The All Kerala IT Dealers Association (AKITDA) had recently conducted their state convention here where the discussed on forming a special co-operative society model for IT products.
This is similar to what their neighbor Confed ITA had planned. However, the Kerala association does not want to take the headache of importing and branding. They do not event want to have a new brand. They simply want to procure the materials under one roof across Kerala. Even though there has been no success formula for the model till date, it would definitely shake the existing e-market place.
Kerala IT association has a long history of talking the e-sales in their own ways a couple of years before. The association had represented more than 2000 members across the state, had met the then state Finance Minister Mani and become the only state to check the online players supplying in the state. When any postal Pincode number of Kerala is typed in the delivery address, the customer will get a message claiming the inability to deliver the product in the said location.
With AKITDA being the single strong voice of the IT dealers in Kerala, the association, if brings a cooperative models will change the way of business and bring price parity. Also to be noted is the association has with it, all the key sub distributors and other resellers in the state.
Even though this cannot happen in single phase, this can be done initially with their district units. Later, based on the learning the association can expand it further across the state. The end-dealer members and plenty of sub distributors across Kerala should also support the initiative in the forefront paying way for the success of the association.
Even though this model might take time to reach a certain self-reliance, the members should at least test this model on a pilot basis and try bringing the changes for the long run. Kerala also is seeing series of startups and entrepreneurs coming up new ways of e-selling. So, it is no harm the traditional retailers too try out new things. After all, it is the livelihood of the Two Thousand odd channel partners, their employees and family.