Latest news with #Amazon.comInc
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Flipkart bets on livestreaming and videos to win over online shoppers
Flipkart sees video commerce as a key strategy, with two-thirds of Gen Z using videos to shop. Usage is also surging in tier-II and III cities, where video-led formats are gaining rapid traction New Delhi Walmart-owned e-commerce major Flipkart is leaning heavily into social video and livestreaming to attract young shoppers who are glued to their smartphones. The move reflects a broader strategy of the company to seek long-term customer loyalty by making online shopping more immersive and interactive. Online shopping with live commerce Using videos to display and promote products has become one of the company's key new strategies, Neha Agrahari, a director at Flipkart told Bloomberg News. 'Users prefer to watch a video and make a decision' when shopping, she said. Agrahari believes video commerce is a natural progression, particularly with two-thirds of Gen Z consumers now favouring this style of shopping. Notably, 65 per cent of video and livestreaming interactions originate from India's tier-III and tier-III cities. What is live commerce? Live commerce merges real-time product purchasing with audience interaction via chat features or reaction buttons. In China, it has revolutionised the retail sector and emerged as a key sales channel. It now plays a central role in marketing campaigns for Singles' Day—a major shopping event in China—and is widely used as an effective digital strategy to enhance customer engagement and drive sales. Competing for e-commerce dominance Though video-based retailing is not new, Flipkart is banking on the format to outperform rivals such as Inc and Reliance Industries Ltd in the highly competitive Indian market. With around 650 million smartphone users in the country—and over 270 million of them shopping online—India has now overtaken the US as the world's second-largest e-retail market. Flipkart's own data shows that video-led engagement is surging. In the first half of 2025, over 200 million users interacted with videos while shopping on its platform, a significant increase from 75 million in the same period last year. Livestreams and influencers drive engagement Flipkart began integrating video content into its app approximately 18 months ago. These videos promote a wide range of products, from sunscreen to electronics. Livestreams also allow users to ask real-time questions and receive responses from influencers and product experts, enhancing the customer experience. This approach mirrors successful models in China and other parts of Asia, where video-driven commerce is widely used. Other Indian players, including Meesho, which is backed by SoftBank Group Corp, are also adopting similar strategies by hiring influencers to promote products ranging from cosmetics to health supplements. Building studios to boost sales Agrahari stated that video-led shopping is already boosting sales in categories like fashion, beauty, personal care, and home decor. The platform now plans to expand this format to electronics and fitness products. To support content creation, Flipkart is constructing physical studios in Gurugram, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. These studios are designed to offer a seamless shooting and editing experience for its video creators, she said. Growth in livestream engagement Engagement with daily livestreams has seen a dramatic increase — up 17 times compared to last year, according to Agrahari. This growth is partly fuelled by practical and engaging product demonstrations. For instance, users test T-shirts by dipping them in water to check for colour fastness or use various foods to assess kitchen appliances' performance.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon Pledges £40 Billion UK Investment, Creates Thousands of Jobs, Expands Operations
Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is one of the best US tech stocks to buy now. On June 24, Amazon announced a commitment to deepen its presence in the UK, planning to invest £40 billion (~$54 billion) over the next 3 years. The move is hailed by the UK government as a vote of confidence in its economic policies and is set to create thousands of jobs across the country. The planned investment includes the construction of 4 new state-of-the-art fulfillment centers. 2 of these will be located in the East Midlands, central England, and are expected to open in 2027. The other 2 were previously announced and will be in Hull, northern England (opening this year in 2025), and Northampton, central England (opening next year in 2026). Each of the Hull and Northampton sites is projected to create 2,000 jobs. A customer entering an internet retail store, illustrating the convenience of online shopping. Beyond new fulfillment centers, Amazon's £40 billion investment will also encompass new delivery stations across the UK, upgrades and expansions to its existing network of over 100 operations buildings, and enhancements to its transport infrastructure. The company also plans to open 2 new buildings at its corporate headquarters in East London and redevelop the Bray Film Studios in Berkshire, southern England, which it purchased in 2024. Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscription services through online and physical stores in North America and internationally. While we acknowledge the potential of AMZN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon to Invest $233 Million in India Operations for 2025 for Infrastructure, E-commerce Growth
Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is one of the best QQQ stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On June 19, Amazon announced that the company will invest $233 million in its India operations in 2025. The move underscores Amazon's commitment to capturing a larger share of India's rapidly expanding e-commerce market. The investment will enhance infrastructure, improve delivery speeds & efficiency, and prioritize employee safety, all while integrating cutting-edge technology into its fulfillment network. The investment is dedicated to expanding and upgrading Amazon's physical and technological infrastructure across India, such as the launch of new fulfillment sites and upgrades across existing facilities throughout the company's pan-India network in both urban and rural areas. Amazon is also implementing new safety programs and initiatives to protect its workforce in India's labor-intensive logistics sector. A customer entering an internet retail store, illustrating the convenience of online shopping. India is a pivotal market in Amazon's global expansion strategy due to its population and digitizing economy. The current investment builds on previous commitments, like the pledge to invest $26 billion in India by 2030, which was announced earlier in June 2023 after CEO Andy Jassy met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. AWS, the company's cloud computing unit, has also committed substantial investments, including $8.2 billion by the end of 2030, with two data centers already operational in Mumbai since 2016 and Hyderabad since 2022. Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscription services through online and physical stores in North America and internationally. While we acknowledge the potential of AMZN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Star
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Amazon orders employees to relocate to Seattle and other hubs
New directive: The relocation policy will affect thousands of Amazon employees on several teams. —Reuters NEW YORK: Inc is ordering some corporate employees to move closer to their managers and teams, roiling a workforce already worried about job cuts and warnings from the top that artificial intelligence (AI) will shrink their ranks in the coming years. Workers are being told to relocate to such cities as Seattle, Arlington, Virginia and Washington DC, which in some cases would require them to move across the country, according to sources. Amazon is mostly rolling out the mandate in one-on-one meetings and town halls rather than sending out a mass email, said the sources. The relocation policy will affect thousands of employees on several teams. Mid-career professionals with children in school and partners in established careers are reluctant to make big moves in light of Amazon's belt-tightening efforts. An Amazon spokesperson said 'for more than a year now, some teams have been working to bring their teammates closer together to help them be as effective as possible, but there isn't a one-size-fits all approach and there hasn't been a change in our approach as a company.' Amazon employees have been sharing information about the relocation mandate on the company's internal slack channels, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg. One employee said the manager informed the team of the need to relocate and told them they had 30 days to make a decision. Then they had 60 days to either resign or begin their relocation process, according to the sources, who said they were told there would be no severance for employees who resigned in lieu of relocating. The company spokesperson said 'we hear from the majority of our teammates that they love the energy from being located together, and whenever someone chooses to or is asked to relocate, we work with them to offer support based on their individual circumstances.' When chief executive officer Andy Jassy ordered employees to return to the office five days a week beginning earlier this year, there was no requirement that they move to specific offices. Amazon has satellite workplaces around the country, including major metropolitan areas like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas and Austin, giving workers some flexibility about where they lived. Many employees were hired to fully remote positions during the pandemic. In 2022, Jassy initiated Amazon's biggest-ever round of corporate job cuts, which ultimately eliminated 27,000 positions across the Seattle-based company. There have since been several smaller rounds of reductions targeting particular departments. Telling workers to relocate will likely prompt some to quit, which can be a less expensive way to reduce headcount than executing layoffs and paying severance packages. Jassy on Tuesday said he expected the company's workforce to shrink in coming years due to AI advancements that will be capable of performing some employee functions. — Bloomberg
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon orders employees to relocate to Seattle and other hubs
(Bloomberg) — Inc. (AMZN) is ordering some corporate employees to move closer to their managers and teams, roiling a workforce already worried about job cuts and warnings from the top that artificial intelligence will shrink their ranks in the coming years. Security Concerns Hit Some of the World's 'Most Livable Cities' JFK AirTrain Cuts Fares 50% This Summer to Lure Riders Off Roads Taser-Maker Axon Triggers a NIMBY Backlash in its Hometown How E-Scooters Conquered (Most of) Europe NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25%, RPA Reports Workers are being told to relocate to such cities as Seattle; Arlington, Virginia; and Washington DC, which in some cases would require them to move across the country, according to people familiar with the situation. Amazon is mostly rolling out the mandate in one-on-one meetings and town halls rather than sending out a mass email, said the people, who requested anonymity because they aren't authorized to discuss company plans. One of the people said the relocation policy will affect thousands of employees on several teams. Mid-career professionals with children in school and partners in established careers are reluctant to make big moves in light of Amazon's belt-tightening efforts. An Amazon spokesperson said 'for more than a year now, some teams have been working to bring their teammates closer together to help them be as effective as possible, but there isn't a one-size-fits all approach and there hasn't been a change in our approach as a company.' Amazon employees have been sharing information about the relocation mandate on the company's internal slack channels, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg. One employee said their manager informed the team of the need to relocate and told them they had 30 days to make a decision. Then they had 60 days to either resign or begin their relocation process, according to the person, who said they were told there would be no severance for employees who resigned in lieu of relocating. The company spokesperson said 'we hear from the majority of our teammates that they love the energy from being located together, and whenever someone chooses to or is asked to relocate, we work with them to offer support based on their individual circumstances.' When Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy ordered employees to return to the office five days a week beginning earlier this year, there was no requirement that they move to specific offices. Amazon has satellite workplaces around the country, including major metropolitan areas like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas and Austin, giving workers some flexibility about where they lived. Many employees were hired to fully remote positions during the pandemic. In 2022, Jassy initiated Amazon's biggest-ever round of corporate job cuts, which ultimately eliminated 27,000 positions across the Seattle-based company. There have since been several smaller rounds of reductions targeting particular departments. Telling workers to relocate will likely prompt some to quit, which can be a less expensive way to reduce headcount than executing layoffs and paying severance packages. Jassy on Tuesday said he expects the company's workforce to shrink in coming years due to AI advancements that will be capable of performing some employee functions. The announcement, while not entirely unexpected, set off a round of hand-wringing on internal messaging boards. Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It How a Tiny Middleman Could Access Two-Factor Login Codes From Tech Giants Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
