A recent report by Meta has revealed a major shift in India’s retail landscape, with nearly 80% of shoppers using social media to discover products.
The study highlights Meta’s growing role in the entire retail process, from product discovery to purchase.
The findings are based on a survey of over 2,500 internet users aged between 16 and 64 years.
Meta’s dominance in India’s retail landscape
The India Retail Purchase Journey report highlights that a whopping 96% of product discovery on social media happens through Meta’s platforms, Facebook and Instagram.
This shows how much influence these platforms have over Indian consumers when it comes to finding products.
The study covers various retail categories from electronics to fashion, luxury goods, and groceries.
‘Showrooming’ trend on the rise
The report also shows that even in-store buyers are turning to social media for product discovery.
Facebook and Instagram are now preferred over physical store browsing as discovery platforms, particularly for high-involvement segments like electronics.
The trend called “showrooming” is also evident in luxury jewellery, where consumers research products online before buying them in-store.
Traditional retail still dominates in certain categories
Meta’s report also points out that occasions like Karva Chauth and Valentine’s Day still drive footfall, even as digital engagement grows.
The study shows that while more shoppers are getting comfortable with online buying, traditional retail continues to dominate in certain categories.