Top three service categories in the New Normal: Market study

A study undertaken by Sulekha.com, an AI-driven tech platform for expert services, has unveiled interesting trends and insights about the service categories that have seen an increase from JAS (July – September) to OND (October – December). This study is based on visits and searches by nearly 8,00,000 users across top 8 cities that landed on Sulekha through JAS (July – September) to OND (October – December).

Key findings of the study in the new normal

• The top 3 service categories that have seen a spike in online searches include domestic help services, placement consultancies and competitive exam coaching.
• Owing to the pandemic, increasingly people are working from home, which is clearly indicated by the rise in demand for Internet service providers and domestic help services.
• Comparing the growth in online searches for service categories from July – September 2020 and October – December 2020, the services grew by 95% for the top 8 cities.
• The top 5 cities that are leading in online searches across service categories include: Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai followed by Hyderabad and Chennai.
• In Delhi, the top 3 services that are leading include: domestic help services, placement consultancies and job training. These services have grown by 84% quarter on quarter (JAS quarter vs OND quarter).
• In Bangalore, the top 3 services that are leading include: Placement consultancies and domestic help services and paying guests. These services have grown by 120% quarter on quarter (JAS quarter vs OND quarter).
• In Mumbai, the top 3 services that are leading include: Placement consultancies, job training and vehicle rentals. These services have grown by 120% quarter on quarter (JAS quarter vs OND quarter).
• In Hyderabad, the top 3 services that are leading include: Domestic help services, vehicle rentals and placement consultancies. These services have grown by 128% quarter on quarter (JAS quarter vs OND quarter).
• In Chennai, the top 3 services that are leading include: Paying guests, domestic help services and placement consultancies. These services have grown by 75% quarter on quarter (JAS quarter vs OND quarter).

Satya Prabhakar, founder and CEO, Sulekha.com, said: “According to CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy), 5.5 lakh Indians lost their jobs in October 2020. This is reflected in our study wherein we have witnessed continuous increase in online searches for service categories such as Placement Consultancies and Job Training. Interestingly, the number of people searching for vehicle rentals has also increased – as the unlock period progresses further.”