A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE – FROM 1999 TO 2021

The ecommerce sector in India has undergone several changes from its early days to become the behemoth it is today, becoming core to all consumer facing businesses

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RAMMOHAN SUNDARAM, Country Head, Integrated Media, DDB Mudra Group

I was first enamored by the opportunity of e-commerce in India back in 1999, so much so that I had blocked a potential website domain, that expired eventually, by the name of Munafa.com. Such was the flurry of activity in the dot-com era, which marked the second half of 1999 when everyone with an idea wanted to do something.

At the time, I was at Microland when Pradeep Kar had envisaged the big internet opportunity and PlanetAsia was one company that I thought had massive potential though several of his ventures were much ahead of its time. However, some of the biggest names of the industry came from Microland as entrepreneurs so I am very proud of being part of such an alumnus. At Microland, I was introduced, for the first time, to a company called Fabmart.com and I made my first-ever online purchase. It was an audio cassette. Having broadband at the office made life easy, a speed of 100 kbps was like god’s gift to mankind then; today we know that such speed means nothing but back then it enabled me to complete a transaction online using my first ever credit card from ICICI Bank. I still remember the audio cassette I purchased — it was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and I got it delivered in four days. I think it cost me Rs 60; I am not quite sure about the price, but it made me feel highly empowered.

The Ecommerce Pioneer