ONLINE COMMERCE
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.
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%.
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.
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.
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