E-commerce Industry

Top 26 e-commerce platforms declare themselves free of dark patterns: Govt

The government on Thursday said 26 leading e-commerce companies have self-declared that their platforms are free from dark patterns. Zepto, Zomato, Swiggy, Jiomart and BigBasket are among these 26 e-commerce platforms. This is a significant step towards protecting consumer interest in the digital marketplace, the Department of Consumer Affairs said in a statement. As many as 26 leading e-commerce platforms have voluntarily submitted self-declaration letters confirming compliance with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, it added. The Department has been making efforts to curb deceptive online design practices that mislead or manipulate consumers. These 26 e-commerce players have conducted internal self-audits or third-party audits to identify, assess and eliminate any presence of dark patterns. "All 26 companies have declared that their platforms are free from dark patterns and do not deploy any manipulative user interface designs," the statement .

Premium products, fast deliveries fuel ecommerce boom during Diwali

Amazon, Flipkart, Instamart, Zepto report sales surge across smartphones, gold coins

A new playbook: Startups go vertical in India's quick commerce race

Investors say that specialised vertical players can offer better availability and domain-specific expertise

Festival season e-commerce sales jump higher as GST cuts boost demand

Consumer behaviour this season reflects a bullish sentiment, fuelled by GST-enabled price reductions that have lowered costs in high-ticket categories such as electronics and pushed festive demand up 23-25 per cent across metropolitan and emerging markets. The GST reforms, effective from September 22 -- the first day of Navratri --reduced tax rates in several high-demand categories, including large-screen TVs, mid-range fashion and furniture, providing direct price benefits to consumers. These changes have not only lowered retail prices but also encouraged shoppers to look beyond tactical discount-hunting towards more aspirational purchases, lifting participation from tier 2 and tier 3 cities and stimulating growth in discretionary spending. According to market research firm Redseer, the reduction of GST on large TVs from 28 to 18 per cent led to a 6-8 per cent fall in retail prices, boosting demand for premium models. Fashion items priced below Rs 2,500 now attract just 5 per cent

Amazon doubles same, next-day deliveries in Assam amid rising demand

E-commerce major Amazon said it has doubled its product deliveries in the same and next day categories in Assam, while also registering an increase in demand for premium products. More than 10,000 sellers from Assam have also benefited through Amazon, reaching out to customers across the country, a company official said. "Amazon India is gearing up to meet rising customer demand in Assam, especially Guwahati, bringing customers unmatched value, speed and selection," Pallavi Singh, senior manager, Amazon Prime India, said here. She said this festive season, premium products in the Amazon fashion and beauty categories are being preferred by customers in Guwahati. "Watches and luxury beauty are seeing a 30 per cent year-on-year growth, driven by demand for metal strap digital and analog watches and moisture-rich beauty products. Demand for jewellery in Assam is also on the rise, growing 20 per cent year-on-year, with traditional Assamese designs continuing to be a customer favourite,"

Amazon expands 10-minute delivery service in quick-commerce push

E-commerce giant opens over 100 micro-fulfillment centers across three Indian cities to compete with local rivals Blinkit and Zepto in fast-growing instant delivery market

PhonePe signs pact with Sidbi to enable digital Udyam Assist registration

Fintech major PhonePe on Wednesday signed an MoU with SIDBI to offer an end-to-end digital solution through the Udyam Assist Platform (UAP) to empower micro enterprises and merchants. The collaboration aims to formalise Informal Micro Enterprises (IMEs) across India by providing them with digital-first Udyam Assist registration, which enables them to access benefits including government schemes, credit facilities, and the broader digital payments ecosystem. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Jitan Ram Manjhi. "Our partnership with SIDBI will unlock access to government schemes, credit facilities, and crucial benefits for MSMEs and will help contribute to India's economic vision. Through PhonePe's user-friendly and efficient, end-to-end digital solution, we're not just facilitating registration, we are translating the vision of empowering small and micro businesses into a seamless digital reality," PhonePe Pending CEO Hemant

Amazon boosts festive delivery with 12 fulfilment, 6 new sort centres

E-commerce giant Amazon on Thursday announced the launch of 12 new fulfilment centres (smart warehouses) and half a dozen new sort centres -- its network expansion aimed at bolstering delivery capabilities in the festive season. The expansion adds a combined 8.6 million cubic feet of incremental storage capacity, it said citing an analogy of it being equivalent of 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools. "Ahead of the upcoming festive season, Amazon today announced a major expansion of its operations network with the launch of 12 new fulfillment centers (FCs) and expansion of 6 FCs," Amazon said in a release. The expansion brings the first Amazon fulfillment center to five cities including Hooghly, Tiruvallur, Krishnagiri, Visakhapatnam and Hubballi. The company also announced the launch of six new sort centres (SCs) in Hubli, Trivandrum, Rajpura, Gorakhpur, Moradabad and Prayagraj with a combined area of 500000 sq. feet, it informed. Explaining the rationale, Amazon said the expansion wi

Flipkart Minutes bullish on festive demand as quick-commerce uptake rises

Flipkart Minutes, the quick-commerce service of Walmart-owned Flipkart, on Monday said it is upbeat about the festive season prospects, after witnessing strong buying sentiments during Raksha Bandhan, Independence Day sales, and Janmashtami, as customers increasingly lean on instant deliveries amid festivities and celebrations. The platform, which marked one year of operations, said it has recorded 50 per cent month-on-month growth, clocked over 50 million unique visitors since its launch in August 2024. Flipkart Minutes said it is doubling order volumes every 45 days, and is also halfway to the target of launching 800 dark stores across the country. As Flipkart Minutes enters the second year of operations, the focus is on strengthening technology backbone, expanding into new cities that are witnessing increased demand for quick commerce, deepening partnerships with brands and enhancing the overall customer experience. Flipkart Minutes Vice President Kabeer Biswas told PTI, "We ...

Udaan acquires retail technology startup ShopKirana ahead of IPO

Udaan has acquired ShopKirana in an all-stock deal, aiming to enhance its FMCG expertise, tech capabilities, and supply chain strengths as it prepares for an IPO in the coming years

60% users say e-commerce platforms block negative reviews: Survey

As India nears 900 million internet users, e-commerce platforms face scrutiny over fake or censored reviews, with calls for mandatory government enforcement of BIS standards

From auto to solar: China cracks down on 'disorderly' price wars

President Xi Jinping warns of damaging low-price competition in steel, autos, e-commerce, solar and education, urging tighter regulation and a push to eliminate inefficient firms

Amazon India to infuse over Rs 2,000 crore to boost pan-India operations

Amazon will invest over Rs 2,000 crore in 2025 to scale up its all-India operations network, the e-commerce giant said on Thursday. Investments will support network expansion and upgrades to serve customers faster and more reliably, advance technology and innovation, and improve employee and associate well-being, Amazon said in a release. The investment announcement comes at a time when India's e-commerce market is booming, fuelled by broadband penetration, affordable smartphones, digital payments, increasing spends from affluent and middle-class households, as well as a mobile-first, digitally-charged younger population. Companies like Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart, as well as smaller online players have reshaped India's e-biz landscape over recent years investing billions of dollars into the booming e-commerce market in the country, which as per some estimates, is poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21 per cent and reach USD 325 billion in 2030. Announcing t

Meesho gets NCLT approval to relocate to India, clearing path for IPO

E-commerce company to combine its US unit with its Indian business in a move that may cost $288 million in taxes; part of a growing trend of startups moving back to India before going public

Rapido enters food aggregation with 'Ownly' platform, partners NRAI

The new platform will operate on a zero-commission model, charging restaurants a flat subscription fee

Flipkart ends WFH policy, asks staff to be in office 5 days a week

Company adopted remote work at the onset of Covid-19 in 2020, ends practice as it preps for IPO

Skye Air introduces 7-minute drone delivery service in Bengaluru

The introduction of drone deliveries in Bengaluru is set to transform the e-commerce and quick commerce landscape, offering speed, efficiency, and sustainability

India's express parcel market to touch 24-29 bn shipments by FY30: Report

India's express parcel market is expected to witness a sharp uptick and touch 24-29 billion shipments by FY30 driven by the expanding e-commerce sector, and the rise of hyperlocal and the quick commerce segment, Redseer said in a report on Friday. For the current financial year (FY2025), the parcel market is estimated to reach 10-11 billion shipments in FY25, the report said, adding that the e-commerce segment accounted for more than 50 per cent of the express parcel market, with approximately 4.8-5.5 billion shipments this fiscal. "India's express logistics market is going through a major shift, driven by growing digital adoption and consumers becoming more comfortable with e-commerce," said Mrigank Gutgutia, Partner at Redseer Strategy Consultants. Gutgutia further noted that express logistics players need to realign their strategies to stay ahead and make the most of the fast growing e-commerce and hyperlocal opportunity landscape. The report suggests that the trends in the ...

India's quick commerce made two-thirds of all 2024 e-grocery orders: Report

The industry, which is dominated by the likes of Zomato-owned Blinkit, also accounted for a tenth of overall e-retail dollars spent in 2024

Quick commerce sector to grow 75-85% in 2025, reach $5 billion GMV

The monthly transacting users in the sector increased by over 40 per cent in 2024 and the average monthly orders per customer rose from 4.4 in 2021 to 6 in 2024