In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, the Indian market presents immense opportunities, particularly for businesses in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities striving to go digital. However, many of these businesses face a significant gap in technological understanding, limiting their ability to compete on a larger scale. Recognizing this challenge, Rounak S Chindalia founded ShopIQ, an AI-driven platform designed to simplify digital transformation for brands, family-owned enterprises, and D2C ventures. With its tailored solutions and integrated ecosystem, ShopIQ is empowering businesses to embrace technology and redefine their presence in the e-commerce space. In this discussion, Chindalia sheds light on ShopIQ’s innovative approach, market challenges, and the role of government partnerships in driving digital growth.
TAM: Tell us a little bit about ShopIQ?
Rounak S Chindalia: ShopIQ serves as a comprehensive commerce co-pilot. We help businesses integrate AI into every aspect of their operations, making processes seamless and automated. For founders running e-commerce or product-led businesses, we simplify complex functions using AI. One of our highlights is the website builder, which generates an entire website from just a single prompt.
TAM: Your primary target is the e-commerce industry?
Rounak S Chindalia: We primarily target brands, family-owned businesses, and D2C brands looking to go digital. Many large family-run businesses aren’t tech-savvy, and that’s where we come in. We simplify the entire process by enabling them to interact with our platform through easy-to-use chat features for all their digital needs. From launching a website to cataloging and merchandising, everything can be accomplished effortlessly with just a prompt.
TAM: What are the gaps in the market that ShopIQ aims to address?
Rounak S Chindalia: India is a vast market, but many family-owned businesses face a significant technical challenge—they excel at the product side of their business but lack the understanding to adopt technology. While they aspire to go digital and become tech-savvy, they don’t always know where to start.
To address this, we simplified the entire process, allowing businesses to interact with our platform conversationally and seamlessly transition to digital. While developing this solution, we encountered several platform-level challenges. In response, we created a fully integrated ecosystem that handles everything, from enabling a payment gateway to managing logistics, all pre-integrated and ready to use.
We take care of the heavy lifting around technology, so business owners can simply “talk” to the platform to get everything they need. Traditionally, this level of technological support required working with agencies, third-party vendors, or multiple platforms. We’ve streamlined it all into a single, unified platform designed to make going digital effortless for business owners.
TAM: How are you using AI to personalise customer experience?
Rounak S Chindalia: AI understands the unique context of your brand. For instance, if you run a jewelry brand, the functionality and design of your website will differ significantly from that of a grocery store. Just as we don’t buy vegetables and jewelry in the same way in real life, a website shouldn’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach.
Many businesses rely on template-based designs that lack distinction, applying the same format to all industries. At ShopIQ, we go beyond that by creating tailored, optimized websites that align with the specific needs of different businesses. Whether it’s a jewelry brand or a grocery store, our platform empowers businesses of all kinds, including small vegetable stalls, to build a unique and effective online presence.
TAM: What are the challenges you are facing while expanding operations?
Rounak S Chindalia: One of the biggest challenges we face is the reluctance to adopt AI. Many people view AI with skepticism, believing it may not always be beneficial. However, that perspective often stems from a broader debate about AI, which is a separate context altogether.
Our goal is to help users understand that the AI we provide operates within a safe and controlled environment. It’s not “free-flowing” AI; while it is self-learning, it is specifically designed and constrained by the needs of e-commerce. Moreover, not everything is fully automated, and there are built-in measures and safeguards in place. This means there’s an educational aspect to our work. We focus on imparting knowledge and building trust in AI, ensuring users feel confident and informed when using our platform.
TAM: What is the support you’re looking for from the Indian Government?
Rounak S Chindalia: I believe the Indian government would be keen to collaborate with large MSMEs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The support we seek is to help us connect with small business owners and brands in these regions, where we aim to make a significant impact.
Our models are completely free of cost, allowing anyone to begin their digital journey without financial barriers. Partnering with the government or directly with MSMEs at scale is something we aspire to achieve. By building this bridge, the government can play a pivotal role in guiding these businesses, while we empower them to go digital. Together, we can help them compete on a larger stage, both nationally and globally.
