e-commerce
Agencyonnet launches in US, UK & Gulf countries
NEW DELHI: With an eye on the $ 526 Billion global market for advertising, marketing and digital services consumed annually by small businesses around the world, India born agencyonnet.com launched the world’s 1st B2B E-commerce platform connecting the buyer and seller for marketing communication services in an additional three markets.
Close of the heels of its India launch in March, the company decided to move ahead with its global footprint by launching the services platform in three key markets. “Since we were already being accepted by Indian clients and agencies within 1 month of our launch, we decided to increase our footprint by making the platform available to small businesses and agencies in the Gulf, US and UK markets.” said Rajesh Menon the CEO and founder of Agencyonnet.
The marketplace aims to connect small businesses with marketing communication agencies across the marketing, advertising and digital domains through a transactional e-commerce site. Small Business clients have an option to choose from over 52 categories of agencies for their marketing briefs. “Our objective is to ensure that clients no matter what their marketing services requirements are will find the right quality service provider here. We have had a good start in India and we have been receiving extremely good response levels from International markets.”
The global market size for the marketing and advertising industry is estimated to be $ 1.17 Trillion with 40-45% of the annual spends being consumed by the small business community. Unlike a directory search service, Agencyonnet will be focused on providing transactional services to small businesses and agencies around the world.
According to Rajesh Menon, “What we are going to do will make the industry sit up. We will have the first mover advantage in several areas including being the world’s first B2B E-commerce marketplace for this service.”
At present the B2B E-commerce market for marketing communication is severely restricted to creative and web development services with sites like Elance, Guru, 99 Deisgns and the Blur Group who largely focus on freelancers who comprise the seller side of the business. “In our analysis of the domain, we realized that the biggest problem being faced today by small and mid-sized agencies is the lack of a structured business development platform. Likewise small businesses too prefer to hire professional agencies rather than freelancers. By connecting the two we intend to create a paradigm shift in the way marketing communication is bought and sold.”
Speaking on the global move Rajesh explained. “There are an estimated 125 Million small businesses and over 1 Million agencies around the world. Our analysis has indicated that small businesses struggle to find quality agencies just as much as agencies find it difficult to get clients.We have already agencies registering with us from as far away as Kazakhstan! We chose these three markets to form the beachhead from where we will expand our footprint into Europe and North America. We want to be the next Amazon in our domain”
With less than a month from launch, Agencyonnet already has had over several live projects being posted online by clients. “The total value of briefs that we have received from our clients over the past 1 month is over $250,000. We have yet to begin our marketing campaign and despite that the results have been fantastic” says Rajesh,” We have been having a regular stream of both agencies and clients registering on our platform and the interaction has already started.”
e-commerce
Flipkart rolls out 105 per cent bonus for 20,000 employees
Strong FY25 performance drives payouts even as layoffs and shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: In a year where belts were tightened and rewards loosened, Flipkart seems to be playing both offence and defence trimming roles on one hand while handing out a generous 105 per cent bonus on the other. The Walmart owned e commerce major has rolled out a 105 per cent bonus payout for 2025, covering nearly 20,000 employees, signalling a year of steady operational momentum even as the company navigates restructuring pressures. The payout, communicated internally by chief human resources officer Seema Nair, is tied to performance across key metrics including growth, operational efficiency, financial outcomes and people indicators, a combination that suggests the company is inching closer to its long stated goal of sustainable profitability.
Employees at SD level and below are set to receive their bonuses in March, while payouts for senior leadership, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents, will follow after the close of the performance cycle. The elevated 105 per cent multiplier stands out in a sector where cautious payouts have increasingly become the norm, pointing to what appears to be a relatively strong internal scorecard for FY25.
Yet, the announcement arrives with a noticeable contrast. Earlier this year, Flipkart reduced its workforce by around 300 roles as part of its annual performance review process. While officially framed as performance driven, the juxtaposition of layoffs alongside above target bonuses reflects a more nuanced balancing act, one that prioritises cost discipline while continuing to reward and retain high performing talent.
This dual approach is becoming increasingly common across the technology and e commerce landscape, where companies are navigating an uneven hiring environment while under pressure to deliver profitability. Rewarding top contributors, even amid selective workforce reductions, allows firms to maintain morale and retain critical talent without losing sight of financial prudence.
At the same time, Flipkart is also undergoing leadership shifts that hint at a broader strategic recalibration. Nishant Verman has been appointed senior vice president for corporate development and partnerships, while group chief financial officer Sriram Venkataraman is set to step down. Ravi Iyer will take on expanded responsibilities within the finance function, marking a reshuffle at the top as the company gears up for its next phase.
These changes come amid reports that Flipkart is planning to shift its holding structure back to India, a move widely interpreted as groundwork for a potential public listing. While timelines remain fluid, the combination of stronger financial discipline, leadership restructuring and employee incentivisation suggests a company preparing itself for greater scrutiny and scale.
For employees, the 105 per cent payout offers a welcome boost in what has otherwise been a period of adjustment. For Flipkart, it is a signal that even as it cuts where necessary, it is willing to spend where it counts. In the high stakes game of growth versus profitability, the company appears to be hedging its bets carefully, rewarding performance while reshaping itself for what could be its most defining chapter yet.
