Snapdeal signs MoU with Bhashini to boost digital inclusion in India

The agreement was signed between Bharat Venishetti of Snapdeal and Amitabh Nag, CEO of Bhashini

New Delhi: E-commerce platform Snapdeal has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Digital India Bhashini, an independent business arm set up by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under Digital India Corporation (DIC) to cater to India’s diverse linguistic landscape, the company said in a statement on Tuesday press release.

The MoU was signed between Snapdeal’s Bharat Venishetti and Amitabh Nag, CEO, Bhashini.

The collaboration aims to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to develop voice technology-centric products and services in nine national languages ​​to enhance language translation efforts to promote digital inclusion in India.

“This collaboration focuses on Snapdeal’s commitment to driving digital inclusion in India. We look forward to combining Bhashini’s deep expertise in language solutions with Snapdeal’s robust e-commerce platform to provide opportunities to people with diverse linguistic backgrounds. This initiative is perfectly aligned with our mission to make online shopping more accessible and affordable, especially in tier 3 cities and beyond,” said Himanshu Chakrawarti, CEO, Snapdeal.

Snapdeal is an e-commerce company catering to the price segment, offering goods across categories such as home, fashion, beauty and personal care. Over 90% of the products on the platform are priced below Rs. 1,000, and over 86% of orders come from outside metropolitan cities. Over the past few years, the company has expanded its expertise in serving middle-income users who spend on a budget and access the Internet primarily through mobile phones.

“We are committed to using technology for the greater good and providing inclusive digital experiences for all. Through the innovative use of AI and voice-first technology, we are committed to breaking down barriers, increasing digital participation and creating a more connected and inclusive digital ecosystem for all Indians,” Amitabh Nag, CEO, Bhashini.

The Bhashini Initiative, launched by the Prime Minister of India in July 2022 under the National Language Technology Mission, aims to overcome language barriers and provide citizens with access to digital services in their language. It aims to provide technology translation services in 22 scheduled Indian languages.