Voice-First AI ERP for Nano Businesses, Built in Bharat for the World

In an exclusive conversation with SMEStreet, Harish Chandra, Founder of SarvM.AI, shares his journey of building a multilingual, voice-enabled ERP designed to empower nano sellers and rural buyers. From grassroots experiences to global pilots, SarvM.AI is shaping the future of inclusive digital commerce.

Early Inspirations Behind SarvM.AI

Q1. What key experiences or primary inspirations led to the establishment of SarvM.AI in 2022?

Harish Chandra: SarvM.AI’s story began at my family’s fruit and vegetable shop, where I first learned lessons of trust, resilience, and dignity. Between 2017 and 2022, I conducted ground-level research with over 2,000 sellers across 19 regions. It became evident that most digital platforms excluded them due to language, literacy, and access barriers. This insight led to the launch of SarvM.AI in 2022—a voice-enabled, multilingual omni-commerce ERP that empowers nano sellers and rural buyers. With features like voice-first cataloging and affordable ERP tools, we aim to unlock ecommerce aspirations for the next billion users.

The Philosophy of “For Global, From Bharat”

Q2. SarvM.AI positions itself as “For Global, From Bharat.” How does this philosophy shape your product design and strategy?

Harish Chandra: India’s diversity became our innovation blueprint. We designed SarvM.AI as voice-first and multilingual, scaling across 3,000+ languages, offline-first for low-resource environments, and trust-based UX inspired by grassroots commerce. Our go-to-market is also global-first—integrating with platforms like WhatsApp and Shopify, while testing rigorously in India before scaling to other Global South markets. This approach ensures inclusivity at home while building infrastructure relevant worldwide.

India’s $300 Billion Nano Business Ecosystem

Q3. With India’s nano business ecosystem valued at $300 billion, where do you see the biggest opportunities for MSMEs in the next five years?

Harish Chandra: India has 63 million nano and micro enterprises—largely invisible in policy and digital infrastructure. The next five years present opportunities in:

• Voice-first, multilingual platforms lowering entry barriers.

• Modular, affordable ERP tools for micro enterprises.

• Cross-border commerce powered by AI.
  Policy must evolve to redefine MSME tiers and tailor schemes for nano digitization. SarvM.AI stands at this intersection, creating technology and shaping data-driven policies for inclusive growth.

Bridging the Gap Between Nano Businesses and MSMEs

Q4. How is SarvM.AI bridging the gap between nano businesses and the larger SME/MSME economy?

Harish Chandra: We enable B2B purchase digitization for nano sellers—better pricing, bulk discounts, and automated GST records. Through voice-first cataloging, multilingual ERP, and APIs connecting to suppliers and platforms, nano sellers achieve parity with bigger players. Ultimately, we’re building a ladder from nano to SME, fostering a circular economy of trust and scale.

Q5. How does SarvM.AI’s buyer-centric VoiceERP model deliver profitability for small sellers?

Harish Chandra: By making the buyer experience seamless—voice-based ordering, regional languages, and community-led onboarding—we drive organic seller adoption. On the seller side, VoiceERP provides inventory sync, GST automation, and CRM at minimal cost. The results are tangible: increased order frequency, lower acquisition costs, reduced waste, and stronger buyer relationships.

Q6. With pilots in India and operations in five countries, what is your vision for global scale?

Harish Chandra: We follow a three-phase strategy:

1. Deep alpha pilots across Indian cities.

2. Digital-first onboarding via WhatsApp, voice flows, and AI agents.

3. Global pilots in Indonesia, Thailand, and Costa Rica, selected for their high nano-seller density.
   The foundation lies in affordability, modular ERP, and community-led trust. We’re not just exporting tech, but India’s empathy-driven design logic.

Q7. What were the biggest challenges in building a multilingual, voice-enabled ERP, and how did you overcome them?

Harish Chandra: Technically, we tackled phonetic mapping across dialects, optimized AI for speed, and balanced affordability. Adoption was harder—we had to pivot from seller-first to buyer-led engagement. Remote onboarding through AI, intuitive voice flows, and regional trust features proved critical. After 15+ iterations, we created an ERP that balances inclusivity, affordability, and scalability.

Zero Commission & Multilingual AI: Driving Inclusion and Retention

Q8. How do SarvM.AI’s zero-commission model and multilingual AI contribute to inclusivity and retention?

Harish Chandra: Sellers run on razor-thin margins; even 5–10% commissions are unsustainable. Our 0% commission model ensures affordability and trust. Combined with multilingual AI that understands accents and dialects, sellers gain confidence and buyers feel included. Add to this affordable subscriptions, zero onboarding fees, and accuracy-tested flows—together they drive long-term loyalty.

Q9. How do you plan to capture market share while keeping affordability central?

Harish Chandra: We avoid capital burn. Instead, we rely on buyer-first acquisition, community-driven expansion, and AI-led automation. Our focus is on low-literacy, low-bandwidth environments, with “jugaad-driven” innovations keeping costs lean. By solving buyer needs first, automating seller workflows, and minimizing CAC, SarvM.AI scales inclusively and sustainably.

Q10. SarvM.AI was recognized for “Best Use of AI for Social Equity & Inclusion.” How do awards and partnerships fuel your growth?

Harish Chandra: Such recognition validates our mission and boosts trust. Partnerships with StartUp India, GINSERV, Google Cloud, AWS, and foundations provide mentorship, incubation, and credits. These reduce costs and accelerate scale. Even during funding winters, these collaborations show that inclusive tech can be both resilient and globally relevant.

Q11. Finally, what does success look like for you and SarvM.AI in the next five years?

Harish Chandra: For me, success means dignity restored and opportunities created for a billion families—not vanity metrics. For SarvM.AI, the vision is to become the digital backbone for grassroots commerce, reaching 100 million+ families, enabling 3 million+ nano businesses, and expanding to 15+ countries. By proving inclusion and profitability can coexist, we aim to transform SarvM.AI from a startup into a movement for the next billion.