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
Flipkart and Uber team up to let users earn Supercoins on rides
New partnership turns everyday commutes into rewarding journeys for millions of Indians.
MUMBAI: Flipkart and Uber have joined forces to give riders a little extra mileage this time, in the form of Supercoins. The two platforms have announced a collaboration that allows Flipkart users to earn 4 per cent of their Uber fare as Supercoins on every eligible ride, up to a maximum of 150 coins per trip, with no cap on total earnings. The coins are credited directly to the user’s Flipkart account and can be redeemed across the Flipkart ecosystem, including Flipkart Minutes, Cleartrip, and partner offerings.
New Uber users or those who haven’t used the app in the last 84 days can earn an additional 150 bonus Supercoins by completing their first ride within 28 days of linking accounts. Users who link their accounts between 15 and 30 April 2026 and complete their first ride within 28 days will receive another 50 bonus SuperCoins.
Flipkart vice president, payments and supercoins Gaurav Arora said, “Supercoins is evolving into a broader rewards layer across everyday use cases. Mobility is a natural extension, and this partnership with Uber allows us to integrate more seamlessly into how customers transact daily.”
Uber director of business development at India and South Asia Arnab Kumar added, “This integration allows us to extend additional benefits to riders in a simple and intuitive way, while building on how users engage with everyday services across platforms.”
The partnership brings together two high-frequency consumer platforms and reflects a growing trend of integrating loyalty rewards into daily mobility and lifestyle experiences.
In a country where commutes are a daily reality, Flipkart and Uber have found a smart way to make every ride a little more rewarding. With Supercoins now earned on the go, users can turn their everyday journeys into opportunities to save and enjoy more across the Flipkart ecosystem. The partnership is a win-win that puts loyalty on the fast lane.
