In recent years, the landscape of business has undergone a significant transformation with the rapid growth of e-commerce. Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India have particularly embraced this change, recognising the immense potential that online platforms offer for business expansion. The dynamic nature of e-commerce demands the use of specialized e-commerce tools to streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and drive growth. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the top 10 must-have e-commerce tools for specifically tailored for MSME businesses in India.

1. E-commerce Platform: The foundation of any online business lies in the choice of the e-commerce platform. Opting for user-friendly and customisable platforms like Flipkart, Amazon India, or WooCommerce, can provide MSMEs the flexibility to design and manage their online stores effectively. These platforms offer various themes, plugins, and features that cater to different business needs and enable easy inventory management, order processing, and payment gateways integration.
2. Website Analytics: Data-driven decision-making is essential for e-commerce success. Utilising analytics tools like Google Analytics helps MSMEs in India understand their website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. This information guides business owners to optimise their strategies, improve user experience, and identify potential areas for growth.
3. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Tools: Ranking high on search engine results is critical for driving organic traffic to an e-commerce website. SEO tools such as SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz can assist MSMEs in conducting keyword research, optimizing on-page content, monitoring backlinks, and tracking the website’s search engine performance. 
4. Social Media Management: The power of social media in e-commerce cannot be overstated. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are invaluable for building brand awareness and engaging with potential customers. Social media management tools like Hootsuite or Buffer enable MSMEs to schedule posts, manage multiple accounts, and track performance metrics.
5. Email Marketing Platforms: Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to connect with customers. MSMEs can utilise tools like Mailchimp or Brevo (formerly known as SendinBlue) to create personalised email campaigns, segment their audience, and automate marketing workflows, resulting in increased customer retention and repeat purchases.
6. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software: Strengthening customer relationships is crucial for long-term success. CRM tools such as Salesforce or Zoho CRM allow MSMEs to manage customer interactions, track orders, and provide personalised support, enhancing overall customer satisfaction and loyalty.
7. Inventory Management Systems: Efficient inventory management is a cornerstone of e-commerce success. Tools like TradeGecko or Zoho Inventory assist MSMEs in India in keeping track of stock levels, automating reorder processes, and preventing overstock or stockouts, leading to improved operational efficiency and reduced costs.
8. Payment Gateways: Seamless and secure payment processing is vital for e-commerce businesses. MSMEs can integrate payment gateways like Razorpay, PayU, or Instamojo to provide customers with various payment options and ensure smooth transactions, thereby boosting consumer trust and confidence.
9. Live Chat and Customer Support: Instant customer support can make a significant difference in customer satisfaction. Integrating live chat tools such as Intercom or LiveChat on their e-commerce websites enables MSMEs to offer real-time assistance, address customer concerns, and increase the likelihood of completing sales.
10. Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention: Protecting customer data and business information is paramount. MSMEs must invest in cybersecurity tools like Sucuri, Wordfence, or Norton to safeguard their websites from potential threats and ensure secure transactions, fostering trust among online shoppers.

E-commerce Growth in Indian MSMEs:

The emergence of e-commerce has presented remarkable growth opportunities for Indian MSMEs. By leveraging these must-have tools, these businesses can tap into a wider consumer base, compete on a national and even global scale, and achieve enhanced revenue streams. E-commerce allows MSMEs to transcend geographical limitations, making their products and services accessible to a vast online audience. 

One of the key advantages of e-commerce for Indian MSMEs is the reduction of overhead costs associated with traditional brick-and-mortar stores. By employing these tools, businesses can streamline their operations, automate various processes, and minimize manual intervention. This results in greater operational efficiency and cost savings, which are particularly beneficial for small businesses with limited resources.

Furthermore, e-commerce tools contribute to a heightened customer experience. Online platforms enable personalized interactions, convenient shopping experiences, and quick issue resolution. CRM systems and live chat tools empower MSMEs to provide top-notch customer support, fostering customer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth referrals.

In the context of India, where digital adoption is rapidly increasing, e-commerce serves as a catalyst for MSME growth. With the tools mentioned above, businesses can tap into the nation’s burgeoning e-commerce ecosystem and capitalize on the rising trend of online shopping. Moreover, as the Indian government continues to focus on digital initiatives and technology-driven solutions, MSMEs stand to benefit from these resources, contributing to their overall competitiveness and growth trajectory.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the realm of e-commerce presents a wealth of opportunities for Indian MSMEs, and the utilisation of essential tools is paramount for realizing success in this dynamic environment. By embracing these tools, MSMEs can not only navigate the challenges of the digital landscape but also flourish and expand their reach. As the e-commerce ecosystem in India continues to evolve, MSMEs that invest in these must-have tools position themselves for sustainable growth and prosperity in the online marketplace. 

A: In today’s digital age, starting an online store has become a viable option for entrepreneurs and MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) looking to expand their reach and tap into a broader customer base. With the right approach and some basic know-how, setting up an online store can be a smooth and rewarding process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to begin your online retail journey:

Step 1: Do Your Market Research

Before diving into the world of e-commerce, it’s essential to conduct thorough market research. Identify your target audience, understand their preferences, and research the demand for products in your niche. Analyze your competitors and identify gaps in the market that you can fill. By understanding your market and potential customers, you can make informed decisions about what products to sell online in India.

Step 2: Choose the Right Products

Selecting the right products to sell online is crucial for the success of your store. Consider offering unique and high-demand products that align with your target audience’s interests. Look for suppliers and wholesalers who can provide you with quality products at competitive prices. It’s also essential to consider the logistics of handling and shipping the products to your customers efficiently.

Step 3: Build Your Online Store

Thanks to various e-commerce platforms, building an online store has never been easier. Choose a user-friendly platform that suits your needs and budget. Popular options include Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce. These platforms offer customizable templates, secure payment gateways, and inventory management features. Ensure your online store design is visually appealing, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate.

Step 4: Set up Secure Payment Gateways

Offering secure and convenient payment options is crucial to gaining your customers’ trust. Integrate reliable payment gateways that can process various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets. Implement SSL certificates to encrypt sensitive data and protect your customers’ transactions.

Step 5: Market Your Online Store

Once your online store is up and running, it’s time to market it effectively. Utilize social media platforms, email marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to drive traffic to your store. Engage with your target audience through compelling content, promotions, and discounts. Collaborate with influencers or bloggers in your niche to expand your store’s visibility.

Online MSME Training

For MSMEs that are new to the world of e-commerce, consider enrolling in online MSME training programs focused on e-commerce and online retail. These training sessions can provide valuable insights into market trends, digital marketing strategies, and practical tips to grow your online store. Learning from experts in the field will help you make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

Starting an online store can be a game-changer for your business, opening doors to a vast customer base and increasing sales. With the right products, a well-designed store, and effective marketing strategies, your online venture can thrive in the competitive landscape of e-commerce. Embrace the digital age, and take the leap into online retail to unlock a world of opportunities for your MSME. Some of the benefits of online MSME training are as follows:

• Digital Skills and Knowledge Enhancement: Online MSME training can provide comprehensive learning opportunities in various aspects such as digital marketing, e-commerce, website development, online payment systems, social media management, and more. This enhanced understanding equips MSMEs to make informed decisions and leverage digital tools effectively.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Traditional training programs can be expensive, particularly for small businesses with limited budgets. Online MSME training typically offers cost-effective alternatives as they eliminate the need for physical infrastructure, printed materials, and travel expenses. This makes training accessible to a broader range of MSMEs, regardless of their financial constraints.
• Adapting to Market Trends: The digital landscape is constantly evolving. Staying up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices is essential for MSMEs to remain competitive. Online training programs often incorporate the most recent developments, ensuring that businesses learn cutting-edge tactics to expand their online presence.
• Improved Customer Engagement: With online training, MSMEs can learn how to engage customers better through various digital channels. This includes learning how to create compelling content, implement social media strategies, manage customer relationships, and use data analytics to understand customer preferences and behaviour.
• Increased Sales and Revenue: Ultimately, the integration of online training enables MSMEs to harness the power of digital marketing and e-commerce platforms more effectively. By learning to optimize their online presence, they can attract a broader audience, generate leads, and convert prospects into paying customers. This increased online visibility can lead to higher sales and revenue figures.

The Indian government has taken several initiatives to support MSMEs in their transition to the online domain. Some notable efforts include:

• Digital MSME Scheme: The government launched the Digital MSME scheme to encourage MSMEs to adopt digital technologies and online platforms. Under this scheme, financial support and subsidies are provided to help MSMEs invest in digital tools, software, and e-commerce infrastructure.
• Udyog Aadhaar Registration: The Udyog Aadhaar registration process makes it easier for MSMEs to obtain a unique identification number online. This simplifies the registration process and enables them to access various government schemes, benefits, and incentives easily.
• Financial Support for E-commerce Export: To promote online exports, the government offers financial support through various schemes like the Market Access Initiative (MAI) and Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme. These initiatives assist MSMEs in reaching global markets through e-commerce platforms.
• Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme: The Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) provides collateral-free credit facilities to MSMEs. The online portal of CGTMSE enables a smooth application process, making it easier for MSMEs to access credit.
• Technology Upgradation Support: Various schemes, such as the Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS), provide financial assistance for technology upgradation. This helps MSMEs to adopt modern and efficient digital technologies to enhance their competitiveness.

Any business owner would like his or her customers to believe that he or she is dedicated to quality. If this were true, no product or service would ever be criticized. So, how can you improve quality in your company?

Based on the observations, classifications, and descriptions supplied by the world’s top-quality experts, we may divide the concept of quality into two categories.

One, meeting a predefined set of requirements is connected with quality. According to this notion, businesses or service providers achieve quality by producing items whose attributes match a set of statistically determined parameters.

Two, quality might be defined as the ability to satisfy customers. Improving client happiness involves the utilisation of a predefined set of characteristics. The value of a good is determined by whether it fits the needs of customers in terms of goods and services as well as ease of use.

Focusing on integrating these two factors is ideal for businesses. You will be able to validate that your things match the standards while also addressing the needs of your customers. For instance, the implementation of a successful “MSME growth program” can contribute to improving both the adherence to quality standards and guaranteeing customer satisfaction.

Establish product strategy:

To stand out in a sea of new products, you must have a good product strategy. It’s difficult to create a new product if you don’t have any ideas. And, because there are so many pre-existing responses, you’ll have to come up with something new. To generate ideas, listen to your consumers and potential customers.

Following the discovery of your prospects’ needs, it is necessary to develop a high-level product plan. As a result, you and your team will be able to approach design more strategically.

As a result, developing a thorough product vision enables you to think about product targets. The objectives will serve as key performance indicators (KPIs), and by prioritising them, you will be able to develop a strategy for product functionality, innovation, and so on.

After you’ve determined your goals, you’ll need to convert them into specifics so you can prioritise your product vision. You may compare the initial product concept to your strategic approach and rational product roadmap if you have a coherent strategy and logical production plan. Modify the product plan after analysing your vision, and do it on a frequent basis.

Quality management system:

Since pre-industrial times, numerous systems of quality management have existed. Throughout the twentieth century, attitudes about quality management shifted dramatically.

In today’s competitive market, quality management is inextricably linked to online skills and data-driven solutions. In the last decade alone, cloud-based software has aided in the acceleration of every aspect of quality management by accelerating data storage, evaluation, and interaction across distribution networks of all sizes and durations.

Modern quality management software takes it a step further by allowing you to target specific stages of the manufacturing process. This includes platforms designed specifically for the administration of Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC), which might be a quality management system.

Why is updating QMS critical?

The notion of a quality management system, with its numerous concepts and requirements, may appear intimidating at first. You may even begin to doubt if your company requires a formal QMS, especially if it operates on a small scale.

A quality management system is useful for the following purposes:

Consistently delivering suitable quality goods and services while continually enhancing the customer experience — and so, a QMS is required for any firm that promotes products or services, regardless of size, sector, or speciality.

A quality management system is not a one-time solution that is established and then forgotten about. To achieve its primary purpose of ensuring continued client pleasure, a QMS must always evolve to keep up with your company’s expanding demands and changing working conditions.

Any changes made to keep the quality management system current must be centered on making timely and well-informed decisions. In turn, actions must be based on reliable and exact data obtained at every point of your distribution chain, potentially in real-time, and made available to all critical stakeholders. As a result, forward-thinking firms have begun to rely on digital technologies and integrated platforms to help with QMS improvement.

Companies with efficient and adaptable QMSs are ideally positioned to assure satisfaction level by producing goods that are consistently of high quality, safe, and long-lasting:

Consistent Quality is attained by confirming that raw materials, equipment, and finished products meet the standards, that production processes are continually checked and enhanced, and that any production difficulties are addressed.

Security and compliance with regulations may be achieved by remaining on top of your manufacturing standards to ensure they are in line with the most recent safety regulations, establishing a safety testing programme, and tracking any concerns back to the source in the event of a product recall.

Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing – QMS processes may also be used successfully to plan and execute ethical and environmental criteria, assess adherence, take corrective measures, and track improvement.

Steps to be taken:

Standardize the work: A solid working environment with consistent day-to-day manufacturing and commercial operations is necessary to ensure product quality. Standardization of operations is the most critical aspect of a tight production process. Standardization is the practice of repeating particular tasks in the same way throughout time in order to accomplish specific objectives. In addition to standardising work methods, you should have a robust response strategy in place to cope with unforeseen disruptions that may have a detrimental impact on product quality.

Update the machinery: The machinery used in their production determines the quality of the items. As a result, you’ll need to update or improve your tools and machinery on a frequent basis. After you’ve upgraded the equipment, you’ll need to train your employees on how to use it. Updating the machinery contributes to the enhancement of product quality.

Track the steps: Tracking is the process of tracing each stage of a product’s life cycle, from raw material to final shipment. Tracking makes it easier to spot flaws in items as well as the sources of those flaws, making correction easier by investigating the cause. It helps to keep production running after a disruption while preserving product quality.

Entrepreneurship is one word that belongs to men as much as it does to women. Especially when you live in a world where more than 1/3rd of the entrepreneurial ventures are established, run, and managed well by women.

Statistically speaking, there has been a rise in Women Entrepreneurship and the trend is bound to continue, owing to the massive digital revolution in the last decade, economic progress, better access to education, urbanization and recognition from the society. As per a survey and the EdelGive Foundation Report, Businesses owned by women entrepreneurs in India are likely to witness a 90 per cent growth in the coming five years, compared to the US (50 per cent) and UK (24 per cent).

Speaking of Women Entrepreneurship, here are some Indian names who have made it to the list of top Entrepreneurship – women who did not hesitate to take the plunge, irrespective of the challenges and uncertainties, and yet prove their mettle.

Zivame – Richa Kar

A fashion brand started way back in 2011 by Richa Kar, Zivame primarily focussed on Lingerie with the USP of featuring a plethora of styles for Indian Women – something they arrived at after understanding that Lingerie is quite an under-served category in India. Later on, the brand forayed into Activewear, Sleepwear and Shapewear which soon began to witness almost 2X growth. Zivame, the brain-child of Richa Kar, is today one of the largest Lingerie EBO networks in India with an unbelievable 30 retail stores network.

Limeroad – Suchi Mukherjee

Founded by Suchi Mukherjee about a decade ago, Limeroad is a Gurugram based company, that has over the last 10 years, built a reputation of being among the best. Reason why it is backed by investors like Tiger Global Management, Lightspeed India Partners, Matrix Partners India and Lightspeed Venture Partners, to name a few. As India’s first boutique fashion marketplace for Women, Men and Kids, LimeRoad has raised over $50 million in funding to date.

Nykaa – Falguni Nayar

A brand that needs no introduction, Nykaa.com is one of the biggest destinations for products on beauty & wellness. With over 2500+ brands, 5 lakh+ products and delivery all across India, it is today a one-stop solution that offers affordable cosmetic brands along with apparel. Founded by Falguni Nayar in 2012, it expanded in 2015 only to diversify and sell Fashion products through Nykaa Fashion in 2018.Today, the company has multiple eCommerce platforms across websites along with mobile apps and has 76 offline stores as well. A unicorn start-up, Nykaa is the story of a woman entrepreneur whose brand was valued at ₹85 billion (US$1.2 billion) in 2020.

Cashkaro – Swati Bhargav

Swati Bhargav co-founded CashKaro, India’s largest Cashback and coupon Site in 2013 along with her husband, Rohan Bhargav. Known to be a one-stop destination for shopping lovers, it enables its members to compare prices, earn extra cashback and get free coupons across 1000+ e-commerce sites. The fact that  CashKaro is backed by Ratan Tata says a lot about the brand and the woman behind it!

Fresh Menu – Rashmi Daga

Rashmi Daga is the founder & CEO of Fresh Menu – a Bangalore-based online food delivery service platform. Started in 2014, it delivers freshly prepared food. Her Online Delivery platform today serves 12,000 orders a day. FreshMenu has multiple satellite kitchens with each kitchen serving within a five kilometres radius. It operates 22 kitchens in Bangalore. It has to date raised $25.8 million in funding. Speaking of her other achievements, Rashmi was on the list of Fortune’s 40 under 40 and has also been awarded ET Prime Women Entrepreneur Award in 2019.

Sheroes – Sairee Chahal

SHEROES is a women-only social community platform founded by Sairee Chahal that helps women find work from home and other resources and mentors to help them start or boost their careers. SHEORES offer a range of products like Brand Solutions, Managed Remote Solutions Program and SHE – prevention of sexual harassment at work platform.

Mad Street Den – Ashwani Ashokan 

Mad Street Den, founded by Ashwani Ashokan along with her husband Anand Chandrasekaran in 2013, is a computer vision and artificial intelligence company where they build models of generalizable intelligence and create actionable ways to contextualize AI on the scale, helping millions of people and providing customised solutions. A Chennai based start-up, it has over 220+ employees in the US, Japan, and India. Global Brain Corporation, Sequoia Capital, Falcon Edge Capital, KDDI, Array Ventures are some of the many big names that have invested in Mad Street Den which today boasts of $30M in funding

Wed Me Good – Mehak Sagar

WedMeGood was co-founded by Mehak Sagar Shahani eight years ago in 2014. Apt for the Indian market, this Wedding Planning Website and app helps in finding the best wedding vendors, with prices and reviews at the click of a button. A single-stop solution for all queries and requirements related to Wedding, WedMeGood is the go-to app and website for people (or their families) who are getting hooked. A Gurgaon-based start-up, WedMeGood has investors with the likes of Orchid Asia Group Management, Indian Angel Network, Alok Mittal
and Hemant Kanakia.

Some Interesting Statistics on Women Entrepreneurs in India

1. About 58% of the female entrepreneurs were in the age range of 20-30 when they started out.
2. Nearly 73% of them report a revenue of approximately Rs 10 lakhs in a financial year.
3. Almost 57% of these women started out solo, i.e., without any other member.
4. About 35% of the women had a co-founder.
5. Roughly 71% of  the Indian female entrepreneurs employ five people or less.

The rise of Women Entrepreneurs is proof that we are moving ahead in the right direction, as an economy and as a society. Backed by the digital revolution that has empowered millions of people, some of who are sitting at home and bringing a change, today we as a Nation, have all that is required to ensure Women Entrepreneurs are able to dream, live their dream and bring a change.

While managing a business it’s important to manage the flow of cash. If the cash flow is irregular it can adversely affect the company’s growth. By generating enough cash, a business can meet its everyday business needs and avoid taking on debt. That way, the business has more control over its activities. In a situation in which a business has to take on debt to meet its expenses, its debtors will likely have a say in how the business is run. If they have contrary opinions to the management’s, that could be an impediment to the way management executes its vision for the business.

What is cash flow management?

Cash flow is basically the movement of cash in and out of the business. There are two types of cash flows:

• Negative cash flow is when the number of funds going out of the company exceeds their incoming funds.
• Positive cash flow is when the incoming cash exceeds the outgoing funds. This is what companies strive to achieve for a smooth flow of the company.

You can’t get a handle on your cash flow by simply looking at your profit and loss statement (P&L). Many other financial variables, including accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, capital expenditures, and taxation, play a role in factoring in your cash flow.

Effective cash-flow management necessitates laser-like attention on each of these cash-flow factors, in addition to your profit or loss. Profit is defined by accounting rules as revenue fewer costs. A wise company owner, on the other hand, understands that knowing whether or not you made a profit is not the same as understanding what happened to your money.

Striking the right balance:

It’s important to have a balance between having too much cash on hand and having inadequate supply. Having an inadequate amount of cash is essentially a threat to the company, but having too much in hand just means that the company is not focusing on many investment opportunities.

If the company expects to earn a higher return on its investments than it pays in interest on its borrowings, it may choose to invest its excess cash and borrow any extra funds needed for its operations. Some ratios, such as a firm’s acid-test ratio or the proportion of its most liquid current assets to its current liabilities, give insight into a company’s cash management when reviewing its balance sheet. While a ratio larger than one indicates a solid current assets condition, a very high ratio may signal that the business has an excessive amount of cash or other liquid assets.

Tips to manage cash flow:

• It is also important to understand the break-even point in cash flow. Calculate the amount of profit required to break even. If the amount goes above the break-even point then it means that you are doing something right. Calculate the time period by which the company can get into profit. It’s not like the profit will help the cash flow, but ending up with a negative cash flow and no profit is a difficult situation to be in.
• Always maintain an emergency cash reserve. This will help you when things go down with the business or if there are some economic downturns.
• Always make sure that any conversation on funds, be it with an existing client or with a new client, put it down in writing. Establish clear timelines and payment terms in writing so there is no confusion on the same as you go forward.
• Encouraging the clients to pay early will help to maintain the cash flow. Offer special discounts or deals if they pay ahead of time.
• To track your financial flow, you had to physically record every transaction beofre. You have the benefit of technology nowadays, so take advantage of it! Spreadsheets should be stored in the cloud for simple access, or better yet, accounting software could be used.
• Promotions are an excellent approach to increase sales quickly and efficiently. You may hold a contest, launch a customer loyalty and referral program, or get exposure through judicious social media posting.

To manage the flood of work, use incentives. If you have more consumers than you can manage, don’t turn them down; instead, give a discount if the client is ready to postpone the service. This not only allows you to handle several projects without depleting your resources but also ensures that you’ll have a consistent flow of income in the future months.

• If you have a payment due soon, consider if you can negotiate an extension. Delay as long as possible, but even a few weeks or days can have a huge influence on your cash flow. If you can’t afford full-time personnel, consider hiring part-time workers to fill in the gaps. If you have unneeded equipment, renting or leasing it out might help you save money on storage. Find additional strategies to boost your profit margins—lower-cost suppliers and higher prices are both smart places to start.

It is important to learn the solutions to cash flow problems.

• Short-term financing: A line of credit, for example, can be used for emergency expenditures or to close the gap between payables. Many banks provide business credit cards that may be used to pay vendors.
• Long-Term Capitalization: Large asset purchases, such as equipment and real estate, should often be financed using long-term loans rather than working capital. This allows you to stretch the payments across the asset’s typical life. You will pay interest, but you will have kept your operating cash for business operations.
• Speed up the recovery of receivables.
• Liquidate cash tied up with assets: Do you have outmoded merchandise or equipment that you no longer use? Consider selling it to get quick money. Idle, old, and non-operational equipment eats up space and ties up cash that may be put to better use. Equipment that has been held for a longer period of time will often have a book value equal to or less than its salvage value, therefore a sale may result in a taxable gain. This profit should be recorded on your tax returns. If you must sell below the book value, you will incur a tax loss that may be used to offset other business gains.

As client situations change and new materials are released, excess inventory can soon become obsolete and useless. Consider selling any inventory that is anticipated to be used in the next 12 months unless the expenses of keeping it are small and the revenues from a sale are insignificant.

An organisation exists solely as a result of the efforts of an individual who is willing to take on the burden of running the company with him. To do so, the individual must possess a specific trait called entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship arises and works as an economic activity in a sociological and cultural context. It might be thought of as an individual’s free choice activity or as the occupation or profession of a social group. Entrepreneurs play an important role in a country’s economic growth. They have been described as the human actors required to raise money, utilise natural resources, develop creative goods or concepts, establish marketplaces, and conduct business.

A successful entrepreneur is always familiar with relevant advancements and changes that occur in society around him and is equipped to keep up with the changing requirements of society. They are the focal point around which all other production variables, productive resources, and procedures must revolve. They combine skills, talents, and motivation to turn resources into successful companies. Personality and cultural or societal characteristics have been linked to entrepreneurial behaviour in studies of entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurial person possesses characteristics such as self-confidence, persistence, measured risk-taking capacity, determination, a need for accomplishment, optimism, and a like for challenges. What distinguishes an entrepreneur from a successful entrepreneur are his accomplishments in his sector of business.

1. AJAY PIRAMAL -PIRAMAL ENTERPRISES LIMITED

Piramal Enterprises Limited, India’s Chairman, is Ajay Piramal. Piramal went from owning an almost-defunct textile firm to being the Chairman of an Rs.4,000 crore conglomerate that includes Nicholas Piramal, India’s fourth-largest pharmaceutical company, Morarjee Weaving and Spinning, and Gujarat Glass.

In 1988, he learned via a friend that Nicholas Laboratories, an Australian multinational corporation departing India, was for sale. There were many huge suitors, but Piramal chose to meet with Mike Barker, the guy in charge of selling the firm, and informed him that he had no record, was only 33 years old, but was certain of putting Nicholas among the top five pharma companies in India (from 48th at that time).

Through a series of international acquisitions, including the Indian operations of Roche, Boehringer Mannheim, Rhone Poulenc, ICI, and Hoechst Research Centre, he propelled the firm into the top five pharmaceutical corporations in India. Piramal is delighted to announce that a decade later, armed with Nicholas’ annual report, he went to meet Barker in retirement in Kenya, where the firm was ranked among the top five pharma companies in India.

2. AMAR BOSE – BOSE CORPORATION

Amar Gopal Bose, who was born in 1929, is the founder and chairman of the Bose Corporation. He was a $1.8 billion net worth American electrical engineer of Bengali heritage who was included on the Forbes 400 in 2007.

He concentrated his study on acoustics, which led him to design a stereo loudspeaker capable of reproducing, in a household setting, the predominately reflected sound field that defines the audience’s listening space in a concert hall. Bose was given substantial patents in two categories that are still vital to the Bose Corporation today. These patents included loudspeaker design as well as non-linear, two-state modulated, Class-D power processing.

In 1964, he founded his firm with the help of angel investors, including his MIT thesis adviser and Professor, Dr Y. W. Lee (who invested his life savings in the effort). Today, the Bose Corporation is a diverse organisation with over 12,000 workers worldwide that manufactures products for home, vehicle, and professional audio as well as doing basic research in acoustics, automotive systems, and other domains.

3. SHAHNAZ HUSAIN

Shahnaz Husain is a successful female businesswoman in India. Her firm, Shahnaz Husain Herbals, is one of the world’s leading makers of herbal goods. It develops and markets approximately 400 products for diverse aesthetic and health requirements, and it has a global presence ranging from the United States to Asia.

The Shahnaz Husain Group, situated in New Delhi, was valued at $100 million in 2002. It employed around 4200 workers across 104 countries in 650 salons. In the 25 years that the Group has been in operation, it has experienced rapid growth. In the early years, the average growth rate was 15-20%. The average growth rate in the 1990s was 19.4 percent.

She has conquered marketplaces all around the world, and now she wants to conquer space. Shahnaz Husain has begun work on formulations that astronauts may bring with them on their intergalactic journeys to preserve their skin from the rigours of space flight and halt the ageing process. She has offered NASA complimentary samples of her moisturisers in the hopes that they would be utilised on future space missions. Shahnaz Husain is a successful female businesswoman in India. Her firm, Shahnaz Husain Herbals, is one of the world’s leading makers of herbal goods. It develops and markets approximately 400 products for diverse aesthetic and health requirements, and it has a global presence ranging from the United States to Asia.

4. SAMEER NIGAM

In today’s India, PhonePe is analogous to digital payments. Sameer Nigam and his co-founders, Rahul Chari and Burzin Engineer, developed this industry leader of a UPI-based digital payments platform in December 2015.

Sameer Nigam graduated from The Wharton School with an MBA in Entrepreneurship. Following his education at DPS Noida, Sameer went on to pursue Computer Engineering at the University of Mumbai, followed by a Masters of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Arizona, and ultimately an MBA in 2009.

Before developing Mime360, an online social media distribution network, Sameer worked as the Director of Search Product Development at Shopzilla for a little over 6 years. Mime360 was eventually acquired by Flipkart, where he returned as Senior Vice President, Engineering, but departed after a year and a half to build his firm, PhonePe.

4. RICHA KAR

Richa Kar is the face of Zivame, one of India’s top online lingerie businesses. Richa was born in Jamshedpur to a traditional family. Kar was an engineering student who graduated from BITS Pilani and afterwards took a corporate job in Bangalore. Richa subsequently quit her employment to acquire an MBA, and after that, she worked for Spencers Retail and later SAP Retail.

Her experience in the retail sector aided her in developing knowledge and practical skills that are useful in the retail industry. Richa was captivated by Victoria’s Secret, America’s largest retail firm for women’s lingerie, and its success while working with SAP. As a result, she had little support from her family, but with her strong will and desire to create a business, she eventually founded Zivame with Kapil Karekar in 2011.