e-commerce
Instamart hits the right cycle with new period tracker and care feature
MUMBAI: Some updates arrive quietly. Others land right on time and Instamart’s new Period Tracker and Care feature is definitely the latter. In a move that blends tech, timing, and thoughtful design, the platform has rolled out an integrated menstrual-care experience that lets users track their cycle and shop essentials in one seamless flow, no app-hopping, no last-minute scrambling.
Sitting inside the Instamart app as a dedicated section, the feature combines two functions most users juggle separately: cycle reminders and one tap ordering. Once activated, users can log their menstrual cycle, receive timely nudges, and instantly browse a curated set of essentials tailored to each phase from pads, tampons, menstrual cups and hot-water bags to pain-relief options and even PMS comfort picks like chocolate and ice cream.
Instamart says the idea grew from patterns it noticed on its platform and conversations it observed across social media: many users struggle to track cycles accurately or end up rushing to assemble “period kits” at the eleventh hour. By bringing tracking and care under one tab, the feature aims to reduce that mental load, the quiet labour women shoulder each month.
And the internet has taken notice. A customer’s LinkedIn post calling the update a “thoughtful addition” went viral, sparking a wave of comments from users who said reminders helped them prepare early, avoid emergency orders, or build what one user described as a “PMS survival kit”. Others praised the intuitive design, saying it felt more supportive than the usual transactional quick-commerce experience.
The reactions hint at a broader shift: digital platforms are no longer limiting themselves to speed and delivery metrics. Instead, they’re starting to weave everyday wellness needs directly into the user journey, making convenience less reactive and more anticipatory.
Instamart’s move positions menstrual care as an everyday need not a last-minute scramble. And by making it a one tap experience, the platform is not just catering to demand; it’s nudging the category into a more seamless, stigma-free space.
For millions who rely on Instamart already, period planning may have just become one of the easiest things to manage arriving, quite literally, right on cue.
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.
