PickMe is strengthening its online marketplace by partnering with the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation to deliver fresh fish products from Ceyfish outlets right to the doorstep of its customers. Through this public-private partnership, the mobility platform aims to empower the domestic retail space through digitalization, benefiting everyone from consumers to retailers to fishermen. “The addition of fresh frozen products to PickMe Market will provide the people of Sri Lanka with better access to more daily household needs at government regulated prices combined with the most cost-effective delivery solutions through its economies of scale,” shares CEO of PickMe, Jiffry Zulfer.
How PickMe is bringing fresh frozen food to your doorstep
As with the delivery of groceries, the users can search for the nearest Ceylon Fisheries outlet to check and purchase quality fish products on demand via PickMe Market. In addition, customers can make payments for the purchase via card or cash and track the delivery on the app for better convenience. “PickMe has taken the necessary steps to ensure freshness, such as operating in a closer radius from stores to ensure timely deliveries,” highlights Head of PickMe Market, Marc Perera. Following a successful pilot program, the partnership has expanded to include retailers in key cities across the Western Province.
PickMe & Ceyfish: How public-private partnerships benefit communities
PickMe connects several outlets of the Fisheries Corporation with customers and consumers through the partnership. By listing on PickMe Market, the partnership helps local vendors serve a wider reach and eliminates the need for a physical store. Thereby aiding the growth of small businesses by reducing their capital investment and operating expenses, as they now only need to package the product and hand it over to a delivery partner. Furthermore, using a digital marketplace provides vendors with previously unavailable knowledge of the locations of their customer base, allowing them to improve their targeted marketing and advertising.
“The success of this public-private partnership with Ceylon Fisheries is not the first of its kind for PickMe. Previously, we partnered with two other state institutions – Litro Gas and Sathosa Lanka, who are equally big distributors of vital commodities across the island,” conveys Marc. Therefore, he expresses that the government agency has made the right decision as the increased sales from digitization will increase government revenues. Similarly, he states that such partnerships help consumers in rural areas more easily obtain their daily needs, which shows how digital platforms can empower and improve the quality of life for local communities.
Creating the next phase of eCommerce in Sri Lanka with PickMe Market
Since its inception during the pandemic lockdown in March 2020, PickMe Market has grown rapidly, with several consumers returning month-on-month. Likewise, several merchants are signing up for the service and making a diverse range of products available. From initially serving groceries and vegetables, PickMe Market has evolved considerably and is now poised to become the country’s premier digital platform for any household need.
Countless external push factors have driven the use of digital marketplaces in Sri Lanka. The latest of these factors was the pandemic, which encouraged a surge in online shopping. During this time, the success of digital platforms like PickMe Market built confidence in consumers that they could quickly obtain their daily essentials while at home. Thus, the partnership between PickMe and Ceyfish conveniently delivers another household need fresh to your doorstep. In closing, Zulfer reaffirmed that PickMe is open to more public-private partnerships to help empower local communities as part of its mission to drive the digitization of Sri Lanka.