e-commerce
Vi ties up with Niyo to make overseas spending simpler
MUMBAI: Vi is giving international travellers one less thing to worry about this holiday season. The telecom operator has partnered with travel banking fintech Niyo to offer zero forex markup cards to Vi customers, marking a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a telco and a travel finance platform in India.
Under the partnership, Vi users travelling abroad for holidays, work or education can get a Niyo Zero Forex Markup Card delivered to their doorstep within 24 hours. The card can be requested directly through the Vi App, where customers are guided through a quick KYC process, card setup and a trial transaction with assistance from a Niyo executive. Those outside Niyo Express service areas can activate the card digitally through the Niyo App.
The move strengthens Vi’s growing international travel portfolio, which already includes Truly Unlimited international roaming packs, discounted family plans, lounge access, travel insurance and baggage protection. With Niyo on board, Vi adds a financial convenience layer that helps travellers spend smarter while overseas. Accepted in over 180 countries, the Niyo Forex card processes transactions at base exchange rates, helping users avoid the usual 3 to 5 percent forex markup.
As an introductory offer, Vi customers also receive Niyo’s Premium service free for a year. The benefits include annual travel savings worth up to Rs 10,000, zero convenience fees on visa and flight bookings, discounts on international hotels, complimentary lounge access and free ATM withdrawals each quarter.
The partnership builds on Vi’s recent efforts to enhance its international roaming proposition, including discounted packs for Vi Family Postpaid users, travel insurance coverage of up to Rs 40 lakh and baggage protection against delays or loss. With the Niyo Forex Card now in the mix, Vi positions itself as a one-stop companion for international travel, combining connectivity, cost control and peace of mind from take-off to touchdown.
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.
