the policy, Reliance seems to agree with this.
Reliance is yet to name the new platform. It is said to have the ‘Jio’ branding like the existing JioMart. Once the separate platform arrives, JioMart will remain as the e-commerce arm of Reliance Retail for its own brands.
Currently, Reliance is housing the independent sellers in JioMart. The plan is to rope in more than 1,000 online sellers. The current sellers hail from areas such as books, and sports goods, where Reliance Retail has no presence. Now, they are given the same terms as Reliance Retail entities. They will be shifted to the new platform when it is ready.
JioMart, a relatively new entrant in the e-commerce sector, has the support of India’s brick-and-mortar trading community. It has been in favour of the Confederation of All India Traders’ request to tighten e-commerce regulations in India.
