MAM
Meesho to strengthen its presence in the regional markets
Mumbai: The fastest growing internet commerce platform, Meesho, has announced the addition of eight new vernacular languages to its platform in line with its mission to democratise internet commerce for everyone.
The move comes just ahead of the festive season, when millions of users from all corners of the country are expected to transact on the platform.
These additional languages are Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia. Meesho customers can now select their preferred language for accessing account and product information, placing and tracking orders, and making payments on Android phones.
To ensure an accurate and authentic experience in these new languages, Meesho derived key insights from user research and worked closely with expert linguists. The team chose commonly used words over full translation to mirror everyday language and make the shopping experience seamless. For example, the literal translation for the word “required” in Hindi is “anivarya,” but “zaroori” is more widely understood. In total, around 33,000 English words were translated into each of these eight languages.
Last year, Meesho introduced Hindi as a language option on the platform, which has seen a high adoption rate of 20 per cent so far.
The majority of Meesho customers come from tier 2+ cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Jamshedpur and non-Hindi-speaking states, where English or Hindi may not always be the language of choice. Hence, this latest initiative will boost Meesho’s adoption in these areas and further simplify the online shopping experience for millions of customers.
Speaking on of the development, Meesho founder and CTO Sanjeev Barnwal said, “It is important to note that 50 per cent of our users are new to e-commerce and have probably never transacted on such platforms before. By introducing vernacular languages on the platform, Meesho aims to eliminate language barriers. This is a natural step in our journey to becoming the single shopping destination for the next billion users in India. Our teams have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the platform is 100 per cent accurate and relevant in all these 8 vernacular languages.”
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
