e-commerce
Amazon rakes in $187.8 billion in Q4-Because breaking records is a habit
MUMBAI: Jeff Bezos may be off enjoying space tourism, but Amazon is still launching financial rockets. The retail and tech giant didn’t just end 2024 on a high note—it dropped a financial mixtape that went platinum. With a blockbuster fourth quarter, Amazon smashed expectations, delivering record-breaking revenue, sky-high profits, and a holiday shopping season that made Santa look like an amateur.
Amazon reported net sales of $187.8 billion in Q4, marking a 10 per cent year-over-year (YoY) increase, with north America leading the charge at $115.6 billion. Meanwhile, AWS, Amazon’s cloud computing juggernaut, flexed its muscle with a 19 per cent YoY jump, raking in $28.8 billion.
Profits weren’t just strong—they were Amazon-strong. Operating income skyrocketed to $21.2 billion, up from $13.2 billion in Q4 2023, while net income nearly doubled to $20.0 billion-or $1.86 per diluted share. Amazon’s international segment pulled off an impressive turnaround, swinging from a $400 million loss last year to a $1.3 billion profit.
For the full year, Amazon’s revenue soared to $638 billion, an 11 per cent increase from 2023, with AWS contributing $107.6 billion. North America’s sales hit $387.5 billion, while international revenue climbed to $142.9 billion. Operating income more than doubled to $68.6 billion, cementing Amazon’s digital dominance.
Amazon’s free cash flow swelled to $38.2 billion, up from $36.8 billion last year, while operating cash flow leapt 36 per cent to $115.9 billion. The company stepped up investments, pumping $82.9 billion into fulfillment, technology, and AWS infrastructure.
Meanwhile, advertising revenue proved a bright spot, growing 18 per cent YoY to $17.3 billion-a clear sign that Amazon’s ad business is going toe-to-toe with industry giants. At the same time, third-party seller services surged 9 per cent to $47.5 billion, highlighting Amazon’s commitment to its marketplace model.
Reflecting on the company’s record-breaking year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy remarked, “2024 was a transformational year for Amazon, with innovation at the core of our growth. From AWS advancements to Prime’s fastest-ever deliveries, we are building for the future.”
Looking ahead, Amazon projects Q1 2025 net sales between $151 billion and $155.5 billion, signaling 5-9 per cent growth, despite a $2.1 billion currency headwind. Operating income is expected to land between $14 billion and $18 billion, as the company strikes a balance between profitability and reinvestment.
With Amazon delivering results like a Prime package on express shipping, 2025 is already shaping up to be another blockbuster year.
e-commerce
Instamart and Duolingo launch street spell check campaign for Instaprint
Duo the owl fixes signboard typos across cities to showcase instant printing.
MUMBAI: If spelling mistakes had a sworn enemy, it might just be a bright green owl with a printer. Instamart has teamed up with language learning platform Duolingo for a quirky nationwide campaign that turns everyday spelling errors into a public spectacle while promoting its instant printing service, InstaPrint. The playful activation takes aim at the many misspelled shop boards and public signs scattered across Indian streets. From “saloons” that promise haircuts rather than drinks to menus and posters peppered with punctuation mishaps, the campaign sends Duolingo’s mascot Duo on a mission to restore linguistic order.
Armed with Instamart’s instant printing feature, Duo prints corrected versions of the mistakes on the spot and pastes them over the originals. The result is a series of humorous street interventions that have quickly begun circulating on social media.
Photos and videos of the grammar correcting owl have been widely shared online, with amused users reacting to the unexpected spell check patrol. One user joked, “Ab ayega na maza bhidu,” capturing the internet’s delight at the unusual campaign.
Behind the humour lies a practical message. The activation is designed to showcase the capabilities of Instaprint, Instamart’s printing service that allows users to print documents and posters almost instantly.
The company says the feature is meant for everyday needs such as printing resumes, visa documents or last minute posters without the usual scramble to locate a print shop.
Instamart introduced Instaprint in 2025 across select metropolitan cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi. The service allows users to order printed materials directly through the platform, extending the quick commerce model beyond groceries and household essentials.
By combining Duolingo’s famously persistent owl with India’s street level spelling quirks, the campaign taps into the internet’s long running fascination with grammar mistakes while demonstrating a real world use case for instant printing.
After all, in a world full of typos, sometimes what you really need is a quick printer and a very determined language teacher.
