Ecommerce

Best of BS Opinion: Inflation projections demand monetary tightening

Today's opinions examine the RBI's inflation dilemma, rising life insurance surrenders, India's employment crisis, possible UPI charges and the shift from food to nutrition security

Commerce ministry notifies norms for inventory-based ecommerce exports

The commerce ministry on Wednesday notified procedures for online companies to undertake inventory-based cross-border e-commerce. The government recently allowed e-commerce firms, having foreign stakes, to keep inventory only for export purposes. "The operational procedures for the implementation of the inventory-based cross border e-commerce facilitation framework, including registration of exporters-on-record, inventory management, seller visibility, reverse logistics, compliance certification, dispute resolution, and related procedural requirements of exporters-on-record are hereby notified with immediate effect," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a public notice.

Best of BS Opinion: Investors are finally reassessing AI valuations

From the correction in AI stocks and environmental clearance rules to ecommerce reform, exam paper leaks and a critique of technology, desire and patriarchy

India's ecommerce growth hinges on trust and fair competition

Despite its rapid expansion, the sector struggles to balance the interests of platforms, sellers, gig workers, and the state

Unnecessary division: A modern ecommerce policy is the need of the hour

The retail sector in India has faced multiplicity of rules for decades, and that issue should be addressed fast at a time when newer formats, such as quick commerce, are emerging as a driving force

How AI palletising technology is reshaping warehouse automation

AI-powered palletising is gaining traction as warehouses automate repetitive lifting and sorting. Future Market Insights projects the market to reach $9 billion by 2036

Govt allows Amazon and Flipkart to build inventories for exports

The government on Thursday permitted FDI in an inventory-based e-commerce model "exclusively" for export purposes, a move which will help increase India's outbound shipments without impacting the businesses of small retailers. These firms will have to export goods that are manufactured or produced in India. However, FDI in the inventory-based e-commerce model retailing is not permitted. "In order to facilitate greater exports through easier and increased access of global markets by Indian sellers, the extant FDI Policy has been reviewed and it is decided that the restrictions on inventory-based model of e-commerce shall not apply in case of exports of domestically manufactured and/or produced goods/products," the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said in a press note. DPIIT, an arm of the commerce and industry ministry, deals with foreign direct investment (FDI) related issues. It releases policy changes through press notes (PNs). As per the current F

Payments firms build AI commerce rails, but ecom platforms stay guarded

Payments companies are building rails for autonomous AI-led shopping, but ecommerce platforms remain wary of losing control over discovery, recommendations and margins

Zepto IPO: Motilal Oswal, Norges likely to take 40% of anchor book

The quick commerce company is expected to announce its IPO price band next week and is targeting a valuation of about $5.1 billion despite lower indications from some investors

Fake signatures, fake lawyers: Counterfeiters outsmart online marketplaces

An investigation found counterfeiters are using forged trademark records, fake legal documentation and manipulated verification processes to sell fake products on leading e-commerce platforms

Instamart, HPCL launch India's first on-demand LPG delivery service

The service does not require customers to have an existing domestic LPG connection. First-time orders will be treated as new cylinder purchases, while subsequent orders will be processed as refill

Retail rulebook: India needs a clear policy framework for growth

With ecommerce emerging as the biggest disruptor, international marquee brands entered this space and, more recently, the quick-commerce segment

India's e-commerce market to touch $250 bn by 2030 as AI reshapes retail

Shiprocket-Deloitte report says personalised recommendations, smarter fulfilment and rising digital adoption in smaller cities and rural India will fuel the next phase of growth

Flipkart sees small towns drive premium food demand ahead of IPO push

Vice president Nishant Dalal says Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are fueling gourmet and premium food sales

Udaan reaches restructuring deal as BlackRock plans fresh financing

Existing investors are set to inject about $40 million in equity, while BlackRock is expected to provide up to $50 million through its private-credit platform ahead of Udaan's IPO plans

ClickPost's AI agent Parth tackles non-delivery issues of ecommerce players

The AI-powered voice agent automates customer outreach after failed deliveries, helping ecommerce brands reduce return-to-origin shipments and improve delivery success rates

Amazon in most 'aggressive' phase of India expansion: Country head

Amazon is in the midst of its "most aggressive phase of expansion" in India yet, country head Samir Kumar has said, adding that the ecommerce giant is firmly focused on playing the long game for market and customer wins. The comment from Amazon India's top honcho comes against the backdrop of the company's recently announced USD 35 billion investment by 2030 - building on USD 40 billion already invested - to support business expansion, AI-driven digitisation, exports and job creation. "If you look at our investments, we are one of the largest investments in India...USD 35 billion over the next five years, USD 80 billion of exports enablement, continuing to invest in Amazon Now and speed with 100 cities and 1,000 micro fulfillment centres, so we are in the most aggressive phase of expansion in India yet, we are here to play a long-term and win in India," Kumar told PTI. Brushing aside concerns over market complexities and rising competitive intensity, Kumar emphasised the company's .

Magicpin scales AI assistant Vera, targets over 1 mn merchants by 2026: CEO

Food delivery and e-commerce platform magicpin aims to more than double the merchant base of its AI assistant, Vera, to over 10 lakh by the end of 2026, after onboarding more than 5 lakh restaurants and retailers within three months of its launch, Founder and CEO Anshoo Sharma said. Launched during the recent LPG crisis, Vera provides restaurants and retailers with real-time order-volume insights to help them plan operations and manage demand more effectively. According to magicpin, the AI platform has facilitated over 50 lakh interactions across merchant workflows, with more than 5 lakh merchants actively using Vera across over 25 business verticals. "We believe this is just the beginning of how AI will transform the way merchants operate and grow. The pace of adoption has been much faster than we expected. magicpin aims to onboard 1 million (10 lakh) merchants on Vera by the end of 2026," Sharma told PTI. Among merchants with identified city-level data, Bengaluru leads adoption w

Over 75% of Meesho orders now come from AI-powered recommendations

Meesho says its PRISM recommendation engine is reshaping product discovery, with AI-driven personalised feeds powering most orders on the platform

Ads to algos: Are IG, Snapchat and YT becoming new digital shopping malls?

Social media is no longer just shaping conversations. With creators, algorithms and commerce converging, platforms are increasingly influencing what consumers discover and buy