Team Herald
MARGAO: Despite functioning alongside several unresolved issues over the past few decades, Margao's New Market owned by the Municipality has now become Goa’s first digital market.
On Goa's Liberation Day, the LagiKon app and website, a hyper local business directory for Goa, was launched at Margao, leaving vendors delighted and hopeful that a digital presence would help them attract more and more customers from across the State.
The app was launched by Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar in the presence of the councillors of the civic body on Monday.
The Lagikon app and website eventually aims to enlist each and every business in the State with special emphasis on small-time businesses in rural areas. The name of the app literally translates to “Who’s around nearby?” in Konkani.
Hundreds of shops selling diverse products and services in the New Municipal Market are now available on the LagiKon app and website, making it possible for the vendors to tap into a new demographic of customers.
Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar thanked the promoters of the app for launching the ‘unique initiative’ at Goa’s commercial capital, Margao.
“The LagiKon app and website will help small business owners immensely, to improve their customer base and at the same time benefit customers by helping them find the products they require at the nearest shops,” he said.
Margao New Market Traders Association President Vinod Shirodkar said that the Margao market is one of the oldest markets of Goa and the complete digitisation of this market will help attract new customers, and also help increase convenience for shoppers, allowing them to check the availability of the products they need before-hand and plan their shopping trips better.
“This compact market sells a wide range of products, especially some exclusive and typical home-made Goan products. This app will help people across Goa and also tourists visiting the State to learn more about the unique products available here,” he added.
While explaining the objective of this initiative, the promoter of the app, Niraj Naik said, “We want to connect customers with the businesses in their vicinity. The objective of the initiative is to bring each and every business operating in the remotest part of Goa on this app and help them take advantage of Information Technology to grow their businesses. This app will also contain other useful data on tourist attractions, social infrastructure, etc.”
Milind Prabhu, the CEO of Genora Infotech, the IT company which developed the app and website, said, “LagiKon is a dear project to us, and has been specially developed for the Goan customer base and it gives us immense satisfaction to be part of the development team.”