Flipkart sets out to be more mobile-centric in next 2 years

The e-commerce giant wants to use artificial intelligence and social networks for the purpose

E-commerce giant Flipkart will become more mobile-centric in the next two years through adoption of newer technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and social networks, its Chief Product Officer Punit Soni said today.

He said heavy discount on online purchase may not earn consumer loyalty and help build user base in the long run.

"In the next two years, Flipkart will become a very mobile-centric company. It will probably build two or three things based on some of the things you talked about like data and social (network) that will actually allow people to connect even more deeply," Soni said on the sidelines of the Leadership Summit organised by the Indian School of Business.

The company has already made a beginning in adopting newer and advanced technologies to become more user-friendly and is gearing up to meet demand of the ever-growing mobile phone user base in India.

"In India, you have probably 20 odd millions of laptops, but one billion are using mobiles... I have to worry about that billion people who will use the phone to buy stuff," he said.

To a query on heavy discounts being offered by e-commerce portals using the funds by venture capitalists, he said finally only those companies which have and offer real value to consumers will survive.

"At some point, it (PE funds) will dry up. Those who will have real value will stand in the market. If I have really something to offer beyond those discounts, you will stay with me... The race is not actually to use discounts to get us as many users as possible. The race is to build something people would love even if I did not give discounts," he explained.

Soni, however, refused to divulge when the Flipkart expects break-even in its operations and said the immediate focus is to build a better user experience.