An interview with Prasanna Kumar C, Rural CEO, Vilcart, a technology startup
In today’s interview, we have the privilege of speaking with Mr. Prasanna Kumar C, the Rural CEO of Vilcart. As a leading technology startup, Vilcart has revolutionized rural retail by providing innovative solutions to Kirana stores across India.
Mr. Kumar’s visionary leadership has been instrumental in transforming the rural retail landscape, enhancing efficiency and accessibility for countless local businesses. Join us as we delve into his insights and experiences driving this remarkable change.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind founding Vilcart and the journey so far?
Prasanna Kumar C: The idea behind Vilcart (founded in 2018) is to enhance the shopping experience of rural customers who wish for urban shopping standards. From my college days, I saw the problems faced by rural kirana store owners and that is where the idea of Vilcart was born.
It was then when they realized that the rural kirana store owners were travelling to far-off places to get their goods and thereby losing out a lot of time & revenue and incurring more costs on logistics.
After this realization, I started VilCart which will potentially remove all intermediaries and give access to premium products at affordable prices to rural kirana stores and rural consumers.
Vilcart has come a long way from starting in a small district of Karnataka and getting to where it is today with operations across 30,000+ villages of South India namely Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
VilCart has significantly impacted rural youth and women by creating substantial job opportunities with over 1500 rural employees, Over 420 rural woman employees, Over 700 rural logistic operations, 93 rural warehouses, Over 800 rural SME vendor partners.
Vilcart aims to support rural brick-and-mortar stores. How do you envision bridging the gap between traditional retail and technology?
Prasanna Kumar C: Vilcart aims to bridge the traditional and technology with mobile application & digital platforms, making products available at a hand reach for rural kirana stores by improving supply chain efficiencies.
Rural Kirana Store owners can easily place orders digitally from the Vilcart App, follow them in real-time and have two scheduled deliveries a week with no longer need to travel outside of town for supplies.
It also supports local languages which makes it more convenient for the rural kirana store owners and simplifies inventory management as well, with this the rural consumers have access to a wide range of quality products at affordable prices
What specific challenges do rural retailers face, and how does Vilcart address these challenges?
Prasanna Kumar C: Rural retailers have many hurdles to overcome, the biggest one being that it can be difficult for them to sell quality products and prices without a large inventory due to cost-issues caused by having merchandise; which ends up leaving only those with too much investment or closures from time-to-time on non-local supply runs.
They suffer from logistical issues and a cumbersome process of getting goods in the market. A full stack solution designed by Vilcart to cater to the needs that includes digitization of ordering, stock curation and doorstep fulfillment.
We source products direct from manufacturers, farmers and FPOs and deliver them to the doorstep of rural kirana stores,
What are your future plans or upcoming innovations for Vilcart?
Prasanna Kumar C: We have also ventured into creating our own brand of products. This includes product category of groceries and staples, snacks and processed foods, beverages and confectioneries, Health and Personal Care, Beauty and Hygiene, Cattle Feeds, Home Appliances, Stationery, Cleaning and Home Care, Electronics, Baby Care & Torys Etc.
We also aim to transform rural kirana stores into Grameen Supermarkets and redefining the rural shopping experience. We are offering unparalleled convenience and variety. Our platform serves as a one-stop shop catering to the diverse needs of rural India
Looking ahead, we plan to strategically focus on cost optimization. We plan to expand the availability of our private label products to our extensive customer base. We aim to form strategic alliances with many more manufacturers, farmers and FPOs across India which will broaden our product portfolio clients. The bigger aim is to have presence in 6.5 lakh villages of India by 2028.
How do you see the future of rural retail evolving with the integration of technology, and what role will Vilcart play in this evolution?
Prasanna Kumar C: Our goal is to become the primary resource for rural e-commerce companies by providing all-inclusive supply chain logistical and technological solutions. We act as a vital conduit. We establish a strong network in South India between producers and primary marketplaces and rural consumers. We make use of cutting-edge technologies. We optimize supply chains for dependability and efficiency.
Our conversation with Mr. Prasanna Kumar C highlights the impactful strides Vilcart is making in rural retail. His dedication to empowering Kirana stores through technology underscores a profound commitment to transforming local economies.
As Vilcart continues to grow, Mr. Kumar’s visionary approach promises to drive further innovation and success, reshaping the future of rural retail across India. Thank you, Mr. Kumar, for sharing your inspiring journey and insights with us today.
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