India’s retail sector is set to receive a stronger push towards digital adoption through a new collaboration between the Retailers Association of India (RAI) and Google. The initiative will focus particularly on small and medium-sized retailers and aims to expand digital capabilities across RAI’s network of more than 600,000 storefronts nationwide.
The partnership will explore the use of Google’s product ecosystem, including Google Business Profile, Google Ads, Google Shopping and Google Cloud, to provide scalable digital solutions for retailers.
The collaboration will focus on 2 key areas, starting with deeper ecosystem digitisation. RAI and Google will work to help small and medium retailers use Google Business Profile and Merchant Center to improve the online visibility of their stores and showcase in-store inventory. The initiative is also aimed at helping retailers attract local customers and generate new business.
Retailers will also be supported in expanding their local reach through Google Ads across Google Search, Google Shopping, Google Pay and Google Maps.
The second focus area will be future of commerce readiness. RAI and Google will collaborate through RAI-led industry summits, executive workshops and leadership discussions. These initiatives will provide retailers with insights into changing consumer behaviour and emerging AI-driven commerce innovations.
Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India, said, “Retail success involves the ability for retailers to know their customers, as well as to adopt modern methods, especially digitization.”
He added that RAI aims to create a level playing field for retailers of all sizes by helping smaller businesses adopt technology and remain relevant to customers. He said the collaboration with Google will help build digital capabilities for retailers across India.
Shalini Puchalapalli, Managing Director, Google Customer Solutions, Google India, said, “Small and medium retailers are the backbone of Indian commerce. We already see merchants across India using everyday Google tools to connect with local shoppers, and the bigger opportunity lies in making our full ecosystem work together seamlessly for them.”
She added that the collaboration will bring Google Shopping, Google Ads, Google Cloud and Google Pay, supported by Google AI, closer to merchants to help them build resilient businesses.
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