Online Shopping

Indian consumers are losing an estimated Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 28,000 crore annually due to deceptive interface designs, commonly known as dark patterns, across online marketplaces, according to a report. The 'Dark Patterns in India's Online Marketplaces' report, released by market research firm Datum Intelligence on Tuesday, said 88 per cent of the country's 304 million online buyers lose approximately Rs 78 to Rs 87 per month each to hidden charges, forced add-ons, drip pricing, false urgency rules and subscription traps. "Existing regulatory interventions have so far had limited success in curbing deceptive digital practices that continue to impact millions of consumers," the report noted. The survey found that 63 per cent of online payment users now experience hidden charges or drip pricing-where additional fees are revealed at the checkout stage. This marks an increase from the 52 per cent reported in 2024. Furthermore, 73 per cent of the platforms assessed deploy forced actio

From 'Amazon finds' to under-₹500 reels, short-form videos are reshaping how users discover, buy online

The platform is moving beyond offers-led commerce with gamified shopping and personalised discovery aimed at Gen Z and smaller cities

The Finance Ministry is discussing with states possible simplification of GST registration norms for dark stores and warehouses amid rapid quick commerce expansion

The fashion retailer aims to bring 1 million creators into its affiliate ecosystem as creator-led commerce contributes a growing share of sales

Consumers adopt tools to monitor the very brands that track them. It's a double-edged opportunity for brands as consumers expect greater transparency

Google has rolled out an update to its AI shopping experience, enabling users to complete purchases directly within Search AI Mode and the Gemini app, without being redirected to retailer websites

Move targets early-stage Indian fashion, beauty and lifestyle sellers seeking to scale beyond their own websites and social media

Milan Partani to take expanded role over unified commerce platform, merging growth, content and business teams.

AI adoption was highest in India among those surveyed, with 41 per cent consumers using AI shopping tools and 40 per cent planning to use them in the future

The top three platforms, Blinkit (45 per cent share), Swiggy Instamart (25 per cent share) and Zepto (23 per cent), together have about 90 per cent market share

Perplexity has launched its conversational shopping assistant with guided product discovery and PayPal-powered checkout, competing with tools from Google and OpenAI

OpenAI has introduced Shopping Research in ChatGPT to help users make informed buying decisions through personalised guides, real-time insights and detailed comparisons

A new EU study found most toys sold on major online platforms are unsafe, with toxic materials and choking risks, raising questions about weak checks and gaps in rules for foreign sellers

As online orders and returns surge during the festive season, logistics firms like Shiprocket, Prozo, and Zippie are turning to smarter routing, automation, and network optimisation

E-commerce firm steps up drive toward a fully electric last-mile network by 2030, launching pilot for long-haul EV trucks on key routes

Southeast Asia's digital economy is set to grow 15% in 2025, led by a boom in video-based shopping and AI tools that are changing how people buy fashion, beauty, food and travel services online

India's online shopping habits are becoming less reliant on festive periods, although mobiles and electronics continue to dominate the September-October sales spike, according to a study by consulting firm Redseer. The country's online retail sector is gradually moving towards a more balanced, year-round demand curve. However, categories like mobiles and electronics remain highly reliant on the annual festive surge, making them the riskiest to manage operationally, the report said. "India's online retail landscape is evolving towards a more balanced demand curve, but Mobiles and Electronics still dictate the rhythm of the festive season. "Mobiles have the most dramatic swing, with a Seasonality Index Difference of 1.7. Electronics follows closely with a difference of 1.3. Both peak sharply in September-October, with Mobiles reaching a monthly index close to 2.3 and Electronics nearing 2.0. This heavy reliance on the festive season confirms their demand is highly concentrated," Redse

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quietly remaking how companies set prices. Not only do prices shift with demand (dynamic pricing), but firms are increasingly tailoring prices to individual customers

Platform records 2.76 billion visits during month-long sale as premium products and same-day delivery expand beyond metros