Snapdeal teams up with Digital India Bhashini to address linguistic barriers in online shopping

E-commerce platform Snapdeal has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Digital India Bhashini, an Independent Business Division established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) within the Digital India Corporation (DIC). This collaboration aims to address India's linguistic barriers in online shopping.

Signed between Bharat Venishetti, Snapdeal and Amitabh Nag, CEO, Bhashini, the partnership seeks to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop voice-first technology products and services in nine vernacular languages, enhancing language translation efforts and promoting digital inclusion across India.

HimanshuChakrawarti, CEO, Snapdeal, states, the partnership combinesBhashini’s expertise in language solutions with Snapdeal’s robust e-commerce platform to empower individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This initiative aligns seamlessly with Snapdeal’s mission to enhance accessibility and affordability in online shopping, particularly in Tier III cities and beyond."

An e-commerce company targeting the value price segment, Snapdeal offers products in categories such as home, fashion, beauty, and personal care. Over 90 per cent of the products on the platform are priced under Rs. 1,000, and more than 86 per cent of the orders come from outside metro cities. Over the years, Snapdeal has developed expertise in serving mid-income users who have a budget-oriented approach to spending and primarily access the Internet via mobile phones.

Amitabh Nag, CEO, Bhashini, adds, the innovative use of AI and voice-first technology will help break barriers, foster greater digital participation, and create a more connected and inclusive digital ecosystem for all Indians.

Launched by the Indian Prime Minister in July 2022 under the National Language Technology Mission, Bhashini aims to overcome language barriers, ensuring citizens can access digital services in their native languages. The initiative provides technology translation services in 22 scheduled Indian languages.