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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweengl 1/13
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EcommerceisseeingaracebetweentheAmazonsandExpediasvstheFlipkartsandMakeMyTrips.Thedesientrepreneurshavethewindintheirsales,fornow.
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India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsREADMOREONVivekMadhukar|SundayET|Sequoia|SanjayModi|SachinBansal|representative|RachelSmith
Amazon,America'slargestetailer,beganasanonlinebookstorein1994.TwoyearsbeforeJeffBezosporedthroughthedictionaryandpickedouttheworld'sbiggestriverashisbrandname,lesserknown(atleastasoftoday)CharlesMStackfoundedbooks.com.Today,Stack'sonlinestores(alsoknownasBookStacksUnlimited)willbedifficulttolocatetheyweregobbledupbyBarnes&Nobleover15yearsago.
Contrarytopopularperception,Amazonwasn'tthefirstmover(bysomeaccountsitwassecond,byothersevenfourth).Alsocontrarytopopularperception,thefirstmoverdoesn'talwaysemergethewinner.
Marketingguruswilltellyouaboutthefirstmoveradvantage,whichistypicallytheheadstartthefirstentrantgainsbycapitalisingonamonopolylikesituationtorakeinfatprofitmargins.
Lessertalkedaboutisthesecondmoveradvantage,thecompetitiveadvantageanentrantgetsbylearningfromthepioneer'smistakes,copyinghissuccessfulstrategiesandstealinghisshare(insteadofwastingtimecreatingamarket).
The$12billionecommercebattlefieldinIndiaislitteredwithfirstmoversandsecond(andthird,andevenlast)movers.Fascinatingly,manyoftheleadersareventuresfoundedIndiabyIndians(albeitfuelledlargelybyforeignventurecapitalandprivateequity).Forinstance,etailerFlipkartandonlinetravelfirmMakeMyTriparebothaheadoftheirglobalpeersAmazonandExpedia.
Socantheorderofthefirstmoverbeingfirstrankerchange?Forsure,anaggressiveAmazonIndiawillinsistasitgoesaboutthetaskofclosingthegapwithFlipkart(andBezosmaygleefullyremindyouoftheBookStacksexample).BeyondAmazon,too,intheclassifiedmarketplaceforusedgoods,theglobalgiant(OLX)movedintoIndiatwo
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweengl 2/13
anairstripsuitableformilitaryuseincontestedterritoryintheSouthChinaSea'sSpratlyIslands.
SevensmartwaystouseyourannualbonusHondaCarsIndiagearsuptointroducethenewJazz
decision.ButifyouwanttobuyitforreligiouspurposesonAkshayaTritiya,buyonlyasmallquantity.
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More
yearsbeforetoday'sleader(Quikr)gotgoing.Today,theIndiansecondmoverclaimstobeinfirstplacealthoughOLXtoomaintainsitisthemarketleader.
ButthentheseareearlydaysofecommerceinIndia,withbusinessesgrowingonthebackofreadyandwillinginvestors,andprofitabilityameregleamintheeyeoftheIndianfounders."WellfundedglobalplayerscaneasilyabsorbmillionsofdollarsinannuallossesandthiscanputIndianecommerceplayersintrouble,"saysSanchitVirGogia,chiefanalystandgroupCEOofGreyhoundResearch.
Sowillthelocalleadersbeabletokeeptheglobalgiantsatbay?Cansomeofthesecondmoverstakefirstplace?ETMagazinetakesalookatsixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiantsandIndiantopdogsondifferentpartsoftheecommercebattlefield.Inmanyoftheseencountersthewinnermayhavealreadybeendecidedandit'snotnecessarilythetwobrandssluggingitoutbuttheIndianconsumer.
MydalavsGroupon
WhenGrouponenteredIndiain2011,theChicagobaseddailydealsgianthadnumbersonitsside120millionsubscribersglobally.Afterfouryears,thatnumberhasgotmoreformidable,climbingto260million.Forgoodmeasure,monthlyuniquevisitorsstandat160million,ithassold900millionunitssofarandthepercustomerannualspendonthesiteworksoutto$155.
ThepictureinIndia,though,doesn'tlookthatimpressivenotatleastwhenstackedupagainstthelocalleaderinthecountry.WhileGrouponIndiahasjust5millionuniqueusersand25,000merchants,itsnearestrivalandlargestplayerinthesegmentMydalahas10timesasmanyuniqueusersandeighttimesasmanymerchants.Ifthatwasn'tenough,theIndianNo.1has4milliontransactingcustomerseverymonth,andmobileusersdownloadroughly150,000vouchersfromMydalaeveryday.
Ifsuchnumbersaren'tfazingGroupon,perhapsit'sbecausethey'relookingatabiggerpicture."Indiaisthefastestgrowingamongst48countrieswhereGrouponispresent,"saysAnkurWarikoo,regionalhead,APACemergingcountries(India,Indonesia,Thailand,Philippines).
GrouponhashaditsshareoflearningsfromtheIndiamarketandhasbeenusingtofinetuneitsstrategy.Forinstance,IndiaistheonlycountrywhereGrouponhasthecashondeliverymodeofpayment.WhilegloballywellnessisthebiggestcategoryforGroupon,inIndiait'sfoodandbeverages.Andalmost90%ofthedealsclosedarefacetoface,saysWarikoo,whomanagedtogetSequoiaCapitaltoinvest$20millionintheIndianunitinMarchthisyear.Theinvestment,thoughnothingcomparedtowhattheIndianstartupsareattracting,showsanewfoundaggressivenessoftheIndianarmtotakeoncompetition.
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweengl 3/13
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"ThereisnothingthatpreventsforeignplayersfromleadingintheIndianmarket,"saysWarikoo,wholooksataFlipkartorMakeMyTripashisrivalratherthanMydala.Mydalareturnsthecompliment."They[Groupon]don'tstandanywherenearus,"saysAnishaSingh,cofounderandCEOofMydala."IthasfailedinIndiabecauseofitsbigdaddyattitude."
Therivalrybetweenthebrandshasaninterestingbackground.In2011,whenGrouponwasplanningtoenterIndia,itwasintalkswithaslewoflocalplayersforabuyout.Mydalawasalsoapproached.However,thetalksfailedovervaluationsandtermsofthedeal."Itwasablessingindisguise,"saysSingh.
TheDelhibasedcompany,whichwasstartedin2009,reportedsalesofRs75crorein201314,withaprofitaftertaxofRs40lakh,afteradjustmentsforanemployeestockownershipplan(ESOP).Itexpectstocross$40millionorRs250croreby201617.
WhathashelpedMydalastealamarchonitsrivalsismassiveuseofdataanalytics."Ithelpsmerchantstargetrelevantusers,"saysSingh.Theanalyticsrevealsnotonlywhatuserstendtobuyandthepricepointstheymightlike,italsotracksthespendingpatternandpredictsthedealsthatwouldworkoutbestforthem.
WhathasalsodonewondersforSinghandtheothertwocofoundersArjunBasuandAshishBhatnagarisworkingearlyonmobilestrategy,connectingwithlocalmerchantsandfocusingondealsofallkindsunlike,say,aGrouponthattargetsrelativelyhigherenddealsatafarmorenicheaudienceintopmetros.SaysSingh:"WearenotheretomakemoviesforthecriticsbuttosetthecashregistersringinglikeDabangg'sChulbulPandey."
CashKarovsTopCashback
ForSwatiandRohanBhargava,itwasthebiggestgambleoftheirlife.Andtheoddsweren'tquiteintheirfavour.
PouringPounds,theircashbackwebsiteintheUK,wasamongthetop10cashbacksitesbutstillway,waybehindthelargestplayer,TopCashback.RatherthanconsolidatingtheirpositionintheUK,thehusbandwifeduodecidedtoshiftbasetoIndiainApril2013,amarkettheirUKrivalhadtakentheplungeintoayearbefore."Wewentbyourgut.We
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweengl 4/13
feltthechancesofbeatingtheminIndia,amarketwearemorefamiliarwith,werehigher[thanintheUK],"saysSwati.
CashKaroofferscashrebatestocustomerswhobuyproductsfromthewebsite'sretailpartners.Forsalesdrivenfromthesitetoecommercefirms,itgetsacommission,apartofwhichispassedonasextracashbacktocustomers.
Twoyearson,numbersrevealthatCashKaroiscomfortablyaheadofitsUKrival.Itboastsof3,500transactionsperday,anastounding1,000%growthoverthepast12months,1millionmembersacrossplatforms,600+retailersandagrossmerchandisevalueof$50million.CompareitwithTopCashbackandthenumberstellthestory1,0002,000transactionsperdayandarosterof300+retailers.Howdidtheduopullitoff?Simple,theyhadto."Wedidn'thaveaPlanB.SoourfocuswastomakeitbiginIndia,"saysSwati.
SincethefoundingteamwasbasedinIndia,itbecameeasiertofocusondirectrelationshipswithmerchantpartnersandusers,whichinturnhelpedfasterdecisionmaking."ThisisnotthesamewithTopCashbackasitsparentcompanyisbasedintheUK,"sheadds.Moreover,thepresenceofalargegroundteam(over45)enabledCashKarotoimproveitsbackendtechnologyconstantlyamidstafastchangingecommerceecosystem.
Anotherdecidingfactorwasthehungertosucceed.Mostoftheforeignplayersdon'tenteranewmarketwiththatfire,saysRohanBhargava."Justbeingpresentinamarketwithagrowingeconomyandanevenfastergrowinginternetpopulationperhapsissatisfactionenough."
Tobesure,TopCashbackisn'texactlyinahurrytograbpoleposition,preferringtoplayalongtermgame."WewouldlovetobethenumberonecashbackfirmonedaybutIndiaisvast,growingandathoroughlyexcitingplace,"saysNatashaRachelSmith,chiefcommunicationsofficerofTopCashback.
WhatdifferentiatesTopCashbackfromothersisthatitpassesontheentirecommissionitearnstotheusers.Sotheonlymoneyitmakesisfromtheadvertisements.However,thathasnotactedasadeterrentfortheUKmajor."WehavebeenseeingexplosivegrowthinIndiawiththeamountofcashbackearnedinthefirstfewmonthsofthisyearalreadyexceedingthatearnedinthewholeof2014,"saysSmith.
Tillnow,TopCashbackhasdonerelativelylittlemarketing.Amajorityofitsmembershavecomefromreferralsfromexistingusers.Sotheroomforgrowthisimmense.ButcanaforeignplayerclinchNo.1slotinIndianecommerce?"It'sabsolutelypossible,"Smithsays.Watchout,CashKaro.Thebigdaddyofcashbackisgettingreadytofightback.
MakeMyTripvsExpedia
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweengl 5/13
MakeMyTripcouldn'thavebeenbornataworsetimein2000,banginthemidstofthedotcombust.Ayearlater,9/11terroristattacksontheUnitedStatescameasahugesetbacktothetravelindustry.Thetriplewhammywascompleteinlate2002whenthesevereacuterespiratorysyndrome(SARS)brokeout.
ForcofoundersDeepKalraandRajeshMagow,theaftereffectswerenearfatal.Investorspanickedandpressedtheexitbuttons,andfreshfundswerenowhereinsight.Tostayafloat,theduodecidedtofocusontheUSIndiatravelmarket,withnonresidentIndiansastheirtargetcustomers.
Today,NRIsstillcontributetoMakeMyTrip'sbusiness,butjustaboutafraction.Therestcomesfromthedomesticmarket,helpingtheportalemergeasIndia'slargestonlinetravelfirm.
"Thefirstmovertaggaveusastrongerrecallandanenduringassociationwithtravellerswhobookedtheirfirstairticketwithus,"saysMagow,CEOofMakeMyTrip."Therewasnolookingbackafterthat."
Fifteenyearson,MakeMyTripisstillanoverwhelminglydominantplayerwitha47%onlinetravelmarketshare.Beingclosertothemarketdefinitelyhelpedittaketherightdecisionsattherighttimeandalsocapitalizeonitsexistingrelationshipswithsuppliers.
Butwhilethegoinghasbeensmoothsofar,thefinancialsoverthelastfewquartershavebeendisappointing.MakeMyTripreportednetlossesof$3.66millionforthequarterendedDecember30,2014,ascomparedtoa$1.6millionlossinthesamequarterlastyeartheninthstraightlossmakingquarterforthecompany.
Magowandhisteamhavebeenworkingtoputthingsbackontrackbyfocusingonnonairproductssuchashotelsandpackages(H&P)."It'sastrategicfocusareaforus.TheH&Pbusinessdisplayedovera70%growthintransactionsinthepastquarteroverayearago."
Butdoescompetitionworryhim,especiallyfromgloballeaderExpedia?Theworld'slargestonlinetravelcompanybyrevenuesenteredIndiain2008,agoodeightyearsafterMakeMyTrip,andappearshappywithitsprogresssofar.
"Wearenotinthenumbersgameofgettingtoa50%marketshare,"saysVikramMalhi,
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweengl 6/13
managingdirectorAsiaofExpedia."Doingsomethingsillyforthesakeofacquisitionofconsumersissomethingthatwewillshyawayfrom.Iamnotgoingtoburnaholeinthepockettoacquirecustomers."
India'sventurecapitalbackedtravelfirms,hecontends,maybesplurgingonadvertisingandpromotionstorackupsales,butasfarasExpediaacompanywhichlikeMakeMyTripislistedontheNASDAQintheUSisconcerned,itwon'tgoabout"spendingRs1,200toearnRs200fromthecustomer."
SohowwillExpediaplaythegame?Simple,byusingtechnologytoslicedataandcomeupwithproductssuitedforIndians."Wehaveearmarked$10millionfortechnologydevelopmentonlyforIndia,"saysMalhi.WillthatbeenoughtomakeExpedia'stripinIndia?
NaukrivsMonster
In2004,JobsAhead,anIndianjobportal,hadanover40%shareoftheonlinejobsmarketinthecountry.Whileitsnearestcompetitor,Naukri,wasbusydevisingastrategytotopthecategory,theonlyforeignplayerinthesegment,Monster,toowasfiguringoutwaystogetintothegame.
WhennobodywaswillingtogivetheAmericangiant,whichenteredIndiain2001,achance,itcameupwithamonsterofamovebybuyingJobsAhead.ThecombinedentitywasalmosttwicethesizeofNaukri,whichhadbegunoperationsin1997.
Fastforwardto2015,andthepeckingorderchangeth.WhileNaukriisthedominantplayer,MonsterisinvolvedinascrapforthesecondslotwithTimesJobs,ajobportalfromtheBCCLGroup(whichpublishesTheEconomicTimesMagazine).
"Inhindsight,thekillingofJobsAheadbyMonsterwasaturningpoint,"saysHiteshOberoi,CEOandmanagingdirectorofInfoEdgeIndia,whichrunsjobsportalNaukri.
Initially,JobsAheadandMonsterranasseparateentities.ButlatertheidentityoftheacquiredbrandwasmergedwithMonster."Sometimesalocalproductismoresuitedforthelocalmarket,"addsOberoi.
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweengl 7/13
VivekMadhukar,chiefoperatingofficerofTimesJobs,believesIndianplayershaveagreatercapacitytocustomisetheirofferingsfordomesticcustomers."Inaddition,thelogisticsandprofileoftheuserwouldbesignificantlydifferentinIndiaascomparedtotheWest,forwhichforeignplayers'offeringsareprimarilydesigned."
SowhathasenabledNaukristayaheadoftheglobalcountercounterpartinIndiasuperiorunderstandingofthemarketorconsistentinnovationorearlyprofitability?Perhapsamixofallthree,reckonsOberoi.
Tobeginwith,thefirstmoveradvantagehelpedNaukriincomprehendingthenuancesofthemarket.AndanearlyrealisationthatmanpowerintensiveIndianeedsadifferentapproachalsocamehandy.
"ForMonster,Indiawasjust2%ofglobaloperations,butforusIndiawas100%,"explainsOberoi."Soforusitwasadoordiesituation."
TheInfoEdgeCEOalsopointstoanothercriticaldifferencebetweenahomegrown,entrepreneurdrivenfirmandonerunfromtheglobalheadquarters."Attheendoftheday,thepersonwhoisheadingtheIndiaoperationsisjustanemployee.Obviously,pressuretoperformistherebutthestakesarenotashigh[asinafounderdrivenIndianstartup]."
SanjayModiobviouslydoesn'tthinkso.ThemanagingdirectorofMonster(India,MiddleEast,SouthEastAsia,HongKong)pointsoutthattheparentcompanyhaspulledoutallstopstoinstilanentrepreneurialspiritamongemployeesinIndia."ThedecisiontoacquireJobsAheadwastakenlocally,"saysModi."Weareaglobalplayerbutweactlocal."
Forhispart,ModitakesadigattheIndiancompaniesbysayingthattheyhavebeenapingthebusinessmodelsthathavebeenprovenglobally."Nobodycreatedanewmodel.EventhefundingofthesocalledIndiancompaniesisdonebyforeigners."
MonsterenteredIndiain2001,atthetailendofthedotcombust.
Aftersurvivingafewtumultuousyears,itbegantofinditsfeetandadapttolocalmarketconditions.ModifeelsthatlearningsofoperatingintheIndianmarkethaveputitinapositiontotoppletheleader.With1,00,000livejobs,44.9millionregisteredusersand15,000newresumesaddedeveryday,MonsterIndiaisgearinguptotakepoleposition."WearenotheretogaineyeballsbuttobecomeNo.1."
Thecompanyisplanningto"significantly"stepupinvestmentsinIndiathisyeartosupportitsaggressiveintent."It'sonlyamatteroftimebeforewegoinforthekill,"saysModi.LookslikeatoughjobbutMonsterisonit.
QuikrvsOLX
Failfast,scalefastisthemaximPranayChuletlivesby."QuickandQuikrwinstherace,"saysthefounderofQuikr,India'slargestonlineclassifiedsite.
Forthetimebeing,ChuletseemstohavewonthefirstfewroundsbyscalingexponentiallyandgrowingquickerthanglobalrivalOLX,Inc.TheIndianclassifiedsiteboastsofover8.2millionuniquevisitors(asofFebruary)across1,000citiesanddealsinover10categoriesand170subcategories.OLXinIndiahassome5.3millionuniquevisitors.
Startedin2008,Quikrrecentlyraised$150million(aroundRs900crore)fromHongKongbasedSteadviewCapitalalongwithitsexistinginvestors,includingTigerGlobalManagement,raisingatotalofover$350million.Thefreshroundoffundingtakesitsvaluationtoastaggering$1billion.
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweengl 8/13
AskChuletthereasonforthesuccessofIndianplayers,andhehasananswer(aquickone,ofcourse):"Greatbusinessesarenotbuiltbyhiredguns."HereferstotheIndianheadsofglobalMNCsthataretrailingtheircounterpartsinthecountry.
"Entrepreneursarehungrytosucceed,areagile,nimbletoadapttochangingsituationsandpassionate,"heexplains.ThereasonslistedprobablyexplainwhyQuikrracedaheadofNaspersownedOLXinspiteofnothavingthefirstmoveradvantage."[Thatdisadvantage]wascompensatedbylearningfromthemistakesofthosealreadypresent,"hesays.
Also,innovationwasanimperativetocounterthefirstmover.Quikr'sfirstmajorinnovationcameinthefagendof2012.
Consumerswereaskedtogiveamissedcallonanumber,andaQuikrrepresentativewouldcallthembackandtakedownthelisting.ItnotonlyallowedlakhsofofflineconsumerstopostadsonQuikreasily,italsohelpedthebrandpushitsapponthephones."Itacceleratedourgrowth,whichwasnowmuchfasterthanthecompetition,andchangedourtrajectory,"saysChulet.
Twoyearslatercameanothermasterstroke:MSPormaximumsellingpricefortheusedgoods.Sincethenthebrandhaskeptupitsinnovationtempo.QuikrNxt,thelatestofferingrolledoutinJanuarythisyear,isaninstantmessengerservicethatallowsuserstochatusingthewebsiteormobileapp.
WhilethegoinghasbeensmoothforChuletsofar,canhewardoffthechallengefromOLX,whichispresentinover100countriesand,inIndia,iscloseontheheelsoftheleader?
Inanemailreply,anOLXIndiaspokespersonsaidthatinecommerce"OLXistheonlyglobalplayerwhichisthemarketleader".Inrestofthecases,theglobalplayersseemtobelaggingbehindtheirIndiancounterparts,thespokespersonsaid,addingthattheIndiateamofOLXistravellingandwon'tbeabletocomment.
MarketinganalystssayOLXislikelytouptheantesoon."OLXhasdeeppockets,has
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweengl 9/13
madeanimpactwithitscommunicationsanditisonlyamatteroftimebeforeitestablishesitself,"saysAshitaAggarwalSharma,professorofmarketingatSPJainInstituteofManagement&Research.
Thisdoesn'tbotherChulet.Globalguyshavebigmoney,butit'snoteverything,hesays."Ifyouareburningmoneyandthereisnoreturnoninvestment,thensomebodywillwakeupandsmellthecoffee.Itcan'tgoonforlong."ButitmayalsohelpOLXscaleupquickerthanbefore.
FlipkartvsAmazon
AmitAgarwal,countrymanagerandvicepresidentofAmazonIndia,isan'obsessed'man."Weareobsessedwithourcustomers,weareobsessedwithcustomerfeedback,andweareobsessedwithhelpingsellersgetonline..."SuchobsessionhashelpedAmazontakethefighttoFlipkart,India'slargestonlineretailer,inalittleover20monthstintinIndia.
"WeareIndia'slargestonlinestore,"declaresAgarwal,dismissinganytalkaboutbeingsecondlargestinthecountry.Andnotforhimanydifferentiationbetween'foreign'ecommercefirmsandhomegrownones(likeFlipkartandSnapdeal)."Allthese[Indian]companiesareownedbyforeigninvestors."
Agarwal'sclaimtobeingthelargest,though,maynotbebackedbythenumbersthatmatterthoseofsales.InFebruarythisyear,newsreportsquotingunnamedsourcessaidFlipkarthadclocked$4billioninannualgrossmerchandisevalue(GMV).InMarch2014,itsGMVhadstoodat$1billion.GMVisafigureforthevalueofallgoodssoldonthesiteandusedtomeasuretheperformanceofonlineretailers.FlipkartdidnotshareanyfinancialdetailswithETMagazine.
InJuly2014,AmazaonfounderJeffBezoshadsaidinastatementthat"atcurrentscaleandgrowthrates,Indiaisontracktobeourfastestcountryevertoabilliondollarsingrosssales".Twomonthslater,onavisittoIndia,Bezosletonthat"this[India]teamhasblownpastourhighestexpectations."WhenaskedaboutthelatestGMV,AmazonIndiadeclinedtosharenumbers.
InitsfourthquarterfilingsinJanuarythisyear,Amazonmentionedthatin2014ithas
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetween 10/13
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emergedasIndia'slargestonlinestore.
AmazonIndiahasacollectionofover2.2croreproductsoutofwhich7lakhareavailablefornextdaydeliveryacross19,000pincodesinIndia.Ithasacombinedsellerbaseof100,000withJunglee(whichAmazonacquiredinthelate90s),andhasseeneighttimesgrowthintheRs1croreplussellerclubsaleslastyearitpostedaRs321.3crorenetlossintheyearendedMarch2014."Weareinvestingaggressively,"explainsAgarwal.
What'shelpingAmazoninitssurgeinIndiaisthedeeppocketsoftheparentcompanyBezoscommitteda$2billioninvestmentlastyearandpromisedtokeepthetaprunningaswellasitsfocusoninnovationsandgettingSMEsonboard."Inthelastoneyear,Amazonhasuppeditsgame,"saysSanchitVirGogia,chiefanalystandgroupCEOofGreyhoundResearch.
ShouldFlipkartbeworried?"Competitionisalwaysahealthythingthatdrivesustoinnovateandexplorenewerideas,"saysMukeshBansal,headofcommerceplatformatFlipkart.FoundedbyformerAmazoniansSachinBansalandBinnyBansalin2007,Flipkarthasraised$2.5billion(Rs15,600crore)sofar,hasover40millionregisteredconsumers,shipsabouteightmillionunitsamonthandisvaluedataround$11billion.Andthereisasetoffewambitioustargetsaswell:shippingabillionunitsamonth,serving100millionconsumersby2018,clocking$5billionsales(overRs30,000crore)bytheendofMarch2016(Amazongloballyhadsalesof$88.99billionin2014).
Withover20millionproductsacross70pluscategories,customerscanshopfromawiderangeofnationalandinternationalbrands,saysBansal.
ForFlipkart,whichhasalreadyhadfiveacquisitions,includingfashionretailerMyntra,buyoutsremainacrucialfocusareathisyear,especiallyintechnologyandmobilespace."WewanttheseM&AstodrivetheinnovationengineatFlipkart,"hesays.AsforAmazonasBezosindicatedontheIndiavisitgrowthismorelikelytobeorganic,withacquisitionsbeingastrategytoacquireuniquecapabilitiesratherthanmarketaccess.SmallwonderthenthatAgarwalisputtingpedaltometal.
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetween 11/13
Vryniceandinterestingarticle Agree(0)Disagree(0)Recommend(0)Offensive
nicetoreadsuchgreatinspirationalstories Agree(0)Disagree(0)Recommend(0)Offensive
Interesting.LetusstandbyourIndiancompaniesandcreateafiercebattleforground.Andletthecompetitionbringmorebenefitstoconsumers.UnlessourIndiancompaniesarenotstrong,MNCswouldexploitusandgobbleourmoneys.
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Coolarticle,detailedinfoonallcompanies.!Changestheperceptioneasily. Agree(0)Disagree(0)Recommend(0)Offensive
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ThisisthebesttimetobeinIndia'secommercemarket. Agree(1)Disagree(0)Recommend(0)Offensive
Interesting.LetusstandbyourIndiancompaniesandcreateafiercebattleforground.Andletthecompetitionbringmorebenefitstoconsumers.UnlessourIndiancompaniesarenotstrong,MNCswouldexploitusandgobbleourmoneys.
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ForFlipkart,whichhasalreadyhadfiveacquisitions,includingfashionretailerMyntra,buyoutsremainacrucialfocusareathisyear,especiallyintechnologyandmobilespace."WewanttheseM&AstodrivetheinnovationengineatFlipkart,"hesays.AsforAmazon
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetween 12/13
OnlineshoppingisbecomingacrazeinIndia.Indiancompanyshouldgiveagoodfighttoit'sforeigncounterpart.
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ForthatweshouldsupportIndiancompanieswhogiveusvalueformoneyaswellassustainedqualityservice.
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Yes,a2ndmoveradvantageisaveryvalidproposition Agree(0)Disagree(0)Recommend(0)Offensive
Wah!Whatastory?Halfthefactsarewrong.Mr.Journalistgoandcheckyourfactsfirst.Intryingtobesensational,you'vegotsomenumbershorriblywrong.Pleasetalktoafewinvestors,customersandsellersbeforeyoupublishsuchrubbish.Yourtargetaudienceforthispostarethestartupfolkandatsomeofyourexamples,theymustbelaughingatyou
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whatguaranteedoestheecommerceretailersgiveontheitemssoldontheirplatform....nothing................everythingseemstobeatthecustomersrisk........................
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nice... Agree(0)Disagree(0)Recommend(0)Offensive
FlipkartandsnapdealareIndianGoogleandYahoo. Agree(0)Disagree(1)Recommend(0)Offensive
survivalofthefittest Agree(0)Disagree(0)Recommend(0)Offensive
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4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetween 13/13
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Thanksforagreeingbutitisauniversaltheoryofmigrationonopportunity.
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