e-commerce
Amazon beats others in mega pre-festive online sales: Ugam
MUMBAI: In an earlier feature done by Indiantelevision.com, we saw creative and ad gurus giving their opinion on the fiercely competitive campaigns that e-commerce brands launched, with Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal leading the pack.
Be it their display ad wars, or their strategically placed jacket advertisements on newspapers, their digs at each other not only grabbed the consumers’ eyeballs, but have also created a stir within the ecosystem.
The season was ushered in by two of the top e-commerce players conducting three mega sales in two weeks. Flipkart kick-started the celebrations with its second edition of the Big Billion Days sale, followed by Amazon’s Great Indian Festive sale, and most recently Amazon’s Great Indian Diwali Sale from 26 to 28 October.
Now that we have Diwali is knocking at our doorsteps, an analysis by global analytics manager Ugam has put a perspective on the entire scenario.
Ugam recorded Amazon’s pricing and assortment for likely bestsellers in three key product categories – Laptops, Home Appliances and Books – and compared it to Flipkart and Snapdeal to learn which retailer actually had the best offers for the likely best sellers.
As per their survey, Amazon.in led the sale period, by offering lowers prices in two out of the three categories, namely home appliances and books.
While that puts Amazon in the lead, it failed to spoil its consumers for choices. The e-commerce brand didn’t have a larger assortment of products when it came to home appliances and books, though it still led the books inventory.
Snapdeal dominated the laptop category with 2026 Stock Keeping Units (SKU), and missed the top position in the home appliances category by a small margin, putting Flipkart on the top with 5319 SKUs in their inventory.
Amazon made up for its lack of variety, by staying better stocked throughout the sale.
If one were to go by prices, Amazon had a better score as per the data shared by Ugam. While Flipkart had lower prices for their Big Billion Day sales for likely best sellers in the laptop category, Amazon kept their prices low for home appliances and books sections.
While the survey is inconclusive in revealing the revenue each player made throughout the sale, by tallying the pricing behaviour of the ecommerce players with consumer behaviour one can form an idea on who scored the most in the season of sales.
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.
