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At the 'Digikala Traders, Pioneers of Black Friday Marathon' event, Saeed Mohammadi, co-founder and CEO of the Digikala Group, emphasized the essential role sellers play in the company's marketplace model. He announced new initiatives where artificial intelligence will have a significant impact on Iran's e-commerce sector. These projects include smart pricing systems and demand forecasting tools to help sellers manage inventory more effectively.
During his speech, Mohammadi reflected on Digikala's nearly two-decade journey. He stated, 'Digikala today would be meaningless without its sellers. The backbone of this business comprises over 500,000 sellers operating across various categories, including digital goods, cultural products, and consumer items.' He highlighted this extensive collaboration as a sign of both platform growth and the maturity of Iran's digital commerce ecosystem.
Resilience of Sellers in Challenging Times
Mohammadi acknowledged the resilience of sellers during the economic fluctuations of 1403 (2023-2024). He praised their perseverance, describing it as 'self-sacrifice and faith in the entrepreneurial journey.' Despite facing obstacles such as supply chain disruptions, currency fluctuations, and logistical challenges, many sellers remained committed to Digikala. This resilience, he said, has fueled the marketplace's dynamism. Mohammadi added, 'Resilience and maintaining faith in your business require courage. This is something we have learned from our sellers.'
AI-Powered Tools for Smarter Decisions
Highlighting Digikala's plans for infrastructure transformation, Mohammadi revealed prioritized projects aimed at improving supply chain and logistics. He also underscored the role of artificial intelligence in shaping Iran's digital commerce future. Projects like 'smart pricing' and 'demand forecasting' have been on the company's agenda since last year.
These AI-driven initiatives are designed to provide sellers with advanced analytical tools for optimizing inventory and pricing based on precise data. Sellers will have access to demand predictions for each product within specific timeframes via their dashboards. Mohammadi explained, 'This means making informed decisions based on data rather than guesswork. It leads to better sales and optimal inventory management.'
New Collaboration with Digipay
In another announcement, Mohammadi introduced a partnership between Digikala and Digipay called 'Shopping with Digikala.' This model enables sellers with independent websites to integrate their payment and checkout processes using Digikala's trusted infrastructure. Customers can enjoy a secure and reliable shopping experience on these websites similar to that offered by Digikala.
Future Plans for Regional Expansion
Mohammadi concluded by emphasizing Digikala's focus on addressing marketplace challenges such as logistics and financial settlements. He said, 'Many issues have been resolved, and those remaining are being addressed. However, the complexities are greater than they may appear from the outside.' He indicated that Digikala is moving from survival and competition stages to technological maturity and regional growth. If successful, this progress could position Iran prominently in Middle Eastern e-commerce.
