Takahiro Ueda (R)– CMD/President/CEO, Honda India Power Products Ltd
Gagan Pal (L)– Vice President: Sales, Service & Marketing
Honda India Power Products Limited (HIPP),India’s leading and best-in-class power product manufacturer, and market leader in the Power Products category for the past 36 years, launched an exclusive e-commerce portal on its official website: www.hondaindiapower.com. With this launch, HIPP has become the 1st Power Products company in India to launch e-commerce. We aim to leverage our long-standing patronage in the Indian market by opening up new avenues like the “Online sales” through our company website. This will offer our valued customers a delightful experience and right from pre-sales guidance to after-sales service with a vision of meeting and surpassing their expectations.
Q1. What is the idea behind the E-commerce platform by HIPP?
We at HIPP have always strived to meet customers’ demands in the most efficient manner. Through HIPP’s online sales initiative, we endeavor to provide our prospective customers a credible and convenient platform to choose from our diverse product portfolio and get PDI/Installation and after-sales support from company-authorized channel partners closest to their location.
To meet the additional demand expected to be generated from this platform, we will maintain adequate stocks at our various warehouses across the country to meet the demand in the shortest possible time in partnership with our network of over 600 channel partners providing after-sales support across the country.
Q2. Are you going to take the entire product to the e-commerce platform or any selective product?
We will be offering the following power product categories for online sales:
- Portable Generator range: 0.75 kVA ~ 5.5 kVA
- Portable Water Pump range: 1” ~ 3” outlet
- Power Tiller range: 1.5 hp ~ 5.5 hp
- 4 Stroke Brush Cutter range: 1hp ~ 2 hp with the option of Backpack variant in 1.3 hp
- Lawn Mower range: 19” ~ 21” cutting width
Q3. Are these products available on other online platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, and Alibaba?
No, Our products will be available for online sales only on our website: www.hondainidapower.com, and not on other online marketplace portals like Amazon, Flipkart, etc.
Q4. India is a market where the consumers first want to see the product before buying it. So, what is your plan and strategy for such kind challenges and for the Indian market?
Honda India Power Products has developed a very strong and widespread dealer network of over 600, spanning across the length and breadth of the nation during the last 36 years. They are our strength and we have been able to serve the people of this nation with our vision of “Empower People, To Do Better”.
The trust and confidence instilled by our customers and channel partners has helped us embrace e-commerce for their convenience. The consumer can decide to buy our products based on lineage, assurance, and the confidence he has seeing the products in his vicinity and surroundings. He is only cutting the physical distance of visiting the shop and we are helping him in doing that through our platform.
Q5. Who will be taking care of the product installation and after-sales once a consumer buys the product through an e-commerce website.
HIPP has a vast and robust network of over six hundred channel partners spread across the country providing Sales, Service, and Spare Parts support to our valued customers. PDI and installation will be done by our authorized dealer selected by the customer based on the delivery location of the product.
Q6. You must be having plans for sales execution for these platforms. What are your expected sales from this e-commerce business?
HIPP commands over 30% share in the petrol-run internal combustion engine-based power products market.
HIPP’s online platform is an additional sales channel created to help prospective customers to check, compare and purchase from the diverse portfolio of products.
Q7. A lot of companies have huge growth in these platforms. What kind of growth your company sees in the coming five years?
By eliminating geographical barriers in the purchase process through the launch of our e-commerce portal, we endeavor to make online buying a hassle-free, delightful, and expeditious experience for our prospective customers in India. Buoyed by the patronage that we have received in the last 36 years of successful business operations in India, we expect the growth of our online sales to be in line with the projected online Industry growth of about 20% YOY basis.
Q8. Suppose if I am a customer who wants to buy from an e-commerce platform? Will I be able to get a standard warranty and guideline policy similar to a consumer who buys offline?
Yes, warranty terms and conditions will be the same as purchasing the product from an authorized channel partner of HIPP.
Q9. Suppose if I am purchasing through e-commerce platforms, how frequently will I be getting the services from the HIPP.
The customer is mapped at the time of purchase with the dealer who will carry out delivery, pre-delivery inspection, installation, and subsequent after-sales support including the free services. The routine service will be conducted as per the standard service schedule similar to the way when a customer buys an HIPP product from the respective dealer.
Q10. Can you tell me how online transactions are provided to the customers? Will there be an option for Cash on delivery since a number of customers like to pay after the product is delivered?
HIPP’s website is integrated with a verified and secure universal payment gateway enabling the customer to choose any online payment method such as from banks, credit cards, debit cards & UPI (Govt. of India’s approved platform which is a unified payment interface enabling universal payment mechanism adhering with security protocols). We do not currently offer cash on delivery.
Q11. What do you think will happen to the e-commerce industry in the next five years?
E-commerce has transformed the way consumers shop in India in the last few years, supported by an increase in Internet and smartphone penetration, a rise in digital literacy among consumers, and the government’s digital push. By eliminating all geographical barriers in the purchase process through the launch of our exclusive e-commerce portal, we have made online buying a hassle-free, delightful, and expeditious experience for our loyal customers in India. It has been an incredible journey for us at HIPP, and with this announcement, we are poised to offer the latest technology that delivers unmatched value to our customers, even from the comfort of their homes. Considering the growing internet penetration, the safety of delivery, and improved consumer experience, the e-commerce business will hold an enormous growth opportunity for us at HIPP in the coming years. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the shift towards online shopping. We expect online sales to grow at the rate of 20% on YOY basis.
Q12. How will this announcement hold the dealership network in India?
HIPP today has a well-diversified and robust sales and service network spread across India, which has been carefully nurtured over last 36 years. With HIPP’s e commerce initiative, we have created a credible and convenient platform for our prospective customers to choose a HIPP authorized dealer closest to his location. This will ensure quicker response time and prompt after sales support for our valued customers on one hand and enhance greater visibility, sales, and service revenue for our channel partners.
Q13. Any message for our readers?
HIPP, India’s No.1 Power Product company has come online to be nearer to them. We request them to take out some time to explore the platform and see the relevant way we have created this platform, to make life easy for them in a number of ways. Leave the buying decision and just visit www.hondaindiapower.com website to have a look at the platform and the products that we have to offer for making them do things better.
