Ever heard of Meesho? Today, it is one of the most successful stories in the space of reseller apps that describes itself as an online multi-vendor marketplace.
Imagine you want to create an app without the hassle of inventory or shipping and can start the business minus any significant investment. Sounds a little impossible, right? But apps like meesho has proven it can be done.
Let’s take a look at How To Create An App Like Meesho and its overall budget
Evolution of Meesho Reseller App
The foundation to create a reseller app like Meesho was a social cause. The founders wanted to create opportunities to build home-based businesses, giving individuals to earn from an additional income source.
They were primarily focussed on driving homemakers to start something on their own without any investment. The wave soon caught up with other small and medium sized businesses who were looking for online avenues to sell but did not have the funds to create an individual storefront on their own.
At the onset, Meesho started out with a limited set of popular product categories, namely fashion and electronics. In due course of time, with the traffic on the app skyrocketing, its users demanded much more. The expanded product categories now include:
- Accessories
- Household
- Fashion for Men, Women and Kids
- Kitchen item
- Decoration
- Gift
- Cosmetics
- Grocery and Essentials
With multiple rounds of funding from venture capitalist big-wigs like SAIF, Sequoia Capital, RPS Venture, Facebook and more, Meesho has raised approximately $215.2 million in total and achieved 50x growth in less than a decade.
With over 1 crore resellers listed on the platform, Meesho has achieved unimaginable success and a barrage of milestones. This has paved the way for many entrepreneurs to try their luck at setting up a similar mobile app like Meesho where they do not really need to create a full blown eCommerce website.
Now, let’s look at the important aspects to create a reseller app like Meesho and how much you should budget to create such a platform.
Analyze The Market
Before diving straight to the development phase, it is important that you analyse the market where you intend to deploy the app. Do a quick SWOT analysis which will help you to streamline the pros and cons of entering into this business.
Make a list of your immediate competition in the space and match them in accordance with your geographical outreach. You will face stiff competition from established players like Amazon which probably enjoys the bulk of the market share in the eCommerce space.
Having said that, a reseller app like Meesho has made a niche for itself and that’s where you need to focus your energies. You can create a similar Meesho app that offers unique and standout features with good, user-friendly design.
Decide Upon Your Niche
Think about how you wish to sell. Do you want to limit yourself to being a platform that connects local businesses to the neighbourhood or go all out to create an app that facilitates buying and selling without borders?
Zeroing in on the market is absolutely essential. This is the first step before you do anything else. Next, figure out the list of product categories that you want to highlight in the app. Get a team in place to develop merchandising for each individual category which should be ready before you launch the application.
Define Your Product
Chalk out the USPs of your app. Unless you adequately highlight what your app offers to the target audience, there is little chance that the platform will find any takers in the market after the launch. Concentrate on the benefits that can be most effective:
- Best Quality
- Best Quality-To-Price Ratio
- Luxury
- Aspiration
- Must-Have
Define the value proposition. Answering these key questions can help expedite the process.
- What product or service is the app platform selling?
- Is there a defined list of benefits for the end user on downloading the application?
- Who is the target audience?
- Have you made your offerings unique in comparison to your competition?
In the case of reseller apps, it may be an upheaval task to come up with unique product features as the functionalities are pretty much standard across the board.
However, you can still add some kind of offering or value that makes it attractive for your target audience to download and start using your platform.
Ideas that you can debate about are:
- Free shipping
- Next-day shipping
- Bonuses with a purchase
- Money-back guarantee
- Discounted prices
- Customizability
- Free product listings for sellers
Read Also : How to create an app like Flipkart
Create A List Of Features
Prior to settling on the list of features, ensure that your priorities in what you to expect the app to deliver have been mapped out. Next, divide the list of features into:
- Reseller App
- Seller or Supplier App
- Admin Panel
Features on the Reseller App
#1. Registration
The first step of any mobile application is the user registration process. This is usually via an email id / mobile number with a password combination.
Additionally, to simplify the process further, mobile apps are frequently adopting the usage of social media profiles and Google ids as a one step option to register on apps.
#2. Authorization
On completion of the user registration, the app sends out an authorization that verifies the user details such as email address and mobile that has been used to create the account on the app.
#3. Search Filters
This again is a standard feature in most eCommerce apps today. The search filters are designed to make it easier for prospective resellers to look up items that they are interested in. Adding advanced filters such as price, product type, size, brand, location, etc. streamlines the search results further.
#4. Product Feed
Reseller apps have a product feed that showcases a mix of products to the user. This is usually compiled taking into account a number of parameters such as user interest, past purchases, browsing history, preferred product types, brands, etc. The feed is dynamic and keeps updating automatically.
#5. Product Categories
All reseller apps need to divide the merchandise that they list into categories and sub-categories. This allows the prospective reseller to easily browse through the products.
#6. Product Page
Every product should have a dedicated page where information like product description, price, seller information, delivery period, etc. should be clearly captured.
Adding images and customer ratings is key here. Enabling a product view allows resellers to make sure that an item meets all their requirements before sharing it with their networks.
#7. Product Catalogues
Reseller apps have a unique product catalogue feature that allows the reseller to directly share the product or the entire catalogue with their networks via social media profiles, Whatsapp or email.
Whilst sharing, every bit of information such as product type, code, price, delivery period, payment method, product images is automatically sharable. The reseller, however, can edit the information prior to posting.
#8. Product Comparison
While users can always compare similar products with their closest competitors outside of the platform, having a product comparison feature built-in can be a definite value add.
Buyers can compare similar products that are listed on the application that can help them arrive at a quick purchase decision. Adding this innovative feature will let your users research products or services without leaving the app.
#9. Shopping Cart
When the resellers are interested in purchasing an item, he or she can add it to the shopping with single click functionality. This helps the reseller keep track of all the items that they wish to purchase and have a final look through before checking out and paying.
#10. Payment Integration
Payment gateways are a must for reseller apps. The reseller can opt to pay for the item prior to despatch or send it like a COD order. Most apps have standard integrations such as Debit or Credit Cards, Net Banking, Google Pay, UPIs, eWallets, etc.
#11. Delivery & Tracking
Once the order has been placed with the seller, the reseller must have a mechanism to track the order from despatch to delivery. There should also be an option for return or exchange the product post delivery which again should be trackable and monitored from the app’s platform.
#12. Payment Tracker
Payments collected for COD orders goes directly to the platform. The reseller should be able to track this until it hits their bank account.
#13. Reviews and Ratings
Resellers should have a section to share product and customer reviews and ratings. This builds trust in the product and the supplier driving other prospective resellers to share these catalogues with their networks.
#14. Geotagging
You can create your meesho app slightly different by incorporating a feature that helps in localization of its market. The reseller can be specific in their search of products by filtering through regions. This helps return search results that are specific to that particular area.
#15. Offers &Discounts
Cashbacks, discounts, sales, offers is something that every reseller loves. Therefore, you must have a dedicated feature that highlights ongoing sales and promotions that drives more sales and revenue for both the reseller and the platform.
#16. Push Notifications
The reseller must be kept abreast of app updates, sales and promotions, new products, out of stock items, etc. All of this can be easily accomplished with the push notification feature. You can also send targeted alerts and messages to the users.
#17. In-app Chat
For any eCommerce business, having an in-app chat features helps resolve resellers queries instantly. Plus, it can also be an avenue for resellers and suppliers to connect. This can help them to bargain on price, discuss payment method or even schedule a meeting.
#18. Localizations
If you plan to extend your platform’s service across the country or even internationally, then you should definitely consider language support as a key feature on the application.
#19. Refer & Earn
Resellers when they start doing well will look for other avenues to augment their income. Having a refer and earn section can quest their thirst to add more resellers to the network which earning a nifty commission on the referral.
#20. Loyalty Program
Your resellers will stick to your app only if you have a loyalty program that keeps them coming back to your platform over and over again.
Apart from these standard features, you may consider integrating some advanced functionalities on the reseller front of your application.
#21. Image Recognition
Using advanced Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies, the image recognition functionality allows the reseller to take a picture of a specific item that they wish to sell, and the app automatically recognises it. The reseller is taken to the relevant category without having to go the entire browsing process at all.
#22. Virtual Try-on
Augmented reality is a booster in online shopping. This is a unique feature that resellers can use to try an article of clothing or accessory virtually before sharing it with their networks. If configured properly, this feature can help make your app the best buy and sell app in the reseller category.
#23. Style Boards
Creating personalised collections and style boards can be engaging and fun. This can potentially drive resellers to close more sales if they find specific items that really look trendy and attractive.
#24. Trendsetter Badges
Top resellers can be rewarded with interactive badges or incentivised in some unique manner. The desire to become a trendsetter can be so tempting that your resellers will be motivated to perform harder to be featured in the list of achievers on the app’s platform.
Features on the Seller or Supplier App
#1. Registration
Every seller or supplier that wishes to sell their products via the reseller application must also register on the platform. The process is the same as the Reseller app. Sellers need to register so they can list items for sale, set prices, and so on.
#2. Item Management
Sellers can list their items via the Item Management module. Here they can enter basic product details such as description, price, material, dimensions, delivery period, return policy, product images, etc.
#3. Inventory Management
This feature allows sellers to add, view, publish, and edit products on the marketplace as well as track product status effortlessly.
#4. Order Management
Sellers can process the order once the reseller has confirmed it on checkout and payment.
#5. Customer Reviews
The seller can view customer reviews and respond to them in an appropriate manner.
#6. Shop Statistics
Sellers can view real-time statistics and insights on how well their individual stores are performing on the app’s platform. They can check insights on which products are selling out, which items are lagging behind, any customer complaints, delivery updates, etc.
#7. Push Notifications
Sellers too need to be kept updated on what’s new with the application, proposed promotions, alerts, etc. Push notifications can come in handy here as well.
#8. In-app Chat
Sellers may have questions too. This can be quickly resolved by connecting them with the platform’s seller support department via the in-app chat facility. Plus, the in-app chat can act as the link that connects resellers with suppliers. They can schedule meetings via this channel.
Read Also : How to create an app like Bigbasket
Features on the Admin Panel
#1. Authorization via email or OTP
The administration approves upon verification user details like email address and mobile number that both the reseller and supplier use to create accounts on the application.
#2. Reseller Management
Every aspect of the reseller is managed by the administrator via a dedicated reseller management module on the admin panel.
#3. Seller or Supplier Management
Every aspect of the seller or supplier is managed by the administrator via a dedicated reseller management module on the admin panel.
#4. Product Management
While it is the seller that uploads all product related information, it is the admin’s role to verify the information before it goes live on the platform. Incorrect information can lead to potential reseller grievances and complaints.
#5. Order Management
Although the order is processed by the seller, the admin oversees the process and ensures that delivery happens on schedule. They also follow up with the seller in case there are significant delays in product despatch.
#6. Support Request Management
The admin moderates all support requests and shares them with the relevant departments for resolution.
#7. Analytics
Admins can see the whole picture of their reseller business.Real-time analytics enables them to keep track of and monitor vital information on the most viewed items, total sales/revenue, purchase patterns, users session times, etc.
Team Structure To Build a Reseller Marketplace App
Developing a reseller marketing app can be intimidating unless you are an experienced app developer yourself. Hence, you need the services of an experienced and specialist team of developers who can execute the project successfully.
The team for this project will look as follows:
- Project manager — 1
- Business Analyst – 1
- Backend developer — 1
- UI/UX designer — 1
- Dev/Ops – 1
- Android developers — 2
- QA engineer — 1
How Meesho Works–The Technology Stack
Now let’s review what technologies are used to create a reseller app like Meesho.
- Mobile Platform – Android, iOS
- Web – .Net, PHP, JS etc.
- Push Notifications – Twilio, Push.io
- SMS, Voice, and Phone Verification –Nexmo, Twilio
- Payments – Braintree & PayPal, Stripe, EWallets
- Database – MongoDB, Hbase, Cassandra, Postgres, MailChimp Integration
- Cloud Environment – AWS, Google, Azure
- Real-Time Analytics – Hadoop, Spark, BigData, Apache Flink, Cisco, IBM
Cost to Create a Marketplace App Like Meesho
A number of factors are taken into consideration that will help you to arrive at an approximate cost estimate to create a marketplace app like Meesho. These key parameters include:
- Features and their complexity
- Time
- App development company
- Location
Hourly rates for Developers from various countries
| Countries | Eastern Europe | U.S | UK | India |
| Cost per hour | $50-$150 | $80-$250 | $80-$255 | $20-$80 |
| Front End/Back End development | $8000-$10000 |
| UI/UX Design | $300-$9,500 |
| QA & Testing | $4000-$5000 |
| Wireframe | $700-$2500 |
The minimum that you can expect to spend on a project of this nature is $10-$80 per hour for Indian developers. Still, the development cost can depend on the platform, features, UI/UX design etc.
Monetization Model of Marketplace Apps
There are several ways by which you can choose to monetise your reseller app. Here are some avenues that can help generate revenue:
#1. Subscriptions/Membership Fees
While the initial signing up can be free of cost, has a membership fee structure or a subscription model in place for resellers to resell from the platform. This can be a nominal amount that can help them access more advanced features on the application.
#2. Insertion Fees
The application can charge a fee to the sellers or suppliers to list their items for sale on the application. If a seller lists their item in two categories, they pay the fee for both categories.
#3. Sponsored Listings
Sellers can pay for sponsored listings and can showcase their products right at the top of the category.
#4. Seller Fees
The marketplace app earns a commission on every item sold by their listed supplier via the app’s platform.
#5. Transaction Fees
The app earns a commission from the payment gateways whenever a transaction is completed at a percentage of the sale or at a fixed cost.
#6. In-app Advertisements
When the reseller app has garnered significant user traffic, the app can allow third-party advertising to be displayed at designated real estate on the platform. This promotional system allows sellers to attract users by offering them with individual offers and internal recommendations.
Read Also : How to create an app like Urbanclap
In Conclusion
To create a reseller app like Meesho is not that difficult in spite of it being technically complex. Everything depends on how well you ideate, strategize and then execute the project. If you start on the right note, you are already halfway to success!