In March 2026, the Centre for Digital Public Goods at IIM Bangalore received a work order from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to undertake a five-month study on the impact of e-commerce platforms on small shopkeepers and traders. The study will be carried out through detailed fieldwork in select urban cities. Its central research question focuses on key impact metrics, including:
- Customer and business indicators: footfalls, sales volume, transaction value, and merchandise mix
- Financial performance
- Digital capabilities
- Operational changes arising from online shopping trends
The methodology will combine quantitative analysis of collected data with qualitative insights from industry associations, trade bodies, experts, consumer forums, and published sources. A pilot data collection exercise was conducted in Hosur during the last week of April, while the main phase of data collection is scheduled to commence in the second week of May and last until the end of June.