Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is drawing fresh capital from a mix of technology, financial services, and consumer brands as it prepares for its next phase of expansion. The government-backed digital commerce network is raising ₹430 crore from strategic investors including Zoho, Uber, Paytm, NSE, BSE Technologies, SBI, PNB, Amul and others, according to regulatory filings accessed from the Registrar of Companies. The latest...

India’s online seller ecosystem is becoming more technology-driven, manufacturing-led, and closely aligned with value-conscious consumers, according to Snapdeal’s Bharat Seller Report 2026. The report finds that AI adoption is no longer limited to large enterprises or digital-first brands, with 56% of surveyed sellers already using AI-powered tools in some form to improve operations. Product Listings Lead AI Use Among sellers using AI, the most common application...

A new Criteo report reveals that 84% of Indian consumers prefer fewer but more relevant advertisements, even when powered by their personal history, while 60% find history-based ads helpful despite 71% experiencing repetitive messaging. Developed with Ecosystm, the study "From Fragmented Touchpoints to Connected Journeys" highlights opportunities for AI-powered advertising strategies. The research shows 51% of shoppers conduct research outside retail platforms and 44% use...

Artificial intelligence stands poised to unlock 15-20% annual revenue growth for companies operating in India's fragmented general trade sales channels, according to a comprehensive new study from Boston Consulting Group titled "How AI Can Reshape Distributed Sales Channels." Released amid accelerating AI adoption across consumer goods sectors, the research dissects ten high-impact AI use cases spanning sales planning, frontline execution and back-end operations, while...

Direct-to-consumer brands are deploying artificial intelligence to conquer persistent last-mile delivery challenges in India's Tier-II and smaller cities, achieving an 11% uplift in completion rates through proactive tools like AI voice calls, automated address verification and COD-to-prepaid conversions, according to logistics platform Velocity. The interventions address structural gaps driving 25-30% revenue losses from failed deliveries and return-to-origin shipments during peak periods. Velocity co-founder and CEO...

Contact centers face intensifying pressure to cut operating costs while elevating service amid rising customer expectations for seamless, personalised interactions across channels, yet legacy tools and data silos hinder effective AI deployment. Salesforce’s new Agentforce Contact Center addresses this by natively integrating voice, digital channels, CRM data and AI agents into a single platform, eliminating costly custom integrations and enabling unified visibility into customer...

Meta and the Retailers Association of India (RAI) have unveiled a comprehensive whitepaper documenting how artificial intelligence, short-form video, creators and WhatsApp are converging to power omnichannel shopping journeys across India's digital and physical retail channels. The report reveals social media now influences 77% of all retail brand and product discovery, with Meta platforms commanding a dominant 96% share of this activity. Omnichannel shoppers...

India’s ecommerce market is entering a new phase where growth is driven less by raw scale and more by intent, speed, and contribution margins. LS Digital’s latest report, “The Great Indian Commerce Shift,” based on over 1.5 million orders across 30+ enterprise brands during the July–December 2025 festive season, shows that the traditional linear funnel has effectively collapsed. In its place, consumers are displaying...

A new TCS Global Retail Outlook 2026 study finds that while retailers overwhelmingly view AI as a key driver of future competitiveness, most remain stuck at a superficial stage of adoption. Executives are investing in chatbots and virtual assistants, but lag significantly in deploying advanced, agentic AI systems that can drive real-time, autonomous decisions across the value chain. Retailers Still Stuck in Basic AI Use...

Unicommerce e-commerce platform processed over 27 million orders during Republic Day 2025 and 2026 sales periods, providing a clear lens into the sector's structural evolution. The analysis spotlights Tier 3 cities as the new volume leaders, contributing nearly 40 percent of orders with robust year-over-year growth. Beyond geographic expansion, repeat consumption patterns, accelerated fulfillment demands, and AI-driven engagement emerge as defining forces. These trends mark...