Online channels are the first choice to buy smartphones in India this year

There has been a lot of change in the way of buying smartphones in the last one year. According to a report, where more than a third of the phones were bought online last year, now this figure has reached 50 percent. Now almost half of the customers are choosing to buy smartphones online. The reason for this is believed to be largely due to the threat of corona and the devastation caused by the second wave of the epidemic this year. The report also said that customers bought more smartphones (15 percent) in the affordable premium and premium segments (priced at Rs 30,000 and above). This figure was 7 percent last year.

According to Counterpoint Research’s Market Lens consumer survey, movement restrictions during COVID-19 forced many offline customers to buy phones online. In 2020, 63 percent of customers made smartphone purchases through offline channels. In 2021, only 37 percent made purchases from offline channels. Last year 47 percent bought their handsets from online channels, while this year 53 percent bought their handsets online.

“Reverse migration of knowledge workers from large cities to smaller towns and cities also played a significant role in popularizing online channels,” the survey report said. Special offers, pricing are also some of the other reasons that attracted people to shop for smartphones online.

Interestingly, the source of information on smartphones has also changed. Consumers relied more on YouTubers as well as influencers to make smartphone buying decisions this year. Similarly, comparison websites and TV commercials have been relied upon and sources such as online reviews and articles have been ignored while making the decision to buy a smartphone.

This trend is likely to continue for the purchase of smartphones. This will increase sales on the sites of e-commerce companies as well as handsite companies.