Topic
e-commerce
E-Commerce & Marketplaces GeM completes 10 years as India's trusted digital public procurement platform
GeM has launched a 10-day celebration ahead of its 10th Foundation Day, unveiling a new logo and announcing a Buyer Meet and Seller Roundtable for next month. CEO Mihir Kumar outlined the platform's next phase of growth and stakeholder engagement. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirmed a year-long outreach programme across India.
Logistics Amazon speeds last-mile delivery, expands robotics fleet past 1 million
Amazon expanded same-day and overnight delivery to more than 40% of items in H1 2026 and grew Amazon Now to over 250 cities. The company also passed 1 million deployed robots and plans to double its robotic arm fleet in 2026, according to FreightWaves.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Flipkart and Amazon Mount Fee War as Race for Smaller Indian Cities Heats Up
Amazon and Flipkart have waived seller commissions twice since last year on products priced within Rs 1,000, and Flipkart has removed fashion commissions entirely, according to Business Today. The fee war targets faster-growing non-metro demand, where online shopping penetration rose from just over one-fifth in 2016 to nearly one-third by 2025. Sellers should factor lower transaction costs into pricing as both platforms court tier-two and tier-three city customers.
Finance Zepto Delays Listing, Looks to Raise Rs 1,000 Crore in Pre-IPO Funding at Reduced Valuation
Zepto is raising about Rs 1,000 crore (~$105 million) in pre-IPO funding at a $4–4.5 billion valuation, over 30% below its last round, postponing its public listing. The company aims to close the round in a couple of weeks and then file its RHP with Sebi, amid valuation gaps between domestic and foreign investors and intensifying competition.
Logistics Housing Market Crash Slams Last-Mile Delivery: Growth Halved, Consolidation Looms
The big-and-bulky last-mile delivery segment is seeing growth halved to roughly 5% annually through 2027, driven by a stalled housing market with 6-7% mortgage rates. A joint report from Armstrong & Associates and the National Home Delivery Association highlights intensifying competition, the need for AI-driven execution, and looming consolidation. Labor availability is also tightening due to CDL enforcement.
Logistics Carrier diversification unravels the last-mile delivery duopoly as shippers seek alternatives
A new AlixPartners survey reveals that 55% of retailers now use carriers outside FedEx, UPS, and USPS, with alternative carriers growing 13% in volume. Amazon became the largest domestic parcel carrier in 2025, while FedEx and UPS are pivoting to B2B logistics. The trend is driven by rising consumer expectations (2.6 days max for free shipping) and escalating costs.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces FNP targets over Rs 1,400 crore revenue this fiscal as quick commerce and global expansion accelerate
Ferns N Petals (FNP) targets over Rs 1,400 crore revenue in FY27, up from Rs 1,005 crore in FY26, driven by rapid growth in quick commerce and international expansion into the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and planned entry into Malaysia, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The company is investing in dark stores, premium offerings, and technology to sustain profitability.
Logistics Swiggy Instamart CEO Amitesh Kumar Jha Resigns; Myntra's Nandita Sinha to Take Charge
Swiggy-owned quick commerce platform Instamart has a new CEO. Nandita Sinha will take over from August 3, succeeding Amitesh Kumar Jha who resigned to pursue external opportunities. Jha highlighted operational improvements in supply chain and unit economics during his tenure.
Trade Shein swings to a quarterly loss after Donald Trump’s trade rules slow US sales
Fast-fashion e-commerce giant Shein reported a $99m net loss for Q1 2026, compared with a $395m profit a year earlier, citing the removal of the US de minimis import duty exemption on small packages. The company also flagged headwinds from US-China tariff uncertainty and the Iran war, and plans to raise prices in the US market. Shein received approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission for a Hong Kong IPO on 10 July 2026.
Primark Slashes Prices Up to 29% in Response to Pressure from Shein and Temu
Primark has announced price cuts of up to 29% on hundreds of clothing items, responding to intense competition from online fast-fashion rivals Shein and Temu. The move comes as Primark's like-for-like sales drop and its parent company plans a stock market spin-off. The price war highlights the pressure on traditional retailers from cross-border e-commerce platforms that benefit from low operational costs and import duty exemptions.
Logistics Flipkart to Enter Food Delivery Space Within a Month, CEO Confirms
Walmart-owned Flipkart plans to launch food delivery services within 30 days, starting with a pilot in Bangalore. The company is considering a separate app and ONDC integration. CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy said the move is part of expanding the e-commerce platform's customer use cases, and noted that Gen Z customers are a key focus.
Logistics Weak housing market halves growth in big and bulky last-mile delivery sector
Growth in last-mile delivery for big and bulky items has slowed to 5.1% CAGR from 10.6% due to a stagnant housing market, according to Armstrong & Associates and the National Home Delivery Association. Housing turnover hit a 30-year low last year, dampening demand for furniture and appliances. Carriers face profit compression with revenue per shipment often below $90, while high-touch services command up to $250.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Govt opens inventory-based e-commerce to foreign direct investment for exports only
The Indian government, through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has amended the FDI policy to allow inventory-based e-commerce for exports only. This enables Indian manufacturers to use foreign investment to own inventory and sell directly to overseas buyers, while maintaining the existing prohibition on inventory-based B2C e-commerce domestically. The policy change aims to boost exports without affecting small domestic retailers.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces TikTok Live Shopping Drives £100,000 Sales in a Day for UK Seller, but Fees Bite
TikTok Shop UK sellers report massive live-streaming sales, including £100,000 in a single day for one beauty brand. However, platform fees of up to 9p per £1 sold (9%) raise cost concerns, with eBay Live offering a combined fee of up to 8.42p. Industry research shows 30% of shoppers have bought via live shopping, highlighting rapid consumer adoption.
Regulations & Compliance AliExpress Fined Record €550m by EU for Allowing Sale of Illegal Products Under Digital Services Act
The European Commission fined AliExpress a record €550m (£467m) for allowing the sale of illegal products such as unsafe toys and counterfeit clothes, the highest penalty under the Digital Services Act. The two-year investigation found detection systems failed, illegal products remained online for weeks, and compliance checks were easily circumvented. AliExpress must pay the fine and submit a remediation plan by October 20.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Reliance Retail Maps Online Business Growth with JioMart and Dark Store Expansion in FY27
Reliance Retail outlines a three-year roadmap to scale its online business, led by JioMart and dark store expansion, with a focus on improving unit economics, omni-channel integration, and profitability through private labels and marketplace income.
Logistics Pin Code Wars: Quick Commerce Cos Add 900 Dark Stores in 3 Months, Intensifying Metro Battles
India's largest quick commerce operators added nearly 900 dark stores between April and July 2026, according to Bernstein. Blinkit, Flipkart Minutes, and Amazon Now led the expansion, but most new stores opened in already-served pin codes, intensifying competition in metro areas. The total dark store network grew to about 6,650-6,750, while metro pin code saturation rose from 26% to 44%.
Business Uber to Acquire Delivery Hero in $14.8 Billion Deal, Creating Largest Food-Delivery Group Outside China
Uber agreed to acquire Delivery Hero at an equity value of $14.8 billion, creating the largest food-delivery group outside China. The deal, conditioned on a 50% plus one share acceptance threshold, is expected to close in the second half of next year and positions Uber to better compete with Just Eat and DoorDash.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces How quick commerce is silently eliminating India’s middlemen and benefitting horticulture farmers
Quick commerce platforms Blinkit and Zepto are partnering with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to bypass middlemen, enabling farmers to receive ₹2-2.50/kg more than local mandi rates. The model relies on direct procurement, a 'no profit no loss' approach, and return-to-vendor clauses to maintain quality.
First 2026 Streaming Deals Arrive for Amazon Prime Day: HBO, Peacock, Paramount Plus at $1/Month
Amazon Prime Day 2026 introduces major streaming subscription discounts. Services including HBO, Peacock, Paramount Plus, Britbox, MGM Plus, and Crunchyroll offer nearly-free two-month trials at $1 per month, available exclusively to Amazon Prime members. These deals represent the first actual 2026 streaming offers, according to WIRED.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Zoro Promo Codes for 2026: B2B Industrial Supplies Discounts Up to 55% Off
Zoro, a B2B platform for industrial supplies, is offering multiple promo codes for 2026, including 15% off electrical and lighting supplies with code LIGHTING26, 15% off office supplies with SUPPLIES626, and free shipping on orders over $50. Weekly deals provide up to 55% off. A 10% discount is available for signing up for emails.
'Cool in 90 seconds' – UK regulators warn of fake portable air conditioners flooding online marketplaces
Deceptive adverts for portable air conditioners claiming to 'cool a room in 90 seconds' are appearing on Facebook and YouTube, according to the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA warns the products are often 'too good to be true', with AI-generated visuals and fake customer reviews. Cross-border sellers should note the ASA's enforcement notices and the risk of banning non-compliant adverts.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Seller Body FIRST Drags Flipkart to CCI Over Alleged Unfair Practices and Deep Discounting
The Forum for Internet Retailers, Sellers & Traders (FIRST) has filed a 157-page complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against Walmart-owned Flipkart Group, alleging structural mechanisms to distort competition through deep discounting, preferred seller benefits, and an estimated Rs 3,000 crore annual fund generated via GST avoidance on logistics operations. FIRST claims Flipkart operates an inventory-based model under the guise of a marketplace, and seeks an investigation into violations of the Competition Act.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Survey of 9,000 Consumers Reveals Pricing and Tax Transparency Key to Cross-Border Growth
A global survey of 9,000 consumers across nine markets reveals that pricing clarity, duties, and tax transparency are critical factors for conversion and trust in cross-border e-commerce. The findings underscore the need for sellers to clearly communicate total landed costs and comply with customs regulations.
VCG: Multimodal Retrieval Framework Solves Extreme Cold-Start Problem for E-Commerce Video Feeds
E-commerce platforms are shifting to video feeds but face extreme cold-start problems because new videos lack interaction history. The VCG system, described in a recent arXiv paper, uses a CLIP-based multimodal retrieval engine to map users and videos into a shared semantic space, enabling zero-shot retrieval. Online A/B testing showed a 50% uplift in deep video completion, demonstrating effective mitigation of engagement biases.
Trade Alibaba Sues US Government Over Pentagon Defense Blacklist Allegations
E-commerce giant Alibaba has sued the US government over its inclusion on a Pentagon blacklist that labels the company a 'military-civil fusion contributor' to China's defence industrial base. The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, challenges the designation as baseless and warns of severe business restrictions starting 30 June, including a ban on Pentagon contracts and indirect pressure on US advisers to sever ties.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces EMI and instalment-based smartphone purchases nearly at par with one-time payments in India
According to Counterpoint Research, smartphone financing via NBFCs and credit/debit card EMIs will account for 42% of total smartphone sales in India in 2026, up from 35% in 2025. The trend is driven by rising smartphone prices, attractive no-cost EMI schemes, and increasing consumer preference for monthly payments. Samsung leads in financing penetration with its Samsung Finance+ and other options.
Logistics Quick-Commerce Platforms See Summer Sales Surge, Driving Last-Mile Demand for Cold Chain and Tier-2/3 Expansion
A heatwave across India has driven a 140% year-on-year increase in ice cream sales on quick-commerce platforms, with beverages up 114% and face-care products up 96%. Platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Amazon Now, and Flipkart Minutes are expanding into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, pressuring last-mile logistics to handle temperature-sensitive goods and higher delivery density.
Manufacturing Just About Anyone Can Sell GLP-1s Online Now: Turnkey Telehealth Sparks Market Flood
The rise of turnkey telehealth services is enabling companies with no medical background—from search platforms like JustAnswer to dating apps like Grindr—to sell GLP-1 drugs online. Infrastructure firms handle software, clinician networks, and compliance, allowing new entrants to launch in as little as three hours. The trend is accelerating rapidly, with one provider reporting a minimum of one new brand launch per day.
Logistics Amazon and Flipkart Escalate Quick Commerce War in India with Major Expansion Plans
Amazon and Flipkart are aggressively scaling their quick commerce operations in India, with Amazon Now targeting 300+ cities and Flipkart Minutes already in 130+ cities. This intensifies competition for incumbents Blinkit, Swiggy, and Zepto, driving market share battles and discounting. Last-mile delivery networks and dark store expansion are at the core of the race.
Logistics Australia Post named delivery partner for Vinted’s Australia launch on July 1
Vinted, Europe's top second-hand fashion marketplace, launches in Australia on July 1 with Australia Post as its exclusive delivery partner. The three-year contract covers all shipping services, including post office drop-off, parcel lockers, and last-mile home delivery. The partnership taps into Australia's growing re-commerce market, estimated to reach $6.75 billion by 2029.
Quick Commerce Founders Shift from Speed to Survival, Reshaping Last-Mile Logistics Priorities
Speaking at ETRetail's E-commerce & Digital Natives Summit 2026, founders of quick commerce companies including FirstClub, Swish, and Slikk argued that the industry has entered a tougher phase focused on execution and profitability rather than just delivery speed. This strategic shift has direct implications for last-mile logistics operators, as the emphasis moves from volume to sustainable unit economics.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces AI reshapes D2C growth engines but human judgment still defines brand outcomes, say founders at ETRetail Summit
At the ETRetail E-Commerce and Digital Natives Summit 2026, leaders from Zivame, Urban Ladder, Yoga Bars, DrinkPrime, and Trustsignal discussed how AI is transforming performance marketing, retention analytics, and content speed, but emphasized that critical decisions around brand trust, positioning, and customer experience still require human oversight. Panelists highlighted AI's role in reducing customer acquisition costs and accelerating content production, while noting its limitations in emotional nuance, strategic decision-making, and new customer acquisition.
Business EDNS 2026: Endurance, Not Early Growth, Will Define India’s Next D2C Winners
At the EDNS 2026 conference, founders across beauty, nutrition, fashion, wellness, and food emphasized that long-term brand survival depends on product integrity, category creation, supply chain depth, and sustained relevance beyond early growth spikes. Key leaders from Plum, Fast&Up, Kapiva, Indo Era, and Akshaykalpa Organic shared insights on building defensible moats and navigating India's crowded D2C ecosystem.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Amazon chief Andy Jassy presses Quick-commerce pedal: Now to expand to 300+ cities
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, on his first visit to India since 2021, announced Amazon Now will expand to over 300 cities from 15, backed by a fresh $300 million investment. The quick-commerce service has seen orders double every quarter since launch, positioning Amazon to challenge incumbents Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Flipkart Minutes.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Global brands must avoid premature expansion, says Urbanic Co-founder James Wellwood
Urbanic Co-founder James Wellwood emphasises that sustainable globalisation requires disciplined expansion, strong supply chains, and locally attuned community building. He warns against premature scaling across multiple markets, noting that technology and data-driven forecasting can optimise inventory and minimise dead stock.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces India’s next e-commerce growth wave will come from Tier-II and Tier-III consumers, not metros
At the ETRetail E-Commerce and Digital Natives Summit 2026, panelists including CEOs of Tata CLiQ, Snapdeal, and Yatra said India's next e-commerce growth will come from Tier-II and Tier-III consumers. Key data points: 63% of outbound travel originates from these cities, and more than half of Tata CLiQ Luxury's business comes from non-metro locations. Panelists cautioned against overestimating growth pace but highlighted significant untapped demand.
Technology How Flipkart Uses Generative AI to Shift E-Commerce from Search to Intent-Led Commerce
At the ETRetail E-Commerce and Digital Natives Summit 2026, Flipkart executives outlined how generative AI and agentic systems are transforming e-commerce from search-driven transactions to intent-led commerce. The shift enables conversational discovery, AI-powered seller tools, and agent-based workflows across the value chain.
Logistics Flipkart and Amazon Expand Fulfilment Centres to Compete in Quick Commerce
Flipkart and Amazon are rapidly expanding micro fulfilment centres to catch up in quick commerce. Flipkart now operates 1,000 centres with orders growing fivefold, while Amazon invests millions in urban fulfilment centres. Both leverage large customer bases to drive adoption.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Tea Board to Launch Web-Based Auction Platform on June 30, Migrating from NSEIT System
The Tea Board will launch a new web-based tea auction platform on June 30, developed by Tradeforge Technologies under a Build-Own-Operate model. The platform will first go live in Kolkata for Sale No. 27, with a phased rollout to other auction centres. Existing auction processes remain unchanged, but the new system promises improved security and cost-effectiveness.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Prime Day Vacuum Deals: Top Discounts on Cordless, Robot, and Wet Vacuums from Shark, Dyson, Bissell
WIRED reports on Prime Day vacuum deals for 2026, featuring discounts on cordless vacuums like the Shark PowerDetect ($300, $100 off), the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder ($150), and the Dyson Gen5Detect. Robot vacuums such as the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal ($850) and Dreame X50 Ultra also see sales. Wet vacuums include the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine and Narwal S30 Pro ($330).
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Ticket Reseller StubHub Fined £900,000 by UK CMA for Hidden Fees; Customers to Receive Refunds
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) fined ticket reseller StubHub £900,000 for failing to display total prices upfront, including hidden fees. More than 50,000 customers are expected to receive refunds averaging £10 per transaction. The CMA warned that hidden fees are illegal and unfair to consumers.
Technology Amazon and Walmart Battle for Lowest Price on Apple AirPods Pro 3, Dropping to $169
Walmart has dropped the Apple AirPods Pro 3 to $169.99, a record low, while Amazon lists them at $179. The price war highlights competitive dynamics in e-commerce ahead of Amazon Prime Day on June 23.
Business Zepto IPO: Can 10-Minute Delivery Sustain Profitability Under Public-Market Scrutiny?
Zepto has filed its draft red herring prospectus for an IPO of up to Rs 80,100 million, revealing revenues of Rs 22,623 crore for FY26 but pre-tax losses of Rs 6,468 crore. The company leads peers on order density per dark store, yet faces declining average order values and negative operating cash flow.
Business Profitability Remains Key Concern as Zepto Lines Up IPO Amid High-Volume Pitch
Quick-commerce platform Zepto has updated its draft red herring prospectus for an IPO, highlighting rapid order growth but persistent losses. The company processed 210 million orders in Q1 FY26, nearly double Swiggy Instamart, but Blinkit leads with both order volume and profitability. Zepto's adjusted EBITDA loss stood at Rs 1,248 crore in the March quarter, while Blinkit posted a profit.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Amazon Plans $35 Billion Additional India Investment by 2030, Calls It Most Aggressive Expansion Phase
Amazon India is ramping up its presence with a $35 billion fresh investment pledge by 2030, on top of $40 billion already invested. The company's country manager Samir Kumar described this as the most aggressive expansion phase in India yet, spanning ecommerce, quick commerce (Amazon Now), AI, and exports enablement.
Technology Quick-commerce FirstClub doubles valuation to $255M in 9 months on quality-first grocery bet
FirstClub, an Indian quick-commerce startup focused on curated quality groceries, raised $55M in Series B funding co-led by Peak XV Partners and Sofina, doubling its valuation to $255M in nine months. The company plans to expand beyond Bengaluru and into new categories.
Finance Zepto Files Updated DRHP for $1 Billion IPO, Targets July Listing at $10 Billion Valuation
Quick-commerce player Zepto on Monday filed its updated draft IPO papers with market regulator Sebi, moving closer to a public listing targeted in July. The startup seeks to raise up to Rs 8,010 crore through fresh shares, while existing investors including Nexus Venture Partners and Contrary will sell up to 11.3 crore shares in the offering. The total issue size is estimated at $1 billion, and the company is targeting a valuation of about $10 billion.
Technology Coupang Fined $400M by South Korea for Massive Data Breach Affecting 37.5 Million Users
South Korea's data protection regulator fined Coupang $400M (624.68bn won) for a data breach affecting 37.5 million users, the largest such fine ever. The leak exposed names, contact, delivery details, and order histories. Coupang expressed regret and plans to challenge the decision; its CEO resigned.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Columbia Promo Codes: B2B Implications of 15% Off and Membership Discounts
Columbia offers multiple promo codes for June 2026, including 15% off first orders via Greater Rewards, $20 off $100+ with email and text sign-ups, and discounts for students, teachers, military, and first responders. These deals are relevant for B2B buyers and resellers looking to source outdoor gear at reduced prices.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Hoka Coupon Codes June 2026: Save Up to 30% on Running Shoes
Hoka offers up to 30% off select running shoes in June 2026, including the Speedgoat 6 and Transport. New customers can get free expedited shipping, while Hoka members receive 10% off, free standard shipping, and extended 60-day returns. The Hoka Outlet sale provides up to 30% off for newsletter subscribers until September 20.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Agentic Commerce Battle Misses the B2B Prize
Tech giants are locked in a race to own AI-powered shopping, but focus on consumer discovery and checkout is misplaced. According to Bryan House, CEO of Elastic Path, the real breakthrough for agentic commerce lies in B2B procurement, where complexity and data quality give AI agents the clearest edge.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces GLP-1 Online Scams Entangle Unsuspecting Patients, Triggering Supply Chain and R
A WIRED investigation into online telehealth provider FitRx/Zealthy reveals a pattern of deceptive billing and shipment of unwanted GLP-1 drugs like tirzepatide. Customers face denied refunds due to 'supply chain and privacy' policies, despite FDA and FTC oversight. The case highlights risks in the booming online weight-loss drug market projected to reach $150 billion.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces AT&T Offers $50 Off Promo Codes for June 2026
AT&T is offering significant discounts this June 2026, including $50 off promo codes. These deals apply to prepaid plans, new devices, and bundled services, providing savings for both new and existing customers.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Dyson Offers Up to 35% Off with New Promo Codes
Dyson is offering significant discounts through promo codes, including up to 35% off on select products. These offers are available for both new and existing customers, providing opportunities for savings on Dyson's high-quality appliances.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Squarespace Offers Up to 50% Off with New Promo Codes
Squarespace is offering significant discounts with promo codes, including 20% off annual plans and 50% off for students. These offers aim to support businesses in building their online presence efficiently.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces DoorDash Offers 50% Off Promo Code for June 2026
DoorDash is offering a 50% off promo code for June 2026, providing significant savings for both new and existing users. The promotion includes various discounts and benefits, such as free delivery and exclusive offers for DashPass members.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Relay Payments Partners with Platform Science for Enhanced Payment Solutions
Relay Payments has partnered with Platform Science to enhance payment solutions for truck drivers. This integration allows drivers to use Platform Science tablets for secure transactions, reducing fraud risks.
Logistics Amazon's LTL Entry Unlikely to Disrupt Market
Amazon's expansion into the less-than-truckload (LTL) market is not expected to significantly disrupt existing carriers, according to analysts. Despite Amazon's asset-light model and extensive network, the market's high barriers to entry and established players' strong service offerings limit immediate impact.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces Valve Ends Physical Steam Gift Cards Due to Scams
Valve will cease production of physical Steam gift cards by the end of 2026 due to scam concerns. The company will continue supporting digital gift cards, ensuring users can still gift games online.