Platforms, Panwadis, and Wiom

Last week, we went total nerd to discuss Wiom’s unique approach to fulfill 500 million dreams in the next 5 years by improving access to affordable unlimited internet in India (penetration in India is around 8%, compared to China’s 90% plus penetration). This week, we take a ‘sutta break’ from our geeky side to explore how Wiom, which is not an ISP, is quite analogous to your local panwadi.

In India, panwadis are small shops that sell a variety of goods, including loose cigarettes from different brands. This allows customers to purchase just one cigarette instead of an entire pack. 

A panwadi may not seem like an obvious platform business, but they do share some characteristics with such businesses. Specifically, they provide a physical infrastructure that facilitates exchanges between two groups of users: smokers and cigarette suppliers.

Panwadis provide a convenient location for smokers to purchase cigarettes, and they often sell cigarettes in individual sticks or in small packets, which is especially helpful for those with limited disposable income. Platforms can, thus, afford to appeal to price sensitive audiences that pipelines exclude. On the other hand, the cigarette suppliers can use the cigarette seller's location and infrastructure to reach more customers and sell more cigarettes.

If legalized, a street-side open cigarette seller could leverage digital technologies to enhance the value they provide to both smokers and cigarette suppliers. For example, they could create a mobile app that allows smokers to locate the nearest cigarette seller and view the prices and availability of different cigarette brands. They could also create a digital platform that allows cigarette suppliers to list their products, manage their inventory, and track their sales.

By leveraging digital technologies, panwadis could expand their reach beyond their physical location and attract more users. They could also generate revenue by taking a percentage of the transactions that take place or by offering premium services such as advertising or analytics to cigarette suppliers.

In conclusion, a panwadi can be a platform business model that provides value to both smokers and cigarette suppliers. Wiom is no different, uplifting the entire internet architecture in India for data consumers and local cable operators.