India's E-commerce Warzone_ Six Cut-throat Skirmishes Underway Between Global Giants & Indian Top...

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FOLLOW ET: Log In / Join MustSee Slideshows China's new runway: Airstrip in South China Sea! China has made rapid progress in building SPOTLIGHT Startups LATEST NEWS > 06:14 PM: Sri Lanka's expresident Mahinda Rajapakse faces anti... 06:08 PM: Egyptian court confirms death sentences for 22 Islamists 06:07 PM: Centre, states working on new GST rate: Revenue Secy ... Vikram Patel Lack of political will to address complex health issues < > SME Sector Startups SME Policy & Trends Regional Hubs Entrepreneurship Hardware You are here: ET Home News Emerging Businesses Startups SENSEX 27,886.21 555.89 NIFTY 8,448.10 157.90 GOLD (MCX) (Rs/10g.) 26,855.00 43.00 USD/INR 62.91 0.53 LOGIN to Track your Investments By Rajiv Singh, ET Bureau | 19 Apr, 2015, 06.54AM IST 25 comments | Post a Comment Ecommerce is seeing a race between the Amazons and Expedias vs the Flipkarts and MakeMyTrips. The desi entrepreneurs have the wind in their sales, for now. Editor's Pick Markets down, but do not panic, say experts; top stocks to buy Sensex falls over 1K pts; good time to buy: Experts HSBC account holders fear attachment of assets Sensex closes 555 points down; five reasons Traders bullish on gold ahead of Akshaya Tritiya ET SPECIAL: Love visual aspect of news? Enjoy this exclusive slideshows treat! India's ecommerce warzone: Six cut throat skirmishes underway between global giants & Indian top dogs READ MORE ON » Vivek Madhukar | Sunday ET | Sequoia | Sanjay Modi | Sachin Bansal | representative | Rachel Smith Amazon, America's largest etailer, began as an online bookstore in 1994. Two years before Jeff Bezos pored through the dictionary and picked out the world's biggest river as his brand name, lesser known (at least as of today) Charles M Stack founded books.com. Today, Stack's online stores (also known as Book Stacks Unlimited) will be difficult to locate — they were gobbled up by Barnes & Noble over 15 years ago. Contrary to popular perception, Amazon wasn't the first mover (by some accounts it was second, by others even fourth). Also contrary to popular perception, the first mover doesn't always emerge the winner. Marketing gurus will tell you about the first mover advantage, which is typically the head start the first entrant gains by capitalising on a monopolylike situation to rake in fat profit margins. Lessertalkedabout is the secondmover advantage, the competitive advantage an entrant gets by learning from the pioneer's mistakes, copying his successful strategies and stealing his share (instead of wasting time creating a market). The $12billion ecommerce battlefield in India is littered with first movers; and second (and third, and even last) movers. Fascinatingly, many of the leaders are ventures founded India by Indians (albeit fuelled largely by foreign venture capital and private equity). For instance, etailer Flipkart and online travel firm MakeMyTrip are both ahead of their global peers Amazon and Expedia. So can the order of the first mover being first ranker change? For sure, an aggressive Amazon India will insist as it goes about the task of closing the gap with Flipkart (and Bezos may gleefully remind you of the Book Stacks example). Beyond Amazon, too, in the classified marketplace for used goods, the global giant (OLX) moved into India two Search for News, Stock Quotes & NAV's 04:05 PM | 20 APR MARKET STATS EOD Home News Defence Company Industry Economy Politics and Nation International Emerging Businesses More Indiatimes The Times of India The Economic Times More Airtel plan may violate spirit of net neutrality: Flikpakrt CEO Sachin Bansal » Read more

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Transcript of India's E-commerce Warzone_ Six Cut-throat Skirmishes Underway Between Global Giants & Indian Top...

  • 4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes

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    ByRajivSingh,ETBureau|19Apr,2015,06.54AMIST 25comments | PostaComment

    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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    anairstripsuitableformilitaryuseincontestedterritoryintheSouthChinaSea'sSpratlyIslands.

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    decision.ButifyouwanttobuyitforreligiouspurposesonAkshayaTritiya,buyonlyasmallquantity.

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    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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    "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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    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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    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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    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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    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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    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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    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

  • 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.

    READMOREONVivekMadhukar|SundayET|Sequoia|SanjayModi|SachinBansal|representative|RachelSmith

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  • 4/20/2015 India'secommercewarzone:Sixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetweenglobalgiants&IndiantopdogsTheEconomicTimes

    http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emergingbusinesses/startups/indiasecommercewarzonesixcutthroatskirmishesunderwaybetween 11/13

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    Interesting.LetusstandbyourIndiancompaniesandcreateafiercebattleforground.Andletthecompetitionbringmorebenefitstoconsumers.UnlessourIndiancompaniesarenotstrong,MNCswouldexploitusandgobbleourmoneys.

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    Interesting.LetusstandbyourIndiancompaniesandcreateafiercebattleforground.Andletthecompetitionbringmorebenefitstoconsumers.UnlessourIndiancompaniesarenotstrong,MNCswouldexploitusandgobbleourmoneys.

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    ForFlipkart,whichhasalreadyhadfiveacquisitions,includingfashionretailerMyntra,buyoutsremainacrucialfocusareathisyear,especiallyintechnologyandmobilespace."WewanttheseM&AstodrivetheinnovationengineatFlipkart,"hesays.AsforAmazon

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    OnlineshoppingisbecomingacrazeinIndia.Indiancompanyshouldgiveagoodfighttoit'sforeigncounterpart.

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    whatguaranteedoestheecommerceretailersgiveontheitemssoldontheirplatform....nothing................everythingseemstobeatthecustomersrisk........................

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