IndiaMART restricts data access to block AI agents and scrapers
B2B platform IndiaMART has moved its content behind login walls to prevent unrestricted web scraping and shield its proprietary data from AI-powered search engines.
IndiaMART has restricted access to its platform's data, responding to the rise of AI-driven search agents that aggregate information from its listings. CEO Dinesh Agarwal stated that the company is willing to sacrifice a portion of its unique business inquiries to protect its competitive advantage, noting that AI tools now account for a significant share of search results.
During the second quarter of fiscal year 2027, IndiaMART reported 27 million unique business inquiries, a 14% decrease compared to the previous year. The decline is partially attributed to the company's decision to block third-party scraping. While the firm remains open to licensing redacted, non-personal data for AI training, it is strictly withholding retrieval access from external agents.
In tandem with these defensive measures, IndiaMART is testing new monetization strategies, including a paid, verified buyer program and credit facilitation services. However, management has ruled out transitioning to a full-fledged marketplace model, citing the operational complexities and previous failures with similar transactional platforms.