<p>E-commerce companies are set to witness close to 85% year-on-year growth in festive season sales this year owing to the new wave of customers shopping online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>Driven by the massive growth in shoppers, online sales during the festive months of Dasara and Diwali are likely to witness gross merchandise value (GMV) of $7 billion (over Rs 51,000 crore). During the same period last year, the sales stood at $3.8 billion. However, during the first sale of the upcoming season, online marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart among others are set to rake in $4 billion (Rs 29,000 crore). This is a growth of 50% over $2.7 billion (Rs 19,828 crore according to the current rate) worth of sales witnessed last year, according to data available with RedSeer, an internet research firm.</p>.<p>Amazon and Flipkart usually conduct their festive sales campaigns ahead of the Dasara and Diwali in three phases. “Consumers now more than ever prefer to shop in a manner that is convenient, safe, and hygienic and the e-commerce space meets these requirements,” RedSeer said.</p>.<p>With consumers apprehensive about visiting malls and retail outlets, online sales will be the preferred mode for shopping this festive season. The Jio effect also may play a moderately strong role in growing sales in smaller cities, especially if strong integration with fashion/electronics materialises, the research firm said.</p>.<p>During the upcoming festive season sales, an estimated 4.5-5 crore customers are expected to shop online, a growth of 70% year-on-year. Of this, 30-35% of customers are from metro cities, 20-25% from Tier-1 cities, and the rest from Tier-2+ cities.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, to ensure last-mile delivery, Amazon and Flipkart have announced plans to hire 70,000 workers each. Flipkart will onboard more than 50,000 Kirana, which will generate thousands of jobs, the company said.</p>.<p>“We will continue to create thousands of additional opportunities,” Amazon said.</p>
<p>E-commerce companies are set to witness close to 85% year-on-year growth in festive season sales this year owing to the new wave of customers shopping online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>Driven by the massive growth in shoppers, online sales during the festive months of Dasara and Diwali are likely to witness gross merchandise value (GMV) of $7 billion (over Rs 51,000 crore). During the same period last year, the sales stood at $3.8 billion. However, during the first sale of the upcoming season, online marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart among others are set to rake in $4 billion (Rs 29,000 crore). This is a growth of 50% over $2.7 billion (Rs 19,828 crore according to the current rate) worth of sales witnessed last year, according to data available with RedSeer, an internet research firm.</p>.<p>Amazon and Flipkart usually conduct their festive sales campaigns ahead of the Dasara and Diwali in three phases. “Consumers now more than ever prefer to shop in a manner that is convenient, safe, and hygienic and the e-commerce space meets these requirements,” RedSeer said.</p>.<p>With consumers apprehensive about visiting malls and retail outlets, online sales will be the preferred mode for shopping this festive season. The Jio effect also may play a moderately strong role in growing sales in smaller cities, especially if strong integration with fashion/electronics materialises, the research firm said.</p>.<p>During the upcoming festive season sales, an estimated 4.5-5 crore customers are expected to shop online, a growth of 70% year-on-year. Of this, 30-35% of customers are from metro cities, 20-25% from Tier-1 cities, and the rest from Tier-2+ cities.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, to ensure last-mile delivery, Amazon and Flipkart have announced plans to hire 70,000 workers each. Flipkart will onboard more than 50,000 Kirana, which will generate thousands of jobs, the company said.</p>.<p>“We will continue to create thousands of additional opportunities,” Amazon said.</p>
