How Shops by SundayPyjamas Onboarded 50+ Local Businesses with No-Code E-commerce
See how a rapid-response SaaS solution helped small businesses go digital, enabling fast store setup and community resilience during a critical time.
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Store Setup Time
Local Businesses Onboarded
Operational Cost
Pandemic Response
The Core Challenge
Following the pandemic outbreak, buying essential goods from neighborhood stores turned challenging. Owners of smaller establishments faced difficulties as buyers were reluctant to step inside. Shops by SundayPyjamas emerged to help small business owners enter the digital realm affordably and with minimal technical hurdles.
Digital Accessibility: Many shopkeepers new to online tools and hesitant about complex platforms.
Consumer Behavior Shift: Customers wary of physical shopping, preferring online alternatives.
Affordability & Simplicity Gap: Existing e-commerce solutions too complex or expensive.
Operational Hurdles: Managing inventory, deliveries, and payments digitally was new for many.
Key Question
"How can we make accepting and fulfilling orders easy for store owners, so that they can operate and grow safely during the pandemic and beyond?"
Industry
E-commerce
Project Type
SaaS Platform
Timeline
6 months (Dec 2020 - May 2021)
Team
Prathamesh Patel, Nishi Panchal, Sagar Agrawal, Bhavin Patel
The Solution: Shops by SundayPyjamas
Key Platform Features
Shops by SundayPyjamas is a DIY e-commerce platform enabling anyone to launch a digital store in less than 15 minutes.
- User-Friendly Storefronts: Rich product displays and easy navigation.
- Seamless WhatsApp Integration: For orders, communication, and support.
- Comprehensive Inventory Management: To keep track of stock levels effortlessly.
- Built-in Marketing Tools: Promote stores using unique URLs and other features.
- Efficient Order Placement & Tracking: For both customers and store owners.
- Integrated Delivery Management System: Streamlining the fulfillment process.
No-Code Agility & Smart Solutions
We embraced a no-code development strategy with Bubble.io for rapid delivery and scalability, complemented by smart technical solutions.
Why Bubble.io?
- Rapid Prototyping and Deployment: Quick iterations based on user feedback.
- Seamless Backend Integration: Focused on core application functionality.
- Customization Flexibility: Tailored UI and functionalities.
Addressing Technical Challenges:
A centralized, branded product master database accessible via API enabled shop owners to efficiently add products, ensuring data consistency and reducing manual input.
Actionable Analytics:
Leveraged Google Analytics to provide merchants with insights into storefront behavior for data-driven decisions.
Client Testimonial
Mahesh Sindhal, Ashok Pan House
""We're all about serving up delicious food. The pandemic made us realize how much people needed us, so we're stoked about anything that makes things easier for our customers. This platform is awesome! Thanks for helping us out."
Services Used
The Design Journey: User-Centric & Iterative
Phase 01 – Discovery & Empathy (Research)
We kicked off with over 30 discovery interviews involving shopkeepers and consumers across 5 localities in Ahmedabad. This groundwork was crucial for unearthing genuine pain points and needs.
Key Insights Uncovered:
- Informal WhatsApp usage for orders was prevalent.
- Inventory management was largely manual, often paper-based.
- Significant apprehension towards the perceived complexity of digital storefronts.
Phase 02 – Ideation, User Flows & Prototyping
Armed with insights, we meticulously designed user flows, wireframes, and prototypes. The carousel above showcases some of the high-fidelity prototypes.
User Flows:
Tailored for two primary groups: Business Owners (inventory, order processing, promotions) and Shoppers (intuitive browsing, frictionless checkout).
Wireframing & High-Fidelity Prototyping:
User flows guided wireframe sketches, leading to interactive prototypes for core features like onboarding, product management, and the marketplace.
Phase 03 – Real-World User Testing & Iteration
The platform was rigorously tested with real businesses, and their feedback was instrumental.
Key Learnings & Feedback:
- WhatsApp-First Approach: Users loved the convenience of communicating and transacting via WhatsApp.
- Simplified Checkout: Streamlined process inspired by Amazon's efficiency was well-received.
- Intuitive Interface: Users found the platform's design intuitive and easy to navigate.
- Analytics for Growth: Business owners actively used Google Analytics data for strategic planning.
Technical Blueprint & Approach
No-Code Agility with Bubble.io
Bubble.io's visual development environment facilitated rapid prototyping, quick iterations based on real-time user feedback, and seamless backend integration, allowing focus on core functionality.
Smart Solutions: Centralized Product Master
To manage dynamic product data and ease product entry, we implemented a centralized, branded product master database accessible via API, ensuring data consistency and reducing manual input.
Actionable Analytics via Google Analytics
Leveraged Google Analytics to provide merchants with insights into storefront behavior, empowering data-driven decisions for promotions and product placement.
Outcomes & Final Thoughts: From Challenge to Y Combinator
Shops by SundayPyjamas successfully transitioned from a rapid-response concept to a robust, impactful SaaS product, making a real difference for local businesses during the pandemic and beyond.
Idea to SaaS in 6 months
50+ local businesses onboarded
Ramen profitable in 7 months
Applied to Y Combinator
Tech & Tools Used
Learning from our users who launched their stores using our platform was truly life-changing. It pushed us to deeply understand the impact of our features and our product in solving a real-world problem.
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