WILL OFFLINE RETAIL STRATEGY BY BIGBASKET HELP IT TO UPLIFT THE FALLING CUSTOMER BASE?

Authors

  • Saroja Asthana Mulshi Institute of Business Management, Pune, India
  • Ravi Chhabra Mulshi Institute of Business Management, Pune, India

Keywords:

Omnichannel strategy, customer retention, retail recovery, online-to-offline, grocery retail

Abstract

This case study investigates BigBasket's strategic shift toward offline retail channels as a response to declining customer base and increased competition in the online grocery sector. The research analyzes the rationale behind BigBasket's omnichannel expansion, examining how the company aims to leverage physical presence to complement its digital platform and recover market position. The study evaluates the effectiveness of BigBasket's offline initiatives including neighborhood stores, pickup points, and partnerships with traditional retailers in addressing customer acquisition and retention challenges. Through systematic analysis of customer behavior data, sales performance metrics, and market response indicators, the research assesses whether offline expansion can successfully reverse the declining customer trends. The case explores the operational challenges and opportunities associated with integrating offline and online channels, including inventory management, customer experience consistency, and cost optimization. The findings provide insights into the viability of omnichannel strategies for pure-play online retailers facing market saturation and competitive pressure. The study offers valuable lessons for e-commerce companies considering offline expansion as a growth and recovery strategy.

References

Economic Times. (2023). BigBasket’s customer base dips amid rising competition. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com

India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF). (2024). E-commerce and online grocery market in India. https://www.ibef.org

Verhoef, P. C., Kannan, P. K., & Inman, J. J. (2015). From multi-channel retailing to omni-channel retailing. Journal of Retailing, 91(2), 174–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretai.2015.02.005

Zhang, D., Wang, H., & Liu, X. (2020). Online-to-offline (O2O) strategies in e-commerce: Lessons from China. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 48(9), 933–952. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-01-2020-0012

Economic Times. (2023). BigBasket’s customer base dips amid rising competition. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Grimm, J. (2024). How attitudes and purchases differ between also online versus offline only grocery shoppers in online and offline grocery shopping. Electronic Commerce Research, 25, 1973–2009. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-024-09828-3

India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF). (2024). E-commerce and online grocery market in India. https://www.ibef.org

Kang, J., Majer, M., & Kim, H.-J. (2019). Empirical study of omnichannel purchasing pattern with real customer data from health and lifestyle company. Sustainability, 11(24), 7185. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247185

Kong, X., Çakır, M., & Li, Q. (2025). Growth of omnichannel grocery retailing and food prices. Agribusiness. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.22027

Neslin, S. A. (2022). The omnichannel continuum: Integrating online and offline channels along the customer journey. Journal of Retailing, 98(1), 111–132. https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jouret/v98y2022i1p111-132.html

Verhoef, P. C., Kannan, P. K., & Inman, J. J. (2015). From multi-channel retailing to omni-channel retailing. Journal of Retailing, 91(2), 174–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretai.2015.02.005

Downloads

Published

2025-11-27

How to Cite

WILL OFFLINE RETAIL STRATEGY BY BIGBASKET HELP IT TO UPLIFT THE FALLING CUSTOMER BASE?. (2025). Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Management for Peace and Harmony, 1(1), 184-189. https://proceedings.tiikmpublishing.com/index.php/icsmph/article/view/1837

Most read articles by the same author(s)