Govt’s e-commerce portal kshoppe to boost PSU products
An online eCommerce portal ‘kshoppe’ has been launched in Kerala to find an alternate market for the products of state-run public sector units (PSUs). The portal was prepared under the supervision of BPT (Board for public sector transformation) with the help of Keltron. This portal was built in order to increase the sales of the products of PSUs outside Kerala, said the Industry Minister P Rajeeve, and to increase visibility of the traditional products. kshoppe.in will also bring about more chances of sales, global exposure, reach out to more people and thereby get the benefits that they deserve. The aim is to create a unified online platform to showcase the diverse range of products of the PSUs and make them available under a single government brand.
Shift to short-form content redefines news consumption in digital age
Video consumption habits have undergone a significant transformation in the digital age, with a noticeable shift in how content is consumed online. One of the most striking changes has been the decline in user attention spans, which has become increasingly focused on short, bite-sized content such as Instagram Reels and YouTube shorts, rather than traditional long-format videos or shows. This shift in viewing preferences has had a profound impact on how news is consumed, particularly among younger audiences. Instead of tuning into traditional news channels or watching lengthy news segments, many now prefer to consume news through social media platforms, where information is often presented quickly, easily, and in digestible formats. As a result, news organizations have been forced to adapt their strategies, reformatting their content to cater to this demand for brevity. The democratization of news has been a key driver in this change, enabling anyone to create quick reels without formal training. While the challenge of delivering news succinctly persists, it remains an exciting space to observe. the ongoing pressure to condense even complex topics into shorter formats, despite the inherent need for depth in certain discussions. Creating a 40-minute news segment today often invites requests to shorten it. While short-form content like ‘news in a minute’ has its place, reducing everything to a one-minute format risks losing the essence of information. It’s crucial to understand that not all 8 billion people consume news the same way, and there’s no one-minute solution to complex issues.
Amazon India set to launch quick commerce as competition swells
Amazon is preparing to launch its quick commerce offering in India, targeting the first quarter of 2025 for a potential rollout. This move marks a strategic shift for the US-based e-commerce giant as it seeks to capture a share of the rapidly expanding segment, which rival Flipkart recently entered with its ‘Minutes’ service. In line with this strategy, Amazon’s Indian unit has appointed a senior executive to lead the development of its quick commerce strategy. This decision comes amid broader leadership restructuring efforts aimed at bolstering its position in the fast-growing Indian market. Additionally, Amazon is reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring a stake in Swiggy, particularly in its quick service platform, Instamart. Amazon, which had an early advantage in grocery delivery with its Pantry service, has been refining its approach by merging next-day delivery with its Fresh two-hour service. The company relies on More Retail stores, a joint venture with Samara Capital, to fulfill these deliveries, while also offering consumers the option of store pick-ups. The goal is to eventually reduce delivery times to 20-30 minutes. While Amazon still maintains its next-day customer base for grocery and non-grocery items, the consumer shift towards 30-minute deliveries is reshaping the entire landscape.
YouTube now allows users to share videos from specific timestamp
YouTube has introduced a new feature on its Android and iOS apps that allows users to share videos from a specific timestamp. This update adds a toggle in the share sheet, making it easier to share exact moments in a video without needing to use workarounds like the “Clip” feature or manually adding timestamps in the URL. Previously, sharing a specific timestamp on mobile was cumbersome. Now, when users hit the Share button, they can toggle an option in the top-right corner to share the video from the current time. This feature simplifies sharing key moments from longer videos directly from the mobile app, similar to what was already possible on the desktop version.
Social Commerce is the Future of E-Commerce
Social Media platforms, once used for catching up with friends, have now become major sales channels. These virtual markets are teeming with products, influencer recommendations, and peer reviews, all seamlessly woven into our daily scrolling rituals. Social commerce is a growing notion where social media platforms are integrated with e-commerce functionalities. This means you can find, search, and buy products directly through social media channels. Major players like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram lead the charge with shoppable posts and integrated checkouts. This shift in shopping is because of the growing influence of social media on consumer behaviour. 70% of social media users find new products & brands in social media channels only. Social media platforms have facilities for shares, likes, comments which engages the users. This engagement translates into higher visibility for brands. Social commerce offers a seamless shopping experience through browsing, comparing products, researching and buying. Brands can reach targeted consumers through social media. Marketing efforts reach the right customers. Brands team up with influencers to tap into their trust and reach. Through social media sellers can get direct feedback. By defining your goals, KPIs, choosing the right platform, optimizing social media profiles, leveraging user generated content, one can create a winning social commerce strategy.
Hyper-Personalized Advertising:The New Meta of Marketing with AI
Hyper-personalized marketing technique employs AI and machine learning. It uses vast data to go beyond typical personalisation and produce relevant and customized ads for specific customers. Upto 80% of customers are ready to buy from a company that offers a personalized customer experience. This tech allows companies to attain deeper customer engagements, reduce ‘Customer Acquisition Costs’ CAC, and increase return on ad spends (ROAS).
Etail, Logistics Cos Prepare Package for Non-metro Boom
Ecommerce and logistics companies have stepped up expansion into smaller cities this festive season, with increased hiring and focused marketing programmes, as these markets grow faster than metros. Driven by rapid urbanization, mushrooming of shopping malls and surge in spending, tier II-III towns have seen a significant increase in manpower demand, said Yeshab Giri of Randstad India, a talent management company. Cities such as Jaipur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Lucknow, Vadodara, Surat, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Chandigarh and Vizag are witnessing 25-30% more demand than the previous festive season, he said. “Currently, ecommerce and logistics firms in tier II-III cities are hiring approximately 65% of the overall talent,” said Lohit Bhatia, president, workforce management, at Quess Corp. Metros and other tier I cities traditionally see a greater spurt in festive demand, he said. Some companies are also running apprenticeship programmes ranging between six to 36 months in certain smaller cities, Bhatia said. “These ‘Learn and Earn’ programmes are also doing extremely well. Employees also learn on the job at the ecommerce and logistics companies, especially warehouse executives,” he said. Companies are mainly hiring pickers and packers, warehouse inventory staff who manage stock levels and delivery personnel, according to industry executives. Logistics firm Ekart, for instance, is expanding beyond the metros, with a network of 50 million cubic feet of warehousing space, a 7,000-truck fleet and a last-mile reach to 15,000 pin codes. “Ekart is building the supply chain for India and carries the mission of democratizing ecommerce for all brands,” said Mani Bhushan, chief business officer at Ekart. “Ekart is well-established and will continue to deepen its presence in tier II-III supply chains and beyond.” These include last-mile delivery and bulk cargo pickups from brands and manufacturers.