MAM
Internet & Online Association sees 300% increase in membership
MUMBAI: The Internet & Online Association of India (IOAI) has announced a 300 per cent increase in membership.
IOAI was founded in January 2004, with an aim to address issues, concerns and growth related to online media, advertising, e-commerce and wireless / mobile advertising.
IOAI president Preeti Desai says, “IOAI members play a pivotal role in helping to determine today’s online advertising, ecommerce, mobile content and communications agenda – as well as shape the future of the IOAI. A growing membership means a stronger representation across all industry sectors (private and public). We welcome new industry leaders from different factions of the industry to IOAI and I have no doubt their contributions will have a lasting impact on the work we do.”
The new members include:
Primary Members — BharatMatrimony.com Pvt. Ltd, IRCTC, Mahamaza Ecomm LTDand People Interactive (I) Pvt. Limited,
Associate Members — Enpocket and NDTV Media LTD,
Individual Members — Anupama Salvi, Hari Nair, Manish Vij and Sachin Bhatia
NDTV Media LTD CEO Raj Nayak added, “We at NDTV have always pioneered content and marketing initiatives and believe in the new-age integrated marketing mantra. We are extensively using the online and mobile mediums and have accentuated our one on one relationship with our customers beyond television. We joined IOAI to be a part of an industry forum to exchange progressive ideas and tackle issues cohesively.”
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) group general manager (IT services) Amitabh Pandey said, “We are happy to be invited to the IOAI. IRCTC is proud to have played a significant role in extending the scope of electronic commerce to items of day-to-day significance to the consumer at large in India today. We believe that there is an urgent need for a forum and industry body to help guide the principal players in the electronic commerce revolution, which has begun, and in furthering and accelerating the spread of ecommerce in India. The formation of the IOAI is a very welcome step in this direction.”
BharatMatrimony.com CEO and founder Murugavel Janakiraman said, “BharatMatrimony.com pioneered the online matrimony industry in India and abroad for the Indian Diaspora. The Internet is a very potent medium for match making market is what we were confident about even in 1997. When IOAI was formed, it was a natural choice for us to be a part of it because IOA’s agenda is the faith on which we build the foundation of our company. In that sense, we have full trust on IOA and hence we are part of it.”
People Group chairman and CEO Anupam Mittal said, “Having being in the Internet space since 1997 with leading brands such as Shaadi.com and Fropper.com, and being a major player in the wireless content place with Mauj – our wireless content and services company, it has been our endeavor to provide information and/or technology based services to inform, connect, entertain and educate people. As primary members of the IOAI we hope to work with other leading Internet and wireless players on issues concerning the growth of these industries. The IOAI initiatives help us all benefit from the collective wisdom and experience of its members, not to mention it gives us a legitimate platform for influencing legislation and policies in the favor of industries we operate in.”
Enpocket MD Sundip Aggarwal said, “Enpocket is glad to join the IOAI. Enpocket has always supported similar organisations and has chaired the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) in the UK and has been and active member of the US chapter. We believe active involvement of members in industry initiatives like the IOAI or essential to ensure sustained growth and effective introduction of new business opportunities. We look forward to making valuable contribution to IOAI especially in are of mobile communications. Enpocket is looking forward to take leadership role in privacy and customer relationship issues to ensure a very robust mobile entertainment business in India.”
Avenues India Pvt LTD COO Anupama Salvi said, “Since I live and breathe the medium of the Internet everyday for a living, joining the Internet & Online Association, a forum whose prime agenda is the development of the Internet in India, was a natural step. I find great satisfaction in contributing to the effort to help shape the growth of this exciting medium.”
Leisure & Lifestyle Information Services co-founder and CEO Hari Nair said, “The Internet today has fast evolved to be the preferred medium of communication for the travel community whether for handling transactions, seeking information or planning a holiday. Leisure & Lifestyle Information Services takes pride in being the most comprehensive rating platform for travel enthusiasts. The exhaustive insights provided in our portal about various resorts, pubs and restaurants helps the consumer make informed choices. Organisations like IOA are instrumental in handling the issues, concerns and challenges of the online and e-commerce community, which is growing exponentially with each passing year. I am delighted to be a part of the IOA and hope that this association will ensure further facilitation of Internet usability and convenience to the users by bringing in transparency, security and a healthy online environment.”
Quasar Media Pvt LTD business head Manish Vij said, “IOAI has a lot of contribution in getting Internet industry under one platform. It gives an opportunity to discuss and share a lot of learning’s and opportunities. We at Quasar Media has used this platform to build ourselves as a strong player within the industry and drive value to our clients using researched data.”
MakeMyTrip.com co-founder and CMO Sachin Bhatia concluded, “MMT has joined the IOAI to get a better perspective of the online space in India and to contribute to help mature the industry and its stature.”
Most business owners treat their working capital limit like a safety net. It sits there, attached to their current account, ready to be drawn on whenever cash gets tight. And for routine operations, that arrangement works fine. But there are specific situations where a lump-sum loan disbursed quickly into your account is the smarter financial move. Knowing when to pick one over the other can save you real money and keep your business from getting stuck.
The Fundamental Difference People Overlook
A working capital limit, often structured as an overdraft or a revolving credit facility, gives you access to funds up to a pre-approved ceiling. You draw what you need, pay interest on what you use, and replenish it as receivables come in. It is designed for short-term, recurring needs like paying suppliers or covering payroll gaps.
A term loan disbursed quickly, on the other hand, drops a fixed amount into your account. You repay it in instalments over a set period, with a clear end date. The interest rate is typically fixed or at least predictable. These two products solve different problems, and treating them as interchangeable is where businesses get into trouble.
When Speed and Certainty Matter More Than Flexibility
Here’s a scenario that plays out constantly. A retailer gets an opportunity to buy inventory at a steep discount, but the supplier wants full payment within 48 hours. The retailer’s working capital limit is already partially drawn. The available balance might cover part of the order, but not all of it. Requesting a limit enhancement takes days, sometimes weeks, because the bank reassesses your financials.
An instant business loan solves this cleanly. You apply, get approval quickly, and the full amount lands in your account. You buy the inventory, sell it at full margin, and repay the loan over the next few months. The cost of interest on that loan is far less than the profit you would have lost by passing on the deal.
This pattern repeats across industries. A logistics company needs to repair a critical vehicle immediately. A restaurant has to replace kitchen equipment before the weekend rush. A manufacturer lands a large order but needs raw materials upfront. In each case, the need is urgent, specific, and finite. A revolving facility wasn’t built for these moments.
The Hidden Cost of Over-Relying on Working Capital Limits
There’s a psychological trap with revolving credit. Because it’s always available, business owners tend to lean on it for everything, including expenses that really should be financed separately. When you use your overdraft to fund a one-time capital purchase, you reduce the buffer available for daily operations. Then, when a genuine cash flow gap appears the following week, you’re scrambling.
Worse, many working capital limits come with annual renewal. If your financials have dipped, the bank can reduce your limit or decline renewal altogether. If you’ve been using the facility for purposes it wasn’t designed for, your utilisation patterns can actually work against you during the review.
A distinct term loan keeps your working capital limit clean. Your revolving facility handles day-to-day operations. Your loan handles the one-off expense. This separation makes your balance sheet easier to read and your banking relationship easier to manage.
Interest Rate Math That Favours Term Loans
Working capital limits often carry floating interest rates pegged to the bank’s benchmark. The rate adjusts, and over time, especially when monetary policy tightens, your cost of borrowing can creep up without you noticing because you’re only looking at the small daily interest debit.
A fixed-rate term loan gives you certainty. You know exactly what each instalment will be, which makes cash flow forecasting more accurate. For a specific expense with a known amount and a defined payback period, this predictability matters. You can map the repayment against the revenue that expense is expected to generate.
A working capital loan structured as a revolving facility makes sense when your borrowing needs fluctuate week to week. But when you know exactly how much you need and roughly how long it will take to pay back, a term product is almost always cheaper in total interest cost. The discipline of fixed repayments also prevents the slow balance creep that plagues overdraft users.
When Your Facility Is Maxed and Opportunity Knocks
Perhaps the most compelling case is the simplest one. Your existing limit is fully utilised. Business is good, money is coming in, but right now the account is stretched. A new opportunity appears. You can either let it pass or find additional funding fast.
Waiting for a limit increase is not a strategy when timing matters. Applying for a separate short-term loan, getting approval the same day or the next, and funding the opportunity directly is a concrete action with a measurable return. You are not adding long-term debt to your balance sheet. You are financing a specific transaction that pays for itself.
The smartest business owners don’t treat all credit as the same. They match the product to the need. Revolving facilities handle rhythm. Term loans handle moments. Getting that distinction right is one of the quieter advantages a well-run business holds over its competitors.
