BRIEF23 brings you insights and inspiration from Sandip Chhettri, CEO TradeIndia.com, India’s biggest B2B e-commerce platform that more than 45 million SMBs have registered with, and which targets taking that number to 63 million SMBs, to help them go digital and thereby lead the pack in digital transformation for small businesses in India.
TradeIndia.com has been empowering virtually every single SME and MSME across the length and breadth of our country for more than a quarter century, 27 years now to be exact, and is working hard to make them all Digital Saksham (capable / expert).
Sandip writes on invitation and exclusively for our special series BRIEF23, which features industry stalwarts, thought leaders, industry captains, business heads, brand custodians and other C-suite heads from diverse companies across sectors, size and scale, sharing their learnings from 2022, and guidance and inspiration to help empower professionals for the upcoming FY 2023-24.
Sandip Chhettri, an accomplished e-commerce and business expert, is a renowned face in the MSME sector and has 16 years of experience in the space. As CEO TradeIndia.com, he manages and oversees the overall operations of the company and directs agendas to drive profitability for India’s leading B2B marketplace, TradeIndia.
Sandip’s immense knowledge and expertise in the sector have enabled him to develop and implement strategies while managing the organizational structure at Trade India to help the company continuously strive for innovation and success.
Sandip believes that innovation is the driving force for growth, and that one has to keep Innovating to stay relevant and competitive in a changing landscape.
The TradeIndia.com team has been able to skill and digitally transform 77,00,000+ SMEs. Additionally, he was able to build high-performing teams from a count of 10 persons to 3000-plus across more than 41 cities in India. Together, they are driving the company’s vision is to enable 63 million SMBs with technology-driven solutions.
Sandip is an ardent believer in giving back to society and has been an active part of foundations like Vision India, Sharing is Caring.
Sandip is a humble leader whose true inspiration is his grandfather who taught him the importance of discipline and diligence.
Sandip has a B.Sc Physics (Hons.) with a post-graduate diploma in Electronic Commerce Management.
A certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt expert, Sandip believes in constantly upskilling himself and is currently pursuing an Executive EMP from IIM, Kozhikode. When not working, Sandip enjoys cooking and spending time in the garden.
BRIEF23 by Sandip Chhettri – CEO TradeIndia.com
2022 Defined: The year 2022 was a roller-coaster ride for TradeIndia.com. We identified one of the major challenges faced by SMEs, which is the lack of access to capital. This problem often prevents SMEs from taking the entrepreneurial plunge and growing their businesses.
To address this issue, TradeIndia.com launched TradeIndia Lending, a digitized loan solution that makes it easier for SMEs to obtain the funding they need to expand their businesses. By providing this service, TradeIndia.com is helping to empower entrepreneurs and support the growth of small businesses across India.
On track, ahead of, or trailing the pack?: For TradeIndia.com, my biggest goal in 2022 was to make MSMEs Digitally Saksham. The company has made great progress towards this goal in the last two years, with registered users growing two-fold. TradeIndia.com aims to enable 63 million SMBs to go digital, which is an ambitious goal. By achieving this, TradeIndia.com would be leading the pack in digital transformation for small businesses in India. I believe we are completely on track to achieve this goal.
Looking under the hood – what worked, what could’ve been better: At TradeIndia.com, our objective is to provide SMEs access to market, access to finance, and access to technology.
We were able to make a great impact on the market, growing from 4.5 million users to 10 million users in the last two years. We also assisted our users with products like TradeKhata, GMB listings, and Google Shopping to build their online visibility. Our recent launch of TradeIndia Lending has been successful, with INR 50 crore worth of loans disbursed in just 6 months. If we had launched this product earlier, we could have helped even more businesses meet their financial requirements.
Lessons learned: I believe that failure is an important part of success, as it helps to build resilience and strength. Additionally, I have learned the importance of speed in getting products to market. If I believe in a product and there is a need for it, I know it is important to move quickly to launch it in order to capture market share.
Who/what inspired me: My team inspires me every day. I have no doubt about their immense contribution to TradeIndia.com’s success. They are the driving force behind my vision to enable 63 million+ MSMEs to go digital. I have seen people giving their blood and sweat for the company’s growth. Without them, the journey to success would not have been possible at all. They are the pillars of strength for me, and I want to give my very best to make each day happy and successful for them.
Looking ahead: Given the constantly evolving market landscape driven by AI and emerging technologies, my commitment is to equip SMEs with cutting-edge solutions that support their digital transformation.
And here’s how we’ll do it: At TradeIndia.com, we will continue to stay ahead of the curve and provide SMEs with the latest tools and technology to help them succeed. By staying focused on our vision and continuing to innovate, we will be able to help millions of small businesses across India to succeed and grow.
The big Oh! – A big realization in the past year or so: I have realized that it’s important to practice self-care. While it’s easy to get caught up in work and commitments, taking care of my health is essential. I know that nothing changes in the world when I’m not there, and taking care of myself is essential for my own well-being and the well-being of those around me.
The quote or thought that’ll inspire me in 2023-24: I believe that the key to success is to never stop dreaming. Dreams can come true if I am relentless in my pursuit and passionate about my goals. By staying focused on my vision and staying committed to my goals, TradeIndia.com will continue to grow and succeed in the years to come.
