UPI Goes Live at Galeries Lafayette’s Flagship Store in Paris

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), in partnership with Lyra, a French leader in securing e-commerce and proximity payments, is delighted to enable the acceptance of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at Galeries Lafayette’s flagship store in Haussmann, Paris. Known for its rich culture, stunning architecture, and world-class shopping, Paris is a favourite destination among Indian tourists. This new integration allows them to make secure and convenient UPI transactions at this historic luxury department store, enhancing their overall Parisian experience.

Following the successful implementation of UPI for online ticket booking at the Eiffel Tower, Galeries Lafayette becomes the second major French merchant to enable UPI under the NIPL- Lyra partnership. The official announcement was made in Paris in the presence of His Excellency Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to France and Monaco, along with distinguished guests including Nicolas Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette, and Alain Lacour, Chairman of Lyra Group.

NIPL, in partnership with Lyra, is delighted to enable the acceptance of UPI at Galeries Lafayette’s flagship store in Paris.
This collaboration boosts UPI adoption as a convenient and secure cross-border payment method for Indian tourists, enhancing their overall Parisian… pic.twitter.com/SXnANI2E2H

— NPCI (@NPCI_NPCI) July 5, 2024

This partnership will benefit multitude of Indian tourists visiting Paris every year, allowing them to use UPI, their favored payment method, at the prestigious Galeries Lafayette flagship store. The integration of UPI ensures effortless shopping and seamless transactions through UPI-powered apps, enhancing the memorability of their visit to Paris. By simply scanning QR code at the store, Indian tourists can complete their payments with transparency in exchange rates.

Recalling the success of UPI launch at the Eiffel Tower in January 2024 and the meeting hosted for potential merchants with NPCI International in February 2024, Ambassador Jawed Ashraf welcomed the quick conclusion of the agreement and engagement of UPI at the world-famous Galleries Lafayette, specially ahead of the Paris Olympics. Starting July 26, 2024, Paris Olympics is expected to draw large number of Indian visitors. Ambassador hopes this will pave the way for wide acceptance of UPI in France and support its internationalization as a means of digital payments. He thanked NPCI International and Lyra for their cooperation.

Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International said, “Our collaboration with Galeries Lafayette in Paris not only enables UPI payments at a prestigious venue but also boosts UPI adoption as a convenient and secure cross-border payment method for Indian tourists. We are confident that UPI will continue to gain traction as a reliable and efficient payment option, further strengthening its presence in international markets.”

Christophe Mariette, Chairman of Lyra India said, “Lyra is happy to have enable for the first time in Europe the in-store acceptance of UPI in the iconic Department stores Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris. Thanks to the collaboration with NPCI International, Galeries Lafayette and the cash register editor Lundi Matin it has been done in a very short time. One more reason for Indian tourists to come to Paris for the Olympic Games.”

Nicolas Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette said, "We are delighted to be the first department store in Europe to offer the UPI payment solution at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. By introducing UPI, we facilitate seamless and secure transactions for our Indian guests and strengthen cultural and economic ties between France and India. As the number of visitors from India is growing, we are proud to offer this innovative payment option, ensuring a convenient and memorable shopping experience. With the opening of our first Indian store in Mumbai in 2025, followed by New Delhi, this initiative becomes even more significant, symbolizing our commitment to reinforcing the ties between our two countries."

The integration of UPI at prominent French retail and tourist destinations is set to boost its popularity among European merchants. This initiative aims to broaden UPI’s market presence in France and Europe, driving further growth and adoption as a secure payment solution.

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) was incorporated on April 3, 2020, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). As NPCI’s international arm, NIPL is devoted to deploying NPCI’s indigenous, successful real-time payment system—Unified Payments Interface (UPI)—and card scheme (RuPay) outside of India. NPCI has successfully developed and proved its products and technological capabilities in the domestic market by transforming the payment segment in India. Currently, there are several countries that seek to establish a real-time payment system or a domestic card scheme. NIPL, with its knowledge and experience, can offer these countries technological assistance through licensing and consulting for building real-time payment systems to meet the rapidly evolving needs of fast-growing global businesses. NIPL focuses on transforming payments across the globe through technology and innovation. It will not only enable payments for Indians but also support other countries by enhancing their payment capabilities using technological assistance, consulting, and infrastructure.

Amazon India Returns With Its Much-Awaited Prime Day on July 20th & 21st, 2024

Amazon India today announced the 8th edition of Prime Day will start on 12 AM on July 20 and end at 11.59 PM on July 21. The two-day annual extravaganza in India will offer access to Prime members to discover joy, access to incredible shopping deals, blockbuster entertainment, savings, and much more! From Smartphones, TVs, Appliances, Fashion & Beauty, Groceries & Everyday Essentials, Amazon Devices, Home & Kitchen, Furniture to everyday essentials, and much more, Prime members can enjoy new launches, never-heard-before deals, best of entertainment and savings.

Akshay Sahi, Director and Head of Amazon Prime, Delivery and Returns Experiences, India and Emerging Markets said “Prime Day is a celebration of the value we bring to our Prime members all year long. We are excited to offer Prime members two days of great deals and savings, thousands of new product launches from over 450 brands, blockbuster entertainment and more. Not just that, Prime members ordering from across India will be able to enjoy same day and next day delivery across millions of products.”

This Prime Day, Amazon will continue to support Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) and offer Prime members products from lakhs of sellers, manufacturers, start-ups & brands, women entrepreneurs, artisans, weavers, and local shops. During the event, Prime members will have the opportunity to discover deals on unique products across categories including fashion & beauty, electronics, and home décor from sellers under various programs such as Local Shops on Amazon, Launchpad, Saheli, and Karigar.

Sneak peek into Prime Day 2024

Shopping and Savings

48 hours of shopping and saving - Starting 12:00 AM on July 20 until 11:59 PM on July 21

Bank Offers: During Prime Day, save big with 10% savings on payment using ICICI Bank Credit/Debit cards, SBI Credit Cards and EMI transactions on ICICI Bank Credit Cards and SBI Credit Cards

New Launches from brands such as Intel, Samsung, OnePlus, Honor, iQOO, Bajaj, Agaro, Ecovacs, Lava, Crompton, Sony, Motorola, Boat, VU, Fire-Boltt, HP, Asus, Titan, Hisense, Trident, Acer, Lenovo, American Tourister, Plantex, Ethos Group, Voltas, Fossil, Mokobara, Lapo, Chetak, Borosil, Riversoft, Yale, adidas, Crocs, Mamaearth, IFB, Godrej, LG, Puma, CP Plus, Olay, HIT, Haier, Titan, Ugaoo, Oral B, Toshiba, Nautica, HUL, ITC, P&G, Himalaya and more and thousands of new launches from small and medium businesses across categories including home & kitchen, fashion & grooming, jewellery, handmade products, and many more.

New Launches: SMB: Thousands of new launches from small and medium businesses across categories including home & kitchen, fashion & grooming, jewellery, handmade products, and many more.

Power of Smart Tech: Choose Smart Living with Alexa and Stream Latest OTT content: This Prime Day, get the year’s best deals with up to 55% off on Echo smart speakers and Fire TV sticks. Kick-start your smart home journey and bring home the latest Echo smart speakers and Echo Show smart displays to experience the magic of seamless voice controls through Alexa. Elevate your at-home entertainment experience and stream latest OTT content with the best offers on Fire TV sticks

Save Big:

During Prime Day, save Big with 10% savings on payment using ICICI Bank Credit/Debit cards, SBI Credit Cards and EMI transactions on ICICI Bank Credit Cards and SBI Credit Cards

Amazon Pay ICICI Bank credit card is a lifetime free credit card with an always-on 5% cashback on shopping for Prime customers & 3% for non-Prime members. For Prime Day 2024, all customers enjoy an additional 5% instant discount on shopping. In addition to these shopping benefits, this card comes with unlimited benefits across travel bookings, bill payments and more on Amazon. Prime members can sign up for Amazon Pay ICICI Bank credit card and get welcome rewards up to INR 2,500, INR 300 cashback (only for prime) + rewards worth INR 2,200. Non-Prime members can sign up and get INR 200 cashback + rewards worth INR 1,800 + 3-month free prime membership. *T&C Apply

Prime members can continue to enjoy 5% cashback on unlimited rides with Uber when using Amazon Pay as their payment mode. Out of the 5%, they will receive 4% as Uber credit and 1% as Amazon Pay cashback, which can be availed to save more on future rides with Uber and fulfil shopping needs on Amazon.in

Entertainment and More

Mega Entertainment with Prime Video

Prime Video will deliver mega entertainment in the lead up to Prime Day by premiering 14 of the most anticipated series and movies across 5 languages.

Prime celebrations started more than a month early on Prime Video with the premiere of the global blockbuster Original series The Boys Season 4 (English), available with subtitles and dubs in multiple Indian languages. With new episodes dropping weekly, Prime members can continue to enjoy new seasons all the way to Prime Day. Further, Prime Video also premiered the documentary Federer: Twelve Final Days (English) that follows Roger Federer in the last twelve days of his professional career, dystopian thriller Civil War (English), social drama PT Sir (Tamil), the critically acclaimed Naach Ga Ghuma (Marathi), heist comedy Gam Gam Ganesha (Telugu), historical Original series My Lady Jane (English), direct-to-service comedy drama Sharmajee Ki Beti (Hindi), and action comedy entertainer Inga Naan Thaan Kingu (Tamil).

Prime Day celebrations don’t end here as Prime Video is also set to premiere the keenly awaited Season 3 of the award-winning blockbuster Original series Mirzapur (Hindi), available with subtitles and dubs in multiple Indian languages. This is in addition to the premiere of the action thriller film Garudan (Tamil), romcom Space Cadet (English), and spy comedy My Spy: The Eternal City (English).

Not just this, in the lead up to Prime Day, Prime Video has also launched Crunchyroll, on Prime Video Channels, enabling customers to watch their favourite anime content via an add-on subscription for just INR 79 per month. Additionally, Prime members can also enjoy up to 50% discount when purchasing add-on subscriptions of other popular video streaming services on Prime Video Channels including MGM+, Lionsgate Play, Discovery+, Sony Pictures Stream, Hoichoi, ManoramaMAX, Mubi, VROTT, among others.

Discover more with Amazon Music

This Prime Day, Amazon Music is set to enthrall music lovers with Desi Vibes – a flagship playlist featuring trending hits in Indian music with Artists such as Jonita Gandhi, Vishal Mishra, Devi Sri Prasad, Armaan Malik and several others. In addition to this, Amazon Music is all set to launch its mid-year wrap up series “2024 So Far” showcasing the playlists, tracks and artists that have ruled the charts so far this year. Also enjoy your favorite podcasts a week before First on Amazon Music than other streaming platforms such as “Be A Man Yaar Season 2” featuring Imran Khan, Kartik Aryan, Hrithik Roshan amongst others, Cyrus Says with Cyrus Broacha featuring well known celebrities, Insta Love Season 2 and many more. Prime Members can enjoy ad-free music with over 100 million songs in 20 languages, latest podcasts and unlimited offline downloads and new to prime members also get a Rs 150 cashback* this Prime Day.

Every Day Made Better with Prime: Amazon Prime is designed to make your life better every single day as it provides the best of shopping, savings, and entertainment in one single membership. In India, members get same day delivery on 1M+ products and one day delivery on 4M+ products, free with no minimum limit on cart order to our members through our Prime membership, unlimited 5% cashback on all purchases using their co-branded ICICI credit card, access to exclusive deals, early and exclusive access to our shopping events including Prime Day. Amazon Prime also provides unlimited access to award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Video, unlimited access to more than 100 million songs, ad-free and over podcast episodes with Amazon Music, a free rotating selection of more than 3,000 e-books, magazines and comics with Prime Reading and access to the monthly free-in game content and benefits with Prime Gaming. Visit amazon.in/prime to join Prime now.

Flipkart Launches Its 1st Grocery Fulfillment Center in Rajasthan, Offers Delivery Slots as Per Consumer’s Choice

India's homegrown e-commerce marketplace, Flipkart, has recently inaugurated a new grocery fulfillment center (FC) in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Notably, this new FC is Flipkart's first grocery FC in the state of Rajasthan, which will help meet increasing consumer demand for online groceries through enhanced speed and serviceability across the region. Earlier, consumers in Rajasthan and nearby regions were reliant on Dharuhera FC (near Gurugram) in Haryana.

This move strengthens Flipkart's delivery capabilities and caters to the growing demand for online groceries in the region.

The new FC spans 69,000 square feet and is equipped to dispatch 6,500 orders daily to Jaipur and neighboring cities, including Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Kota. It features over 5,000 products, including local brands, to offer a wide range of quality grocery items to customers.

Flipkart's new Grocery FC in Jaipur

Delighted to launch our first grocery Fulfillment center of Rajasthan state in Jaipur; This will boost MSMEs/farmers’ digital market access on @Flipkart , help boost their income and also create over 600 local jobs in addition to boosting supplier job ecosystem. Consumers will… pic.twitter.com/PLEOaVkyIh

— Rajneesh Kumar (@rajneeeshkumar) June 20, 2024

The establishment of this FC will create 600 direct and indirect jobs, benefiting the local economy and supporting small businesses, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and Farmers.

Flipkart aims to enhance delivery services and meet the growing consumer demand for online groceries in Rajasthan. The center aligns with their commitment to strengthen partnerships with local farmers and businesses while fostering sustainable growth

Consumers in Rajasthan can now expect quicker deliveries and better value, along with services like cash on delivery, pay later options, no-cost equated monthly installments, easy cancellation, and unified payments interface for digital payments.

This initiative reflects Flipkart's dedication to providing convenient grocery shopping experiences while empowering local communities economically.

Smt. Manju Sharma, Member of Parliament, Jaipur, said, “Flipkart's first grocery fulfillment center in Rajasthan is a significant milestone in our state's digital and economic growth. We are happy that Flipkart’s expansion in its supply chain infrastructure in the state will provide local consumers with faster and more convenient access to essential goods. At the same time, it will empower the local MSMEs and farmers, thereby uplifting the overall livelihood opportunities of the local ecosystem. I commend Flipkart for their commitment to enhancing our PM Shri Narendra Modi ji's vision of 'Digital India' by giving benefits of digital commerce and contributing to enriching the economy of our New Bharat.”

Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Flipkart Group, said, “As a customer-first organization, Flipkart leverages its homegrown technology to keenly identify high-demand hotspots and address consumer needs for quality grocery products. The launch of our first grocery fulfillment center in Jaipur marks a significant advancement in our efforts to enhance delivery services and meet the growing consumer demand for online groceries in Rajasthan. As we continue to expand our footprint, the new FC aligns with our commitment to strengthening partnerships with local farmers, MSMEs and other local businesses. We remain committed to furthering our vision of empowering these communities economically and fostering sustainable growth while creating new livelihood opportunities.”

Hari Kumar G, Vice President, Head of Grocery, Flipkart, said, “We have been witnessing significant demand for online groceries among local consumers of Rajasthan, which offers an opportunity to bridge the digital gap and make online shopping more convenient for consumers. With the launch of the new FC, consumers will now have access to a vast assortment of high-quality local and national selections at the right value at the delivery slot of their choice. We aim to address the needs of value-seeking consumers of tier 2 and 3 cities by elevating consumer satisfaction and improving the growth of the overall regional ecosystem.”

LTIMindtree Introduces Composable Storefront Solution on Salesforce for Retailers To Create Customized Shopping Experiences

LTIMindtree has introduced the Composable Storefront Quick Launch solution on Salesforce Commerce Cloud to enable retailers to create customized shopping experiences that align with their business demands and elevate customer interactions in the e-commerce space.

The solution follows a modular, cloud-native, and tech-agnostic approach, allowing businesses to adapt quickly without incurring excessive costs.

It is built using loosely coupled components integrating independent modules like product catalog management and payment processing.

Businesses can efficiently customize and upgrade without system-wide impact.

Out-of-the-Box Capabilities

With over 20 best-in-class UI enhancements and features to kickstart B2C commerce experience in addition to leveraging all out-of-box capabilities including features such as:

• Einstein Product Recommendations (AI)
• Personalization
• Campaign Management
• Wishlist

These capabilities provide a rapid kickstart for e-commerce ventures.

Custom Features

• Enhanced user experience (UX)
• Dynamic Marketing Pages leveraging the Page Designer capability
• Store Locator with Google Maps
• Order History

Benefits

• Accelerate time-to-market by 30% to 40%
• LTIMindtree claims that it boost sales by 10% to 15% within a quarter
• Enable B2C buyers to discover and purchase products easily
• Lay the foundation for growth across channels and geographies

Transitioning from Legacy Platforms

Conventional e-commerce solutions (legacy or monolithic platforms) are slow to update and difficult to customize.

LTIMindtree says that its Composable Storefront allows businesses to prepare for future-oriented actions by maximizing adaptability in their technology stacks.

In summary, this solution empowers retailers to create unique and personalized customer experiences, driving growth and operational efficiency in the digital commerce landscape.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma-backed Pai Platforms Launches New Shopping App as Part of ONDC Initiative

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder of Paytm, has backed Pai Platforms in launching a new shopping app. This app is part of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative and aims to sign up at least 10 million merchants before the end of 2025.

While Paytm itself does not own shares in Pai Platforms, the 'PaiPai' app has been developed by Paytm's parent entity, One97 Communications. The launch represents a significant move in the e-commerce space, especially considering the previous experience with Paytm Mall and the renewed interest in ONDC among tech companies.

Pai Platforms' launch of a new shopping app is part of the broader Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative, which aims to democratize digital commerce and reduce the dominance of a few large e-commerce entities.

The app seeks to onboard a significant number of merchants to expand its reach and influence in the e-commerce sector. It's an interesting development in the digital commerce landscape, especially with the backing of a prominent figure like Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

Paytm E-commerce Private Limited (PEPL) owns Paytm Mall, and in May 2022, the company announced that it will focus on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) as its main focus. The partnership with ONDC aims to create a sustainable business and democratize the purchase and sale of goods in India.

This year in February, Paytm E-commerce renamed as Pai Platforms, acquires ONDC seller firm Bitsila. Bitsila was launched in 2020, and is among top three seller platforms on ONDC. It supports marquee brands like McDonald's, BigBasket on ONDC.

The rebranding of Paytm E-commerce Private Limited to Pai Platforms and the strategic acquisition of Bitsila, a Bangalore-based seller-side platform on ONDC, suggest that Pai Platforms is positioning itself to be a strong player in this competitive landscape. However, it's worth noting that Pai Platforms predecessor, Paytm Mall, faced setbacks despite substantial investment, highlighting the challenges in the e-commerce sector.

Besides, Pai Platforms also faces competition in the e-commerce space, particularly within the ONDC framework. One notable competitor is PhonePe, which launched a shopping app called Pincode. The ONDC initiative itself has seen significant growth, with a sixfold increase in monthly retail purchases, indicating a competitive and rapidly evolving market.

Pai Platforms and PhonePe's Pincode app are both part of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative, but they have some key differences. While Pai Platforms is integrated into the Paytm ecosystem, PhonePe launched Pincode as a separate app. This strategic choice means that Pincode starts from scratch in terms of user base, whereas Pai Platforms can leverage Paytm's existing users.

PhonePe's decision to launch a separate app for ONDC could be seen as a move to not dilute its main app's user experience, which is centered around quick and efficient payments. In contrast, Pai Platforms seems to be more directly integrated with Paytm's broader digital commerce strategy.

Flipkart Group Says It Recycled Over 67 Million Liters of Wastewater in One Year

Flipkart's water conservation efforts have also resulted in the reduction of freshwater consumption and potential recharge of rainwater at scale

It has also received the Net Zero Water certification by IGBC for its facilities, validating its conservation efforts

Flipkart Group has announced significant strides in its water conservation efforts by successfully recycling over 67 million liters of wastewater in a year across four of its facilities in Rewari and Sanpka (Haryana), Ludhiana (Punjab) and Malur (Karnataka).

The organization’s water conservation initiatives are aimed towards promoting a judicious approach to water consumption, driven by key focus areas to reduce, reuse, and recycle. These conservation efforts have also resulted in the reduction of over 14 million liters of freshwater consumption, thereby playing a key role in the conservation of the nation’s natural resources. This has been enabled by a 30% reduction in the average LPCD (liter per capita per day) at all four facilities.

In addition to this, through the establishment of groundwater recharge infrastructure, Flipkart is also prioritizing the potential recharge of rainwater while fostering a strong sense of environmental conservancy.

In alignment with the government's ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain’ campaign, aimed at encouraging water conservation at the grassroots level, Flipkart is proactively implementing a series of strategic measures dedicated towards water conservation.

Speaking about Flipkart Group’s water conservation initiatives, Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group, said, “At the Flipkart Group, we acknowledge the importance of natural resources and are taking conscious steps to preserve them. We believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that we set in place best practices that can have a positive impact on the environment and business ecosystem at large. Our current efforts on water conservation are aligned with this intention to not only ensure conscious usage, but to also deploy the right systems to enable recycling and recharging. The Net Zero Water certification underscores our dedication to environmental stewardship and sets a new standard for water conservation in the e-commerce sector. We are committed to continuing our efforts towards achieving this status across all our operations, contributing to a more sustainable future for generations to come."

Mr. Gurmit Singh Arora, National Chairman, Indian Green Building Council, congratulated Flipkart on this milestone achievement, stating, "Flipkart's commitment to achieving IGBC Net Zero Water ratings for four of its facilities exemplifies their leadership in sustainability. By implementing effective water management strategies, Flipkart sets a commendable example for the industry. By adopting water-efficient practices, Flipkart becomes the first e-commerce organization to achieve Net Zero Water status for four of their facilities at different locations; thereby reducing their environmental footprint and setting a precedent for fostering a more water- resilient future."

Flipkart is the first e-commerce organization to partner with the CII’s Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and has received the Net Zero Water certification for four of its facilities. Awarded by IGBC, this certification highlights Flipkart’s position as an environmentally-conscious organization and emphasizes its strong stance in promoting sustainable practices, thereby contributing to a greener future.

Flipkart Group’s efforts towards achieving Net Zero Water status are aligned with its broader sustainability goals. The Flipkart Group aims to expand these initiatives to more facilities across India, demonstrating its responsible approach towards the environment.

What is Flipkart's approach towards water conservation at its four facilities in Rewariand Sanpka (Haryana), Ludhiana (Punjab) and Malur (Karnataka)?

REDUCE WATER DEMAND

Water Meter Installation: Water monitoring ensured across all critical measurementpoints through installation of water meters

Flow Restrictors Installation: Reduction of the flow rate of water for all the taps Improvement in water filtration process: Increased RO output efficiency leading to lesswater wastage

Empowerment through Education: Building awareness on water conservation for all employees via creative showcases

USE OF ALTERNATE WATER

• Usage of treated wastewater for flushing purposes, thereby saving fresh water
• Usage of excess treated wastewater for landscaping purposes, thereby saving fresh
• Water Usage of RO reject water for floor cleaning purposes which saves on fresh water usage

WATER BACK TO SOURCE

Establishment of adequate water recharging infrastructure to cater water from roof and non roof spaces to recharge.

The Flipkart Group is one of India’s leading digital commerce entities and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Flipkart Health+, and Cleartrip.

Established in 2007, Flipkart has enabled millions of sellers, merchants, and small businesses to participate in India's digital commerce revolution. With a registered user base of more than 500 million, Flipkart's marketplace offers over 150 million products across 80+ categories. Today, there are over 1.4 million sellers on the platform, including Shopsy sellers. With a focus on empowering and delighting every Indian by delivering value through technology and innovation, Flipkart has created thousands of jobs in the ecosystem while empowering generations of entrepreneurs and MSMEs.

Flipkart has pioneered services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI, Easy Returns, and UPI. These customer-centric innovations focus on enhancing digital payment offerings for all customers while making online shopping more accessible and affordable for millions of Indians.

Former Flipkart Employees' E-commerce Firm POP to Launch Its Own UPI

Ecommerce firm POP is set to launch a marketplace that will feature a curated selection of new-age digital-first brands. This platform is designed to offer a no-frills approach, enabling brands to benefit from deeper data and insights. Additionally, POP will introduce its own UPI system, which will allow users to earn and use POPcoins as a reward currency.

The initiative aims to address the challenges faced by brands in terms of high customer acquisition costs and crowded marketplaces. POPcoins can be redeemed across various brands, acting as an alternative payment currency during shopping. The company has already onboarded 140 brands onto its network, offering POPcoins as a replacement for traditional loyalty programs and points systems.

Founded in 2023 by a team of former Flipkart employees, POP is aiming to revolutionize how today's Indian consumers shop and pay.

In a LinkedIn post the company announced, "UPI transactions are transactional. It's time to change that. In order to make them more rewarding, we need to redefine how payments are done. We're super proud to announce that we're launching our own UPI soon. With better luck everytime: you'll earn POPcoins on every UPI transaction you make."

"Predictable rewards applicable on every UPI transaction. Whether you're scanning the code at your local vegetable vendor or sending money to friends after a scrumptious meal you earn POPcoins, everytime... Say goodbye to scratch-cards & accumulation of millions of worthless points. It's time to get REAL. You might say, 'There are a multitude of UPI payment platforms available in the market, what sets POP UPI apart?' , Our answer? Rewards! Real rewards" the company’s LinkedIn post added.

The innovative platform, POP, is designed to empower brands with deeper data insights and offer a streamlined shopping experience. POPcoins, the platform's exclusive reward currency, will enable users to earn discounts and benefits across various brands, enhancing customer loyalty and engagement.

The marketplace aims to alleviate the high customer acquisition costs and the challenge of visibility in crowded marketplaces that brands often face. By providing a no-frills approach and a reward system that replaces traditional loyalty programs, POP is set to create a new paradigm in the e-commerce ecosystem.

Additionally, users will receive a 2% reward in POPcoins on every transaction made through POP's UPI handle. This initiative by POP is designed to address the high customer acquisition costs and crowded marketplaces that brands currently face.

To recall, earlier this month Flipkart too had launched its UPI handle for Android users to enhance its digital payment offerings for all customers including Flipkart’s 500+ million customers.

POP, known for its marketplace for D2C brands, was founded by Bhargav Errangi, a former senior director at Flipkart with a history of scaling loyalty programs like Payback and Flipkart Supercoins. Since its launch in early May of the previous year, POP has onboarded 140 brands, offering its rewards currency POPcoins, which can be redeemed across various brands.

Some of the brands that have joined the POP platform include Perfora, Slurrpfarm, Anveshan, and Khadi Essentials. These brands, along with others, have integrated their loyalty constructs with POPcoins, allowing customers to earn and redeem these coins across the network of brands.

Flipkart and IIT-Delhi Partner for Research on Personas to Improve Personalized Recommendations for Customers

Provide persona-based shopping experience to customers

Underscore machine learning models’ capability to handle large scale real world data effectively

Flipkart, India’s homegrown marketplace, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), the industry interface organisation of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) as part of its ongoing industry-academic alliance initiatives.

As part of the MoU, Flipkart will offer research grants and market insights to FITT to generate granular, data-backed segments of users linked to different e-commerce categories based on shopping behaviour, demographics, surrounding users’ behaviour, etc. On the technical front, the collaborative effort will help to develop a general purpose user activity graph that could be harnessed for different use cases leveraging state-of-the-art GNN (graph neural network) based techniques. The research aims to address the limitation of existing persona creation tools and to learn from a user activity graph that encompasses information about the various personas associated with each user.

Flipkart has been nurturing academic alliances to build an ecosystem of learning and development through industry-focused research to address critical industry problems. Flipkart and FITT will also jointly undertake a number of other initiatives that include organising seminars, offering conference travel grants and engaging in company-sponsored research to support a project on a topic of mutual interest between Flipkart and the researchers from IIT Delhi.

Mayur Datar, Chief Data Scientist at Flipkart, said, “As a home-grown brand, Flipkart has been committed to solving for India. We have developed numerous industry-first capabilities over the years and continue to focus on innovations that will enhance the experience of customers by making their online shopping journey simple through personalised recommendations. Through our collaboration with IIT Delhi, we hope to find a data-driven solution that will enable us to understand our customers requirements and preferences better thereby, allowing us to elevate the shopping experience by offering persona-based recommendations. This will also provide an opportunity for academicians to work on challenges that the industry is grappling with and build innovative solutions that will help in transforming the ecommerce industry.”

Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean Corporate Relations, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, said, “By combining Flipkart's industry expertise with the academic prowess of IIT Delhi, this collaboration is poised to contribute significantly to the advancement of e-commerce technologies, ultimately enhancing the way businesses engage with and cater to their diverse customer base."

Prof. Sayan Ranu, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, said “Beyond conducting cutting-edge research in machine learning, which IIT Delhi is already engaged in, it is crucial to translate these technologies into tangible products that can make a real-world impact. Through our collaboration with Flipkart, we aim to achieve precisely that. This research partnership aims to enhance personalized recommendations by incorporating user personas. In addition to persona-fortified product recommendations, this collaboration is poised to have a far-reaching impact by advancing machine learning models capable of handling large-scale real-world data effectively.”

Flipkart has been working with students and faculty members from reputed academic institutions to develop indigenous solutions that address unique real-world challenges confronted in a diverse market like India. Over the last two years, Flipkart signed up five projects across IIT Delhi, Bombay, and IISc.

Fake Reviews of Health, Wellness Products Deter Over 42% Shoppers from Making Purchases: PwC Report

PwC India has released a report unveiling insights on the evolving dynamics of e-commerce in India, particularly focusing on the shopping behaviour of consumers in tier 2 and tier 3 regions. Titled "How India shops online: Consumer preferences in the metropolises and tier 1-4 cities", the report encapsulates comprehensive research that aims to reshape the trajectory for businesses operating in India's burgeoning digital marketplace.

45% of the respondents look at the ratings and reviews before shopping, said the PwC report. 37% of Urban dwellers accept that fake customer reviews are a key barrier for using other platforms in the electronics category.

The report is based on an online survey of 2,100 people, 100 qualitative interviews, and 400 in-person interviews across India with leading experts and industry partners. The insights derived from the report highlight the similarities and differences in the purchasing habits, choices and mindsets of online shoppers across the country.

Some of the key findings of the report include the following:

• 50% of consumers in metros and tier-1 cities value quick delivery, while for 54% of consumers in tier-2, 3 and 4 cities, deals and offers take precedence.
• With increasing financial independence, women's shopping behaviour shifted from social to individualistic across geographies as per our survey.
• Fake reviews of health and wellness products deter over 42% of tier-2, 3 and 4 cities' shoppers from making purchases in this category. They also prefer buying these products online since there are concerns related to the authenticity of these products in brick-and-mortar stores.
• More than 60% of our respondents preferred to shop using an app rather than using any website. There was a clear preference for marketplace apps since they cater to many categories.
• YouTube emerged as a clear winner when it comes to a reliable platform (discovery. information, usage experience and unboxing videos) for making buying choices.
• Interestingly, Gen Z prefers cash on delivery (CoD) in tier-2, 3 and 4 cities.

This report aims to understand the pulse of India's diverse consumer base and provide insights into their behaviour. 

Beyond the urban landscape, a new trend is rapidly unfolding in India – tier-2, 3, and 4 cities – where aspirations have begun to surge, and shopping habits are undergoing a transformation.

Average basket size based on last purchase

Average basket size based on last purchase

Today, consumers from rest of India are dedicating more time to shopping, with order volumes in tier-2 and 3 cities expanding by more than 0%3 compared to previous years. As India’s e-commerce narrative evolves, it is crucial to observe these behavioural changes.

The report also elucidates the disparities in e-commerce shopping patterns between urban and rural India. A significant shift is observed in the shopping behaviours of consumers from tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, compared to their urban counterparts. While urban dwellers are enticed by perennial discounts and convenience of online shopping, consumers from rest of India regions are driven towards online shopping by factors such as limited product availability and stockouts in local offline stores.

The preference of Apps

Over 60% of surveyed respondents prefer shopping via mobile apps due to ease of navigation, user-friendly interfaces, and vernacular support, highlighting the importance of app-based platforms in India's e-commerce landscape.

Social Media Influence

Social media platforms play a pivotal role in driving product trials, with 62% of users trying products after seeing them on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Urban and rest of India consumers exhibit differing preferences in social media channels for product discovery and trials.

Payments Preferences

Mode of Payment

While both urban dwellers and rest of India consumers display comparable acceptance of UPI payments, cash on delivery remains the preferred option among the latter to minimise fraud risks. Generation X from rest of India regions prefers card transactions for mid-high value purchases, citing transaction safety as a key factor.

Category Preference 

Categories purchased

The report delves into specific category preferences among consumers, highlighting varying trends in fashion, sports and fitness, electronics, home and kitchen, beauty and personal care, health and wellness, and grocery segments. In these categories, urban dwellers prefer online shopping for its quick delivery which meets their demand for instant gratification, even if it means paying a premium. In contrast, Rest of India consumers are more focused on finding the best deals and discounts online.

The report aims to help businesses not only increase market share and revenue but also make a positive difference in the lives of millions of consumers in India. By embracing empathy, businesses can tap into the human side of e-commerce and unlock the potential of a nation on the cusp of greatness.

Vedanta Aluminium Launches World’s Largest Online Superstore for Primary Aluminium Products

Vedanta Aluminium launches Vedanta Metal Bazaar

• Vedanta Metal Bazaar sells over 750 aluminium products online, positioning it as a game-changing new offering within India’s aluminium landscape
• Offers host of global-first features like live shipment tracking, AI powered spot orders, financial reconciliation
• Brings ease, transparency and seamless buying experience of B2C ecommerce to B2B metal buying platform

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, announces the launch of Vedanta Metal Bazaar, an innovative new e-superstore for primary aluminium that promises to transform the way it is bought and sold in India. At launch, the superstore offers over 750-plus product variants, encompassing the extensive range of offerings from the stable of Vedanta Aluminium. It also features AI-based price discovery, offering customers unmatched value even in the face of fluctuating commodity prices.

Vedanta Metal Bazaar can be accessed directly via the following portal link: https://browse.vedantametalbazaar.moglix.com/catalog/aluminium. It is also available as a mobile app, ‘Vedanta Metal Bazaar’, which is downloadable through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Products on offer include ingots, billets, primary foundry alloy (PFA), wire rods, rolled products, flip coils, hot metal and Restora (India’s first low-carbon aluminium). In addition, the superstore also offers customized solutions tailored to the needs of the company’s wide customer base.

Vedanta Aluminium CEO Mr. John Slaven at the launch of Vedanta Metal Bazaar

Aluminium is a critical raw material for key sectors such as aerospace, automotive, building & construction, energy distribution, defence and many more. Identified as a vital metal for the global energy transition, it is also crucial to emerging sectors such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, green infrastructure and hi-tech manufacturing, earning it the sobriquet of the ‘metal of the future’. However, sourcing aluminium was hitherto a complex, resource-intensive process. Buyers must keep track of price movement, negotiate on multiple parameters which is often complex and time consuming, plan logistics and follow-up for financial reconciliation, often with no visibility of order delivery. Unforeseen disruptions could result in severe production and financial losses at the buyer’s end and tie up significant resources.

With a view to enhance ease of doing business for customers, Vedanta Aluminium has launched Vedanta Metal Bazaar, an innovative e-commerce platform poised to revolutionize the aluminium buying experience. It promises to simplify the entire procurement process, enabling buyers to focus on their business growth rather than wasting time on transactional follow-ups and tracking vagaries of commodity prices and order fulfilment. Aluminium is the second-most consumed metal in the world today, next only to steel.

Vedanta Metal Bazaar empowers buyers with just-in-time delivery, real-time AI-based price discovery and end-to-end visibility of their purchase, right from order placement to delivery. This allows for robust production planning and frees up their capital for more strategic investments. It also enables customers to make informed purchase decisions based on order history, dynamic market scenarios, and competitive rates in just a few clicks.

A pioneering new platform, Vedanta Metal Bazaar has been designed from the ground up, taking into account customer expectations towards ensuring a transformative experience. Several global-first features are integrated into the platform, including product availability, online price discovery, long-term contracts, on-the-spot orders, live shipment tracking, financial reconciliation, all critical documentation (such as test certificates, bank guarantees, letters of credit) and a selection of channel finance and logistics providers for customers to choose from to aid their procurement journey. This entire experience is supported by Vedanta Aluminium’s panel of in-house experts, who will be on-hand to guide first-time users and discuss specific customization requirements. The platform has been successfully beta-tested with select clients for a year and is now being rolled out widely for all domestic buyers.

Mr. John Slaven, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium said, “As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, aluminium is essential to India’s continued rise. At Vedanta Aluminium, we are driven by a customer-first obsession to constantly innovate solutions that not only ensure business success for our customers but also contribute to the overall growth of the country. Vedanta Metal Bazaar thus comes as a truly great reflection of what India stands for today: a potent blend of engineering prowess and digital innovation. It offers a world-class experience to a rapidly progressing nation, democratising access to top-quality aluminium by making it readily available to all sections.”

The key features of Vedanta Metal Bazaar include:

• Added access through mobile devices with a user-friendly interface – first in the non-ferrous industry
• Innovative ‘Agreement Tool’ for streamlining complex negotiations
• AI-powered Spot Orders and Live Shipment Tracking, the first in the metal industry
• No limit on quantity of material purchase
• Unique QR-based product authenticity verification and seamless feedback systems
• Reliable panel of channel finance and logistics providers for seamless procurement
• Direct access and simplified, smooth workflows for all customers – large and MSMEs
• Quick access to India’s first-ever low carbon ‘green’ aluminium range, Restora
• Single window to interact with Vedanta’s quality, technical support, product application, engineering, and innovation teams through a dedicated module
• Technical upskilling with access to the company’s Centre of Excellence, comprising a wide community of research institutes, industry associations, and global experts

Sharing his experience, Mr. Manoj Kumar Jain, Senior General Manager, KEI Industries, said, “I am truly impressed by Vedanta Metal Bazaar’s user-friendly platform. It provides all the necessary information, including test certificates, real-time credit balance, order history, as well as live location for dispatches – which is incredibly helpful. The online negotiation and MoU system build trust. I’m excited about upcoming features like live hedging and WhatsApp integration, which showcases their commitment to innovation.”

Mr. Abhishek Aggarwal, owner of Sant Aluminium, an enterprise from Alwar, adds, “As a business owner seeking a hassle-free way to buy aluminium, Vedanta Metal Bazaar exceeded my expectations. The platform is easy to use and there is no limit on purchase quantity. The feedback system contributes to better planning, and the mobile app is a handy tool for on-the-go order tracking. I highly recommend Vedanta Metal Bazaar for a simple and reliable metal procurement experience.”

Flipkart Introduces 3-Hour Fresh Flower Delivery Service for 450+ Pin Codes Across India

• A first for India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, orders can be placed across cities including Bangalore, Chandigarh, Faridabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Noida and Patna
• Customers can choose from a range of high-quality exotic varieties (roses, orchids, carnations) and arrangements (bouquets, boxes) starting at INR249/
• This follows the recent announcement on same day delivery rollout to benefit millions of customers PAN India

Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, has announced the launch of a 3-hour fresh flower delivery service which allows customers to access high-quality flower arrangements at great deals, delivered via the trusted Flipkart network across 450+ pin codes. With special occasions like ‘Rose Day’ and Valentine’s Day around the corner, Flipkart will ensure 3 hour fresh flowers delivery for orders placed between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM daily. In the run up to February this year, there has been a surge in demand for fresh flowers on Flipkart. Powered by Flipkart's robust logistics network and cutting-edge technology, this service guarantees swift and reliable doorstep delivery of flowers across a growing number of cities including Bangalore, Chandigarh, Faridabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Noida and Patna.

For centuries, flowers have played a positive cultural role in life - so it's no surprise that most of us believe in “saying it with flowers''. Whether gifting someone special or placing an order for yourself, flowers never go out of style.

• Flipkart will ensure 3 hour delivery for orders placed between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM daily and customers can choose from a range of high-quality exotic varieties (roses, orchids, carnations) and arrangements (bouquets, boxes) starting at INR249/-
• Remaining customer-first and understanding the need for preferred timings, Flipkart has curated four delivery slots for fresh flower deliveries: 9AM to 12 PM, 12PM to 3PM, 3PM to 6PM and 6PM to 9PM
• Soon after an order is placed, customers have the option to choose their preferred timing via a simple call that they will receive
• Unique customer trends observed on Flipkart, leading up to ‘Rose Day’ and Valentine’s Day:
• The most popular search terms include Fresh flowers, Rose flowers, Bouquets and Red Roses
• The top 5 cities leading the search for fresh flowers are Bengaluru, Patna, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata. 

Flipkart has been the chosen gifting platform for millions of customers across India over the years and now, they have the option to choose from a wide array of fresh flowers to celebrate ‘Rose Day’ and make their Valentine’s Day extra special. Flipkart is also launching its “Your Wingman, This Valentine’s” campaign for GenZ across media platforms. The campaign highlights Flipkart’s role as the perfect fuss-free gifting solution with over 10 lakh plus gift options, accessibility to premium gifting through easy EMIs and express delivery. As Flipkart continues to innovate and expand its Valentine’s Day offerings, customers can look forward to more delightful experiences and greater convenience in their online shopping journey, in the days to come.

About the Flipkart Group

The Flipkart Group is one of India’s leading digital commerce entities and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Flipkart Health+, and Cleartrip.

Started in 2007, Flipkart has enabled millions of sellers, merchants, and small businesses to participate in India's digital commerce revolution. With a registered user base of more than 500 million, Flipkart's marketplace offers over 150 million products across 80+ categories. Today, there are over 14 lakh sellers on the platform, including Shopsy sellers. With a focus on empowering and delighting every Indian by delivering value through technology and innovation, Flipkart has created lakhs of jobs in the ecosystem while empowering generations of entrepreneurs and MSMEs. Flipkart is known for pioneering services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI and easy returns, which are customer-centric innovations that have made online shopping more accessible and affordable for millions of Indians. 

Flipkart To Use Polygon's Blockchain for Brand Engagement Experience for Millions of Indian Users

• FireDrops, which is accessible via Flipkart, is a web3 brand engagement program built on Polygon’s Proof-of-Stake (PoS) to offer users a more transparent, secure, and personalized engagement experience
• Powered by GuardianLink, FireDrops utilizes Fireblocks’ wallet-as-a-service offering and embeds web3 wallets, providing a more user-friendly and integrated experience
• To date, Fireblocks has created 3.6 million web3 wallets for Flipkart users

Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, has announced its partnership with Fireblocks, an enterprise platform to manage digital asset operations and build innovative businesses on blockchain. The strategic collaboration aims to revolutionize the way consumers safely and easily interact with the Web 3.0 ecosystem. This collaboration will also provide avenues for brands to innovate and enhance customer experiences, as being explored via the FireDrops platform.

FireDrops is an endeavor to create a safe and scalable brand engagement program on the blockchain, where wallets seamlessly spun by Fireblocks allow users to easily interact with web3. Fireblocks has set up 3.6 million wallets for Flipkart users, with a majority of them created in the past few months. Flipkart’s collaboration with Fireblocks is a testament to its commitment in enabling innovation in the Indian e-commerce industry. Flipkart has over 500 million users with more than 150 million products across 80 categories.

“India is fast emerging as the global hub for innovation in web3,” said Ravi Krishnan, Head of Flipkart Labs. “As we look ahead at how the new generation engages with brands, they seek a more personalized and interactive experience, and brands realize they can no longer apply broad strategies across audience segments. In this context, digital assets and web3 have become essential tools to engage with customers effectively. Fireblocks' role is crucial in safeguarding these assets, enabling us to develop and scale. FireDrops, one of the web3 offerings, is among many that we are excited about. In the next decade, web3 will be transformative for the e-commerce space, and India and Flipkart are the perfect sandbox for how digital assets may blur the lines between gamification and retail experiences.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Flipkart to provide them with a resilient, enterprise-grade platform upon which they are building their technology solutions, so they can enhance the shopping experience for users and redefine e-commerce,” said Stephen Richardson, Head of APAC & Managing Director, Financial Markets at Fireblocks. “Through FireDrops, a familiar user experience has been created for millions of Indians interested in collecting their first NFT, making digital ownership more accessible and lowering the barrier to entry into the world of web3.”

Fireblocks' Wallets-as-a-Service allows Flipkart to embed privacy preserving blockchain wallets directly into their mobile application, providing users with seamless onboarding into their first time web3 experience. With Fireblocks, Flipkart can automate and scale wallets and enable NFT creation to support millions of new users on FireDrops.

FireDrops is aiming to revolutionize how users connect with brands while shopping online. By providing engaging experiences with brands that enable customers to earn NFT-based rewards, FireDrops aims to foster greater community engagement and an enhanced user experience. Brands in the FireDrops ecosystem are also anticipating the benefit from deeper, more meaningful, and more tailored interactions with their customers, resulting in higher reward redemption rates and a reduction in customer acquisition costs.

About the Flipkart Group

The Flipkart Group is one of India’s leading digital commerce entities and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Flipkart Health+, and Cleartrip.

Started in 2007, Flipkart has enabled millions of sellers, merchants, and small businesses to participate in India's digital commerce revolution. With a registered user base of more than 500 million, Flipkart's marketplace offers over 150 million products across 80+ categories. Today, there are over 14 lakh sellers on the platform, including Shopsy sellers. With a focus on empowering and delighting every Indian by delivering value through technology and innovation, Flipkart has created lakhs of jobs in the ecosystem while empowering generations of entrepreneurs and MSMEs. Flipkart is known for pioneering services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI, and easy returns, which are customer-centric innovations that have made online shopping more accessible and affordable for millions of Indians.

Fireblocks is an enterprise-grade platform that delivers a secure infrastructure for moving, storing, and issuing digital assets. Fireblocks enables exchanges, lending desks, custodians, banks, trading desks, and hedge funds to securely scale digital asset operations through the Fireblocks Network and MPC-based Wallet Infrastructure. Fireblocks serves thousands of financial institutions, has secured the transfer of over $4 trillion in digital assets, and has a unique insurance policy that covers assets in storage and transit. Some of the biggest trading desks have switched to Fireblocks because it's the only solution that CISOs and Ops Teams both love. For more information, please visit www.fireblocks.com.

Amazon Installs Electrolyzer Via Plug Power To Produce Green Hydrogen for Powering Vehicles in Its Fulfillment Center

Amazon Inc, will now produce its own low-carbon green hydrogen to fuel more than 225 hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklift trucks at the site, known as DEN8.

It was in August last year when Amazon inked a deal with Plug Power Inc (PLUG.O), to supply liquid green hydrogen. Now in a latest, on Wednesday, Plug Power has announced that it has now completed the installation and commissioning of an electrolyzer system at an Amazon fulfillment center in Aurora, Colorado.

The installed Electrolyzer is one-megawatt (MW) proton exchange membrane Electrolyzer which is the first for Amazon and is now producing low-carbon hydrogen a.k.a green hydrogen.

The Electrolyzer, installed at the Amazon fulfillment center, uses electricity and water to produce hydrogen and is able to support up to 400 hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklift trucks. The hydrogen produced by the electrolyzer will be compressed on site and stored in a gaseous hydrogen storage tank for use by the forklift trucks.

Notably, Plug Power has collaborated with Amazon to deploy more than 17,000 fuel cells to replace batteries in forklift vehicles in more than 80 fulfillment centers in North America. However, for most of these locations, hydrogen to power the forklifts is produced elsewhere, liquified, and delivered by trucks to an on-site storage and dispensing system.

Now, with the electrolyzer installed in Amazon's own facility the e-commerce giant will now be producing it's own low-carbon hydrogen.

For this project, Plug Power Inc provided design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance services for the 1MW PEM electrolyzer and hydrogen storage —compatible with the existing refueling infrastructure and fuel cells already in use at the site. This is the first electrolyzer system installed and in use at an Amazon site.

Amazon India Launches New AI-Generated Customer Review Highlights

Kishore Thota - Director, Customer Experience & Marketing

• Amazon.in Improves Customer Reviews Experience with Generative AI
• New AI-Generated Customer Review Highlights is the Latest in a String of Reviews Innovations
• Generative AI Review Highlights feature helps customers to make informed purchase decisions

Amazon.in has announced the launch of AI-Generated Review Highlights, a new feature that provides a short paragraph right on the product detail page highlighting the products features and customer sentiment frequently mentioned across written reviews. This innovation empowers customers with enhanced product insights, enabling them to make informed purchase decisions with greater ease and confidence.

The AI-Generated Review Highlights serve as a valuable tool for customers seeking a quick understanding of a product's overall sentiment and key attributes. By providing a snapshot of the common themes from reviews, the highlights enable buyers to determine whether a product aligns with their needs and expectations before delving into detailed reviews. Furthermore, the feature facilitates easy navigation to specific reviews that address particular product attributes. For instance, a customer interested in understanding the ease of use of a product can tap to see the number of positive and negative mentions for "ease of use" and representative reviews.

"We are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance the customer experience on Amazon.in," said Kishore Thota, Director, Shopping Experience, India & Emerging Markets, Amazon. "The introduction of AI-Generated Review Highlights marks a step forward in our efforts to empower customers with the information they need to make informed decisions."

Emphasizing Amazon’s commitment to continuous innovation, Thota stated, " We will continue exploring opportunities to provide review highlights in more places throughout the shopping experience to make it easier for customers to discover and evaluate products. Our ultimate goal is to simplify the review submission process, combat fake reviews, introduce new content types, and utilize AI to highlight key insights, ensuring that customers can confidently navigate their purchase decisions."

Leveraging AI for Trusted Insights

Amazon.in is committed to providing customers with a trusted and reliable e-commerce experience. The AI-generated review highlights utilize only Amazon's trusted reviews from verified purchases, ensuring that the insights presented reflect the genuine experiences of actual customers.

The AI-generated review highlights also feature key product insights and allow customers to more easily surface reviews that mention certain product attributes. For example, a customer looking to understand whether a product is easy to use can easily surface reviews mentioning “ease of use” by tapping on that product attribute under the review highlights. The new AI tool will be available in India starting December 12.

Amazon’s Commitment to Safe and Authentic Reviews

As Amazon enhances the reviews experience, it remains dedicated to maintaining the authenticity and relevance of content. Its Community Guidelines, help both machine learning models and human moderation keep the community safe and the reviews relevant, while providing a trustworthy environment for customers to express their genuine opinions. Amazon strictly prohibits fake reviews and content that misleads customers by providing information that is not impartial, authentic, or intended for that product or service. It continues to invest significant resources to proactively stop fake reviews. This includes machine learning models that analyze thousands of data points to detect risk, such as relations to other accounts, sign-in activity, review history, and any other unusual behavior, as well as expert investigators who use advanced fraud-detection tools to analyze and prevent fake reviews from appearing and being published on the marketplace.

About Amazon.in

The Amazon.in marketplace is operated by Amazon Seller Services Private Ltd, an affiliate of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN). Amazon.in seeks to build the most customer-centric online destination for customers to find and discover virtually anything they want to buy online by giving them more of what they want – vast selection, low prices, fast and reliable delivery, and a trusted and convenient experience; and provide sellers with a world-class e-commerce marketplace.

For more information, visit www.amazon.in/aboutus
For news on Amazon, follow www.twitter.com/AmazonNews_IN

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon

Coca-Cola Launches Its Marketplace on ONDC – 'Coke Shop'

American beverage giant Coca-Cola's India unit has announced that it has joined the government-initiated Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), while also launching its own marketplace, the 'Coke Shop', on the platform.

The initial association with ONDC is being supported through SellerApp, which will help the company leverage the ONDC network with its data-driven insights, market intelligence, and strategies.

“Through the ‘Coke Shop’ marketplace model, Coca-Cola is benefitting retailers by enabling them with another channel to sell their products whilst simultaneously facilitating multiple touchpoints for consumers to purchase from. Retailers who have not been able to access major e-commerce platforms will now have an opportunity to regain customers and cater to a wider audience,” the beverage major said in a statement.

The company joins a slew of FMCG companies that have come onboard ONDC. The other FMCG brands that have joined ONDC include Hindustan Unilever, Polycab,Me n Moms, Mama feast, BRBChips, Ustraa, Sublime, Fackelman, Keventer, Brill, Hyderabad Foods, Healthkart, Nourish Mantra, Buy One Gram, Selzer, and Dugar Oversees.

Coca-Cola rival PepsiCo had already joined ONDC in August this year.

Coca-Cola's bottling partner in India, Moon Beverages Limited, will be the ‘Network Participant’ for its offerings on the platform, ensuring consumers have seamless access to its beverage portfolio, said the company in a release.

"We are happy to see Coca-Cola join onto our network on this transformative journey and give consumers an exceptional shopping experience while offering expanded choices for buyers on the network,” said T Koshy, managing director and chief executive officer, ONDC.

Coca Cola India currently has a strong network of close to ~ 4 million retail outlets across the country.

Boosting Sales and Security: The Role of Payment Gateways in e-Commerce

In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, where businesses large and small are thriving, there's a crucial behind-the-scenes player that often goes unnoticed: payment gateways. These unsung heroes are the reason you can shop online with confidence and ease, and they play a pivotal role in boosting sales and ensuring the security of your transactions.

This article will explore payment gateways, discussing how they contribute to the success of e-commerce and why you need to consider them for your app for business.

What Are Payment Gateways?

Payment gateways are the digital equivalents of a cash register in a physical store. They're responsible for securely processing online transactions between customers and businesses. When you buy that new pair of shoes or the latest gadget online, the payment gateway is the technology that securely transmits your payment information to the seller and the payment processor, all while keeping your sensitive data safe.

Boosting Sales: The Convenience Factor

One of the key ways payment gateways boost sales is by offering convenience to both businesses and customers:

• Multiple Payment Options: Payment gateways support various payment methods, from credit and debit cards to digital wallets and even cryptocurrencies. This diversity caters to a broader customer base, increasing the likelihood of a sale.
• Global Reach: For businesses looking to expand their reach beyond borders, payment gateways facilitate international transactions, making it easier to tap into global markets.
• Mobile Commerce: With the increasing use of smartphones for shopping, payment gateways are crucial for apps for business. They enable smooth in-app purchases, reducing friction and cart abandonment rates.
• Faster Checkout: The quicker and more straightforward the checkout process, the more likely customers are to complete their purchase. Payment gateways help streamline this process, which can lead to higher conversion rates.

Security: Protecting Your Business and Customers

E-commerce isn't just about making sales; it's also about safeguarding sensitive data. Payment gateways play a vital role in ensuring that your business and your customers are protected:

• Encryption: Payment gateways use advanced encryption protocols to safeguard the data transmitted during a transaction. Hackers are less likely to intercept and misuse your customers' credit card information.
• PCI Compliance: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance is necessary for payment gateways. It sets strict security standards that protect your business and customers from data breaches.
• Fraud Prevention: Many payment gateways offer built-in fraud detection and prevention tools. These tools help identify and stop suspicious transactions before they become a problem.
• Data Tokenization: In addition to encryption, some payment gateways use tokenization, replacing sensitive data with unique tokens. Even if a cybercriminal were to breach the system, they'd find nothing of value.

Choosing the Right Payment Gateway for Your App for Business

Selecting the right payment gateway for your app for business is a critical decision that can impact your success. Here are some factors to consider:

• Fees: Payment gateways charge fees for their services. Understanding their fee structure and how it aligns with your business model is essential.
• Supported Payment Methods: Ensure the gateway supports the payment methods your customers are likely to use.
• Security Features: Look for gateways with robust security features, including PCI compliance, encryption, and fraud prevention.
• User Experience: A smooth, user-friendly checkout experience can make or break a sale. Test the gateway's integration with your app thoroughly.
• Customer Support: Responsive customer support can be a lifesaver in case of technical issues or disputes.
• Scalability: Consider whether the gateway can scale with your business as it grows.

The Bottom Line

Payment gateways are the unsung heroes of e-commerce, playing a pivotal role in boosting sales and ensuring the security of transactions. Their convenience, global reach, and robust security features make them indispensable for businesses of all sizes, especially those with apps for business.

Mahindra Logistics Launches Services On ONDC Network

Mahindra Logistics Limited, one of India's leading integrated third-party logistics service providers launches services on ONDC Network and commences its operations. Mahindra Logistics will provide same-day & next-day intra-city pick-up and delivery services to all sellers on ONDC. The company will extend this to a full range of services including inter-city express parcel, full truck load and mobility services. Sellers on the ONDC network will have access to Mahindra Logistics’ entire range of services enabling intra-city and inter-city delivery in up to 19,000 pin codes.

Efficient logistics is a key enabler for members on the ONDC network. Mahindra Logistics’ services provide a full stack of technology, providing D2C brands and sellers with rapid integration and fulfilment services. As part of this initiative, Mahindra Logistics is also committed to collaborating with other members of the ONDC Network in providing solutions to empower local businesses.

Commenting on this integration, Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan, MD & Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Logistics Ltd., said, "ONDC is a path breaking attempt program to empower and democratize local commerce. Efficient logistics is a key enabler to harnessing the full potential of ONDC and we are pleased to join the network. We share ONDC’s vision of accelerating commerce and are pleased to partner with them on a range of services. We provide customers a range of hyper-local and inter-city transport and mobility solutions and technology integration with their end customers. Our aim to accelerate commerce by delivering innovative logistics solutions on the platform will ultimately benefit both, businesses and consumers.”

T Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC, said, “Logistics is a key element for the successful adoption of ecommerce across the country. Especially, for small and medium enterprises this will be a key enabler for enhancing their reach. With a major player like Mahindra Logistics coming onboard onto ONDC Network, it will add significant logistics options across the country for diverse merchants that are part of the ONDC ecosystem''.

ONDC has created an Open Network for seamless logistics operations, opening up opportunities for increased business, better capacity utilization, and a stronger brand presence. This collaboration aligns with the Indian government's vision of promoting a fair and open digital commerce net

About Mahindra Logistics

Mahindra Logistics Limited is an integrated third-party logistics (3PL) service provider, specializing in supply chain management and enterprise mobility. Mahindra Logistics serves over 400+ corporate customers across various industries like Automobile, Engineering, Consumer Goods and E-commerce. The Company pursues an “asset-light” business model, providing customised and technology enabled solutions that span across the supply chain and people mobility services. 

For more information, visit www.mahindralogistics.com

About Mahindra

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate.

The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise. Learn more about Mahindra on www.mahindra.com / Twitter and Facebook: @MahindraRise/ For updates subscribe to https://www.mahindra.com/news-room

About ONDC:

Incorporated on December 31, 2021, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a Section 8 company, is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, to create a facilitative model that revolutionizes digital commerce, giving greater thrust to the penetration of retail e-commerce in India. ONDC is not an application, platform, intermediary, or software but a set of specifications designed to foster open, unbundled, and interoperable open Networks.