ONLINE COMMERCE
Meta India’s Arun Srinivas on CSAM, AI for small businesses and Muse’s India launch timeline
Meta India Managing Director Arun Srinivas discusses how harmful ads linked to child sexual abuse material slipped through Instagram's review process, the safety measures introduced since then and questions around accountability. In an interview with ET, he also talks about Muse AI's India launch timeline, how small businesses are using AI to create advertisements, Instagram's plans for creators and WhatsApp's growing ambitions in digital payments.
Festive online sales hit Rs 1.4 lakh crore, up 17%, but miss forecasts
The season had been expected to hit a record Rs 1.50-1.55 lakh crore in GMV, up 25-29% from last year. GMV is total value of goods sold by marketplaces before discounts and returns. The festive sale period started on October 8 with the flagship events of Amazon and Flipkart followed by multiple micro-events until Diwali, which fell on November 8.
Online festive sales miss estimates; Munjal steps down as Unacademy CEO
Happpy Thursday! Online festive sales grew, but fell short of expectations amid weak smartphone demand.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Dhanteras gold rush stretches quick commerce delivery fleets, stores
Heavy demand across platforms such as Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto also led to dark stores in multiple pincodes in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru temporarily pausing services on Friday due to a paucity of delivery executives.
Quick commerce delivers huge festive triumph for D2C brands
Beauty brand Pilgrim and healthy snacks brand Open Secret both doubled their sales year-on-year (YoY) during the festive period, driven by purchases on quick-commerce platforms.
UAE launches digital ATA Carnet system, becoming first country outside Europe to adopt paperless customs process
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the eATA Carnet system, becoming the first country outside Europe to adopt the digital customs facility. Rolled out on November 9, 2026, with support from Dubai Chambers, the system allows businesses to process temporary imports and exports electronically using digital declarations and QR codes.
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China's Singles Day shopping festival puts AI selling power to the test
If you are looking for evidence of how enthusiastically China is adopting AI, look no further than the country's premier month-long Singles Day shopping festival.
OpenAI lets businesses claim ChatGPT profiles, adds AI agents for US ecommerce firms
OpenAI said on Tuesday it was launching "Businesses" in beta within ChatGPT, giving companies a way to claim and manage their profiles, update information and track how users engage
How intelligent commerce is shaping the next frontier of merchant payments
For a decade, the task in India’s merchant payments was to get every shop and website to accept digital money. The value, leaders argued, at GFF 2026, is now moving to identity, risk, credit and growth, and to preparing the checkout for AI agents that may soon shop on consumers’ behalf.
Indian organisations on edge as sites fail to Captcha AI intruders
Personal AI agents such as Instinct, Muse, Grokbot and OpenClaw have taken over the consumer internet in the US. But last month, major US banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley, reportedly flagged AI agents such as Meta’s Muse accessing customer accounts using login credentials voluntarily shared by users laying bare the risks of handing AI agents the keys to consumers’ digital lives.
Diwali rush lifts rapid delivery orders for last-minute shopping, gifting
Platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, Amazon Now and Flipkart Minutes revamped their apps for Diwali, introducing interactive interfaces, gamified rewards and other features to drive consumer engagement and orders.
Surge in air purifier sales in India as pollution levels rise during winter season 2023
Air purifier sales have increased substantially in India as pollution levels rise and winter approaches. Quick-commerce platforms are experiencing heightened demand, especially from Tier 2 cities. Sales of air purifiers on Amazon have reportedly doubled recently, indicating a surge in consumer interest. Additionally, the overall market for winter appliances is projected to grow significantly this season. Analysts expect online sales to climb further as consumers continue to make purchases.
Quick commerce emerges beyond Diwali shopping panic to breathe on the necks of e-commerce giants
Quick-commerce platforms in India are increasingly including fashion, beauty, and gifting items for Diwali shopping. Myntra and Amazon are experiencing significant growth in orders and customer engagement during the festive season. Quick-commerce is projected to account for a larger share of online retail, boosting convenience for consumers. The demand for immediate shopping solutions is prompting a shift in purchasing behaviours.
14,000+ gold, silver coins delivered per hour: Instamart, Zepto, others record rising orders as Diwali shopping shifts to q-comm
During the recent Dhanteras and Diwali events, consumers turned to quick-commerce platforms for their festive shopping needs. Significant increases were noted in purchases of gold, silver coins, and traditional items. Quick-commerce platforms reported high demand for kitchen appliances, clothing, and home decor. A marked shift was seen in consumers' willingness to shop during unconventional hours for festive essentials.
District's PVR INOX ticket sales jump 60%, rivals lag at 4%
According to data shared by District CEO Rahul Ganjoo on LinkedIn on Thursday, tickets booked through District for PVR INOX cinemas grew 60% in the April-September 2026 period compared with the same period last year. In contrast, ticket sales through all other online channels grew an estimated 4%.
Cybercrime networks shift to smaller, mobile scam operations amid enforcement pressure: FATF
In its report released from Paris, the global money-laundering watchdog said large, fortified compounds where cyber slaves were forced to commit financial cybercrimes are being moved to apartments, houses, hotels and office floors, sometimes rebranding as legitimate outsourcing or marketing firms.
Cybercrime networks shift to smaller, mobile scam operations amid enforcement pressure: FATF
In its report released from Paris, the global money-laundering watchdog said large, fortified compounds where cyber slaves were forced to commit financial cybercrimes are being moved to apartments, houses, hotels and office floors, sometimes rebranding as legitimate outsourcing or marketing firms.
Honasa Consumer revenue grows 36% in Q2, highest since listing
The company’s net profit rose 87% to Rs 73 crore in the second quarter of FY27, compared with Rs 39 crore in the year-ago period. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) nearly doubled to Rs 93 crore from Rs 48 crore a year earlier, while the Ebitda margin expanded to 12.7% from 8.9%.
Gold coin discount on Dhanteras 2026: Check Instamart and Blinkit discount offers on pure gold coins
Dhanteras 2026 Gold coin discount offers: Festivals like Dhanteras and Diwali often lead to a surge in gold purchases, especially gold coins. Renowned jewelers such as Tanishq, Malabar, GRT, and Joyalukkas have different pricing for 24 karat gold. Consumers can also explore online services like Instamart and Blinkit that offer gold coin options with included discounts.
Honasa Consumer Q2 Results: Mamaearth parent's profit surges 87% YoY to Rs 73 crore
Honasa Consumer achieved an 86.7% increase in net profit for the September quarter, reaching Rs 73.25 crore. Revenue from operations grew by 35.9% compared to the previous year, amounting to Rs 731.19 crore. Despite sequential profit decline, the company indicated strong performance across various sales channels, including general and modern trade. The flagship brand Mamaearth continued to show robust growth, contributing significantly to overall earnings.
Unilever to take India playbook to Africa, Vietnam, Pakistan and Bangladesh to drive growth
Unilever plans to use its India business as a blueprint for growth in Africa, Vietnam, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The company aims to replicate India's distribution network, category-building strategy and ability to serve consumers across income groups in these underpenetrated markets. India contributes $6.3 billion, or around 16%, of Unilever's revenue.
Shiprocket posts maiden profit on strong core business growth
The company swung to a profit of Rs 60 lakh ($63,487) in the quarter ended September 30, from a loss of Rs 20.29 crore a year ago
Bengaluru woman calls customer care to seek Rs 441 refund for ill-fitting clothes, loses Rs 1.05 lakh
A Bengaluru woman lost Rs 1.05 lakh while trying to get a Rs 441 refund for ill-fitting clothes after contacting a fake customer care number found online. In a separate incident, another woman lost Rs 98,000 while seeking a replacement for a damaged curd packet ordered through Blinkit.
Piyush Goyal sets March 2027 deadline for digitisation of DGFT services, aims to end physical visits
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has set March 31, 2027, as the deadline for complete digitisation of DGFT services, including licence, permit and SCOMET approvals. From April 1, businesses will no longer need physical visits to government offices for these services. The move also includes digitising historical records and simplifying procedures.
AI shopping agents could threaten Amazon and Walmart's ad business
Retail powerhouses Walmart and Amazon are also the world's two largest retail media businesses, dominating the estimated $74.4 billion in US retail media spending with a combined 88% share of that market, according to projections from data firm Emarketer. But digital assistants could soon disrupt that business.
Retailer Zalando launches AI shopping agent as margins squeezed
Zalando has launched its inaugural AI shopping agent, aiming to refine its online retail experience significantly. This innovative platform enables users to shop across various online stores using intelligent AI assistants. Although shares dropped by 5%, the company saw a revenue uptick of 5.1% in Q3. However, the gross profit margin decreased due to heightened investment in technology and infrastructure as competitors embrace AI amid rapid industry transformation.
JioHotstar launches StreamToCart Ads, enabling in-stream shopping through Instamart
Introducing a game-changer in digital advertising, JioHotstar has launched StreamToCart Ads, an interactive format that merges streaming with online shopping. Viewers can now browse and directly add products to their shopping carts without interrupting their viewing, consequently boosting user engagement. Advertisers are empowered to monitor user behaviors from impressions to purchases, optimizing their marketing strategies.
Micro occasions fuel demand surge across quick commerce, beauty services
On Myntra Now, overall orders rose about 70% on October 29 compared to regular days. “We saw intent for Karva Chauth starting from October 28, with demand spanning ethnic wear, beauty, and accessories,” said a Myntra spokesperson, adding that in the two days leading up to the festival, demand for kurtas, kurta sets and sarees rose 2.5 times, while red lipsticks saw a 2.1x increase across Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, Jaipur, Pune, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.
Reliance Retail says profit margins will improve from next year as its online business investments pay off
With ongoing investments in ecommerce, Reliance Retail expects better Ebitda margins. The company is enhancing dark stores to ensure quicker delivery times and adapting retail spaces to cater to online shoppers. Although recent reports indicate a decrease in net profit, digital commerce still surged by 42%. Jeyandran Venugopal, the chief executive, expresses assurance in maximizing current assets for growth while steering clear of extravagant competitor expenditures.
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