In this era of digital advertising, online procurement, selling and marketing, the idea of businesses dependency on their physical presence has changed altogether. A physical address is no more deemed as a requirement for doing business, especially if you are selling a product.
With the advancement of our e-commerce sector, several businesses in Pakistan have successfully made their impression by making the customers visit their web portals. Regarding this, a proper online presence is now a preferable mode to deal with customers.
The year 2013 was a big year for e-commerce in Pakistan. There are many ventures with aim to establish digital channels for shopping and consumer facilitation. Though it is still a developing concept given the country’s current position as many of us are still accustomed to the same old way of buying things – going to the market, visiting shops, bargaining to get a good deal, and coming home with the product mainly due to the convenience, reliability and trust which lacks in case we have to make online transaction for the products we order online.
Considering the global e-commerce landscape, Pakistan still need to cover quite a distance to level-up with these giant revenue making sources. Nevertheless, Pakistan Startup Report has documented the growth of online startups in Pakistan on general grounds.
The report mentioned the three major international organizations investing in Pakistani start ups; Rocket Internet, Naspers and Schibsted Media Group, the last two among these have both invested in the classified sector with OLX.com.pk and Asani.com.pk, respectively. Let’s review what Asani.com.pk — an online classified portal — has in store for us.
Asani.com.pk is a categorized site that lets buyers and sellers contact each other by providing them a channel for the second hand goods.
The website ensures quick response to the customers’ queries and allow them to thoroughly review the product they are interested in. With over 9,000 ads posted on the website, it is gaining traffic and approval of the classified sector as well as the people associated with the platform.
Asani.com.pk is a venture by Norway based Schibsted Media Group that operates in 30 countries with nearly 6900 employees. Online classifieds is the nugget of Schibsted Group but in addition they also offer media related products like newspapers, publishing, multimedia and mobile in developing markets across 6 continents.
The foresight and future aim of the Schibsted Group to have a concrete presence in Asia has resulted in the creation of Asani.com.pk and the current investment proposition in Pakistan with Telenor.
Asani.com.pk need to look for ways to ensure that their database is safe. The same concern that bounds the biggest companies like Google, Amazon or Yahoo; Information protection. For this the site repeatedly remind the customer to be careful while making a purchase or sharing his personal information with the seller as it is a channel that allows the buyers and customer to connect and contact to each other and holds no further entitlement in the task.
In the online context, OLX.com.pk is the strongest player for now, with significant investment in advertisement to raise awareness about the OLX brand.
Asani.com.pk, on other hands, is growing its customers’ circle and has proved to be quite a competition among the web portals of classified ads that include adverts.pk, dekho.com.pk, local.pk, citybase.com.pk and many others. But considering the sheer will and intention of Schibsted Media Group to stay in Pakistan in order to mark a successful global business hull sure gives Asani.com.pk an upper hand among all the competitors.
lol just a new immature website. It would take them their whole life to take down olx
i just saw the site and i just have no words! it looks like a site from 90’s…
They all so damn wish to take on OLX but the sort of brand building OLX has done is hard to compete with, just like Qmobile. None of these newbie websites have the budget or investment to go on TV.
no doubt olx is big group but other competitor can do batter then this.
in buying and selling vote/ranking system should also be included. olx is flooded with fraudies also. a rating/ranking system would be widely apreciated
I mean, competing with OLX ?
Not bad and I am sure it will go. itc copy of French web site http://www.leboncoin.fr, very simple and crowded
Funny they didn’t mention the second largest classified website in Pakistan – Bolee.com. I use bolee and have sell many things. Ads data on bolee is mostly safe as they check every ad before posting online. Also it is better than olx in some cases as they are managed fully from pakistan instead of india or norway.
bolee is a spam website…..catches ads from different website without leting you know.
After Dekho, Daraz, Kaymu, Lamudi and Carmudi this is another site in Pakistan by Europe. Rocket Internet is bringing some money and opening companies and you guys says it is a startup time in Pakistan. Believe me that time would come in 90s if we stop supporting these websites and make our own. Sweden, Germany and now Norway is trying to eat up the market just because they have money to invest and our investor is investing in real estate here.. We know Pakistan has a lot of opportunities. But even ProPakistani does not publish the startups which are made by a shoe-strapping budget and they are struggling hard to make their startups into a successful business.
Your largest fashion seller is not a Pakistani company.
Your largest classified is not Pakistani
Your largest eCommerce marketplace is not Pakistani
Your largest Real estate portal is not Pakistani
The largest Social network we use is not Pakistani
Non of a single mobile messaging app is not Pakistani
These are opportunities, Wake up Guys.
If we dont do it, someone else from 1st world will do it here.
Hats off for Rozee and PakWheels they are Pakistani and secured market.
I agree and that is why I also support bolee which is fully pakistani.
Yes, I hope all plus propakistani will also agree and cover some startups which are totally Pakistani.
Come to think of it, since these guys are so find of investing in Pakistan (rocket and the other group) why not approach them for partnership in some start ups when we don’t have money to invest?
Gibran, I hear your point, but I had a discussion with these companies but they only invest 100% owned product, they dont invest in other’s ventures as they are not like other VCs. We need a lot of rich people come to internet ventures as angel investors, then our industry will be doing good.
I agree. taking investment is different, but they are putting their own money with a dummy management, they are not into running businesses, they are after eating the market and then successful exits. They are playing jackpot in Pakistan and many other countries. Not their fault. but our..
Paid article :) PP drop there repo long time before
Usama we don’t get paid for content. I have told everyone trillion times. If you have a news-worthy startup, share it with us for a free coverage.