Product and Service Listing on the GeM Portal: Stepwise process

Introduction

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is India's flagship digital procurement platform, designed to bring transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity to the procurement process. GeM offers businesses a vast market of government buyers for their products and services. You will learn about the benefits of listing your offerings on GeM, as well as the requirements and best practices for doing so.

Understanding on GeM

GeM stands for Government e-Marketplace, introduced in 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce. On this online platform the government departments buy the required goods. GeM registration plays an important role for MSMEs, where they get an opportunity to sell their products and make massive income from the government side. In a particular category whether it is the central government, state government, public undertaking (PSU) or other departments and agencies, purchasing through this GeM platform is mandatory.

Benefits of Listing on GeM

Product and service listings on GeM provide several benefits to the seller and government buyers as well. Some of the benefits are as follow:

• Access to Government Buyers: Sellers may connect with a broad category of the government department and related agencies which helps to open new business opportunities in the marketplace.
• Ease of Doing Business: This GeM platform provides a user-friendly dashboard, transparent transactions with minimal documentations, making the process more efficient.
• Increased Credibility: By getting GeM certification, the sellers can boost their trust among the buyers and enhance business reputations.
• Standardized Procurement: During the GeM registration, the product quality standards matter a lot, therefore it is the main preference. However, government buyers benefit from quality and cost-effective procurement processes.
• Timer Saver: This GeM portal also ensures faster transactions which helps to save time of buyers and sellers as well which can be used in some other productiveness.
• Variety and Comparison: Multiple suppliers provide better decision-making opportunities through competitive pricing and variety of products.

Prerequisites for Listing

There are some requirements before listing the product and service on Gem, ensure you have the following:-

• Business Registration (For this registration you must have the GST, PAN and Udhayam Registration certificate)
• Bank Account Details
• DSC (Digital Signature Certificate)
• Compliances Certification ( It depends on the category of product and services such as BIS, ISO, etc.)
• Details of Product and Services, such as price, specification and images.

Stepwise process for Product and Services Listing

The complete stepwise process for product and services listing on GeM is as follow:

• Step 1: Register as a Seller on GeM

  At the initial stage, before listing the product on Gem, the seller must register themself here. For this visit to the GeM official portal - https://gem.gov.in/ and register by using PAN and Aadhaar. Then an OTP will come on your mail or number for the verification acknowledgement.

• Step 2: Complete Your Business Profile

  After the above mentioned step, login to the seller dashboard and fill out all the necessary details such as business address, bank account details, MSME registration and other necessary documents if required. Once the department verified, your GeM account will be activated.

• Step 3: Add products and Services

  Go to the “Catalog Management” section and click on the “Add New Product” or “Add New Service” as per your business type or requirement. Then fill these following details:

  • Title: Give the clear and concise name of the product and service.
  • Description: Here you may give the specification, features and benefits of the product or services.
  • Price: mention the competitive pricing without exceeding MRP.
  • Images: upload clear images of the products that meet GeM guidelines.

  Then save and submit the listing.

• Step 4: Approval Process

  Once the listing has been done the GeM authority reviews these listings. If the product and services are approved by the department it will become live. But if there are any changes required, the seller will be notified for the corrections.

• Step 5: Vendor Assessment (If Required)

  Some of the products and services require a Vendor Assessment that ensures the quality and compliances. This assessment can be done by two method select accordingly -

  • Desk Assessment - Only documents submission and verification needed in the desk assessment. Third party agencies such as RITES review these documents by financial and quality certification levels to assure the compliances. If there are any discrepancies found, resubmission can be conducted.
  • Video Assessment - This is a live or remote inspection that is conducted by a mobile application to check the authenticity of the seller’s operational infractures. Manufacturing facilities, service infrastructure and warehouse and other setups are inspected via these video calls.

Best Practices for Successful Listing

Here is the best practices for successful listing mentioned below:

• It is very essential to provide accurate information about the product and services which the seller is planning to list. It helps to avoid misunderstanding and build trust among the government buyers.
• Upload or use high quality images that showcase your products or services effectively. This visual representation enhances the buyer's confidence and makes their choice more clear from the competitive one.
• Your products or services should be priced reasonably and competitively. Fair pricing can increase your chances of winning government contracts, while overpricing can deter buyers.
• You should regularly update and maintain certifications required for your product categories. Maintaining compliance with GeM's standards ensures your eligibility for procurement.

Why Bizfoc?

There are many reasons that make your Bizfoc choice for GeM Registration worthy. Such as -

• Expert Guidance: Our team of experienced Chartered Accountants will assist you with the GeM registration process, ensuring that you navigate complexity with ease.
• Customized Solutions: Whether you're a startup, MSME, OEM, or service provider, Bizfoc tailors its services to your specific business needs.
• Transparent Process: Transparency is a main priority for Bizfoc, which assures that clients are aware of all costs, deadlines, and needs.

Conclusion

Product and Service listing on GeM Portal is not just an opportunity but also a necessity for those businesses who are looking to make an engagement with government buyers. These stepwise procedures (mentioned above) and adopting the best practices, the seller can enhance the chances of success. Make your registration process simpler by working with an expert team like Bizfoc, which guarantees a seamless and legal registration procedure that optimizes GeM's advantages.

Frequently Asked Questions