HYDERABAD, DEC 16   :   T-Hub-incubated start-up Chotu on Saturday announced the unveiling of its QR code, where customers can search, browse, add to cart and place orders.
After receiving an order, the shopkeeper can send a bill and take payments, just like real-life.
All this can happen directly on WhatsApp, in Telugu or any Indian language.
The launch event was graced by T-Hub CEO M Srinivasa Rao (MSR), as the chief guest.
More than 1000 shops like kiranas, bakeries, fruits and vegetables vendors in Telangana & AP have already gone online.
Anyone can visit chotu.com and create an instant online shop for free. No documents are required, just WhatsApp is enough. After the free trial period, monthly rental starts from just ₹99, a welcome break from high shop rents we often hear.
Speaking at the launch event, Mr Rao said. ”At T-Hub, we want to empower entrepreneurs with innovative ideas. There are an estimated 1.3 Crore kirana shops alone in India. PhonePe and PayTM have 3.5 Crore merchants each. While UPI democratised digital payments, there is a clear digital divide on the e-commerce front. We believe chotu can bridge that digital divide”.
Graduating from IIM Bangalore, Y Ravi, co-founder of chotu said, “At chotu our vision is to empower every local shop to go online. Trust & convenience are their inherent strengths. When coupled with our simple tech, they become unbeatable. Ordering, billing and payment feels like a WhatsApp chat.
The flexibility of pricing, sourcing and payment gives the local shops total control over their business”.
Graduating from IIM Bangalore, Vamshi Panjala, co-founder of chotu said “The chotu QR can convert walkins into repeat online customers seamlessly. Hyderabad is the birthplace for pan-India movies. Inspired by this we are launching in Telugu states first, but very soon we will launch shops for all Indian languages”.
Both Ravi and Vamshi have earlier studied at IIT Delhi & Osmania in Hyderabad .
They have over 30 years leadership experience at Microsoft, airtel and Jio. They are determined to empower every local shop, go online. chotu can indeed change the local shopping experience in India.(UNI)