SUMMARY
- Amazon and Flipkart kick off festive sales with early access for paid subscribers.
- Flipkart introduces new features like the GenAI chatbot and expands fulfillment centers ahead of TBBD 2024.
- Amazon, Flipkart, and Meesho compete with discounts across electronics, fashion, and more.
Leading online retailers Amazon and Flipkart will begin their annual festival season sales on September 26. They are now under investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). According to the two sites, their own sales events will launch for paying subscribers on September 26 and be available to all buyers the next day.
The Big Billion Day sale early access for Flipkart will be available to “VIP” and “Flipkart Plus” subscription tier holders. Amazon “Prime” subscribers will have access to its Great Indian Festival sale 24 hours in advance. Amazon, Flipkart, and Meesho will be in fierce competition to provide discounts and a wide range of products in areas including consumer electronics, groceries, fashion and cosmetics, and smartphones during the two events.
Flipkart released a statement announcing that 14 lakh vendors will participate in its 11th edition of the sale. In addition, the business announced the opening of 11 new fulfillment centers, totaling 1.3 million square feet and located across nine cities, in advance of the holiday shopping season. In addition, it announced that to meet the increasing demand for same-day delivery in advance of The Big Billion Days 2024, it will list over two lakh stock-keeping units (SKUs) in more than twenty cities. The firm intends to introduce several new video commerce capabilities in advance of the sale to increase user engagement. Additionally, it has prepared features to entice consumers, including a GenAI chatbot (dubbed Flippi 2.0), 3D product explainer films driven by AI, and a metaverse (named FireDrops).
Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO of Flipkart stated, “This year’s ‘The Big Billion Days’ will once again redefine the possibilities of e-commerce by driving inclusivity, innovation and sustainable growth across the board. Our vision remains steadfast in playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of India’s digital economy.”
Amazon has also made every effort to draw in users and boost sales during the holiday sale. More than 14 lakh retailers will post “crores of products” on the platform, according to the e-commerce company. Amazon India reaffirmed in a statement that it will reduce “selling fees” in a range of product categories from 3% to 12%.
During the 2023 festive season, Flipkart’s Big Billion Days and Amazon’s Great Indian Festival solidified their dominance in India’s e-commerce space. Flipkart achieved a 70% market share, with its gross merchandise value (GMV) rising 80% year-on-year and over 25 million visitors. The platform saw particularly strong sales in smartphones, with multiple models surpassing 100,000 units sold. Amazon also performed well, with 80% of new customers from smaller towns and orders coming from 99% of India’s postal codes. Both platforms saw record-breaking sales in categories like fashion, electronics, and smartphones.
