Indians still want to touch & feel smartphones before buying: Report

The top three drivers for satisfaction on overall smartphone sales support are satisfaction on trade/sell out schemes, transparency in process and timely payout, according to the report by CyberMedia Research (CMR).

New Delhi: Despite a spurt in online shopping, Indian consumers will still go to physical stores in 2023 for their smartphone purchases, as touch and feel continues to play an important role for them, a report showed on Monday.

The top three drivers for satisfaction on overall smartphone sales support are satisfaction on trade/sell out schemes, transparency in process and timely payout, according to the report by CyberMedia Research (CMR).

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“In the new normal, both online and offline retail continue to be equally important touch points for consumers. Consumers seek to research online, buy offline, or vice-versa,” said Prabhu Ram, Head- Industry Intelligence Group, CMR.

Offline will continue toA be the cornerstone for mobile business in India in 2023 and beyond, he added.

Sell-out schemes, timely payout, and transparency in dealings are what retail partners look for in associating with a smartphone brand.

Lava brand ranked highest in retailers’ trust in the country.

“With its consistent and long-term focus on the offline retail market, Lava continues to dominate in retailer trust driven by its transparent processes, timely payout and price control,” said Satya Mohanty, Head — Industry Consulting Group, CMR.

In offline retail, a smartphone brand’s success is driven by the level of its ongoing engagement and trust with its retail channel partner ecosystem, he added.