Beyond Paperwork: How the Government e-Marketplace is Revolutionizing Procurement

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a digital procurement portal for the Indian government. It provides a paperless and cashless system for government buyers to purchase products and services from a unified online infrastructure, bringing efficiency and transparency to the public procurement process.

What is GeM, and what was its purpose for being created?

GeM is a platform that connects buyers, sellers, and service providers in India to facilitate the procurement of public goods and services. Its purpose is to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and foster transparency in public procurement. It empowers sellers of diverse backgrounds, offering a one-stop shop in a contactless, cashless, and paperless ecosystem with timely online payments. Its features include inclusive empowerment of sellers, a seamless registration process, a dynamic goods and services platform, and diverse buying modes.

How much public savings has GeM enabled since its inception?

GeM has enabled more than INR 60,000 crore of public savings since its inception.

How has GeM transformed the public procurement ecosystem for India?

GeM has transformed the public procurement ecosystem of India by providing a world-class digital portal that facilitates end-to-end procurement of goods and services. It has created a paradigm shift in India’s public procurement landscape by extending the right capabilities, capacities, and functionalities to facilitate transparent and efficient buying and selling for government buyers and sellers. Implementing improved functionalities and new-age technologies has improved user experience, transparency, and inclusivity in the public procurement process. This has led to significant public savings while reducing costs, enhancing efficiency, and fostering transparency in procuring public goods and services.

What is Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)?

Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) refers to the total value of merchandise sold over a specific period, usually a year. GMV refers to the total value of products and services transacted through the GeM platform during a given period. By tracking GMV, GeM can measure the total transactional value of the goods and services purchased by buyers during a specific period, representing their contribution to the growth of the platform.

In 2021, the gross merchandise value of the e-retail sector in India was 55 billion U.S. dollars. The gross merchandise value of the e-retail market is likely to increase to 350 billion U.S. dollars in the year 2030.
(Source: Statista | https://www.statista.com/statistics/1295769/india-e-retail-market-gross-merchandise-value)