How an in-house e-commerce platform has revolutionised government procurement

Few notions among those who do business in India are perhaps as pervasive and deeply held as the one about doing business with the government. It’s a bit like a visit to the dentist — best avoided, but if you must, then pain and unpleasantness can’t be escaped. Complex procurement norms, bureaucratic hurdles, nepotism and delayed payments make it an affair that requires grit.

Entrepreneur Shweta Sharma, 27, harboured similar notions, too. Started by three college friends in 2016, her startup Leaf Era sells moringa leaf tea and extracts. They started retailing on Amazon and Flipkart and now exports to Hong Kong. Late last year, her entrepreneur father, who runs a sanitary fittings business, suggested something that made her raise her eyebrows. Start selling on GeM, or the Government e-Marketplace (gem.gov.in), he said. Doing business with the government has become easier and safer, with timely payment and few logistical hassles. Sharma was sceptical.