5 Things I Will Introduce As Flipkart Product Manager
Flipkart! Who doesn’t know about Flipkart? What started as an online bookstore from a two-bedroom apartment in Bengaluru in 2007 has today grown into one of the biggest companies in India and an incredible example of the success potential for Indian startups. Flipkart brought e-commerce to India and taught online shopping to Indians.
As Indian e-commerce’s biggest success story celebrates the crowning moment of its journey so far — a $16 billion acquisition by Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, in the biggest M&A deal ever in the Indian startup ecosystem let us look at 5 things I will introduce if I was a product manager at Flipkart
1. Flipkart VR Arcade
As virtual reality continues to gain interest, VR arcade is one such category that has the opportunity to take advantage of this momentum. As there is a lot of curiosity around this technology, people want to experience it firsthand and know what the hype is all about.
Investment : Rs 22.5 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh
Requirements : Gaming license & VR technology and hardware
Market Size : Currently at Rs. 3,700 crores Expected to cross Rs.5,500 crore by 2021
CAGR : 55.3%
Just like the gaming centres that were popular a decade ago, VR arcades operate similarly and take it a step further by providing a completely immersive experience. Since it is expensive to buy the technology and hardware that supports VR, the best alternative is a VR arcade. There is a tremendous opportunity in this space as VR and its applications will continue to grow in popularity.
Flipkart can set up a VR arcade facility starting with the metro cities and then can expand this into Tire 2 cities.
Currently, VR arcades focus heavily on the gaming niche as it has been the most profitable segment. Ideal customers will be gamers who have an appetite for VR but cannot afford a full-fledged home system yet. Typically, they are teenagers and young adults. For this reason, VR arcades have also become popular destinations for hosting birthday parties, gaming contests and pizza parties, along with team outings and so on.
2. Flipkart Organic Store
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the health issues that arise from the use of chemicals and pesticides in the commercial farming industry. They want to know where the food they consume comes from and how it is grown. Because of the expanding urban population and rising health concerns, the demand for organic food has consistently increased in the past few years.
Investment : Around 50 Lakhs Crores for Metro Cities initially
Requirements :
· Certification from Organic Trade Association
· Products that meet the standards of the National Standards of Organic Production (NSOP)
· Other relevant licenses and permits
Market Size : Currently Rs. 4000 Cr. Expected to reach 12,000 Cr. By 2020
CAGR : 25%
There is a huge demand for organic produce but there aren’t enough purchase points to meet this demand. Flipkart can bridge this gap by setting up a well-sourced organic store which can stock a variety of organic foods such as organic vegetables, fruits, grains, and pulses. In addition to offering healthy food choices, Flipkart will also be able to help the ailing farming community and support their organic farming efforts.
Since Flipkart has already ventured into online grocery business they already have the customer base and introducing the Organic Store will be easy to market and acquire customers.
3. Flipkart Smart Homes
The smart home market in India has been growing for the past few years. Various aspects of a home, such as lighting, home security, indoor climate control, surveillance and multimedia management can be controlled by the touch of a button. The increased use of smartphones has increased the adoption of various kinds of smart home technologies.
Investment : Rs. 2 Lakhs and above per customer
Requirements : Right partnerships with reliable vendors
Market Size : Currently at Rs. 12,500Cr and expected to reach Rs. 95,000 Cr by 2026
CAGR : 29.8%
Rising security concerns and an increase in disposable income in metro and tier 1 cities have been the two main reasons for the growing popularity of smart home technologies. As a smart home contractor, Flipkart will be able to take advantage of this demand in the market. The wide market adoption of home automation technologies makes this a promising sector to set up a venture in. Home automation technologies have also become affordable. This is another reason for its popularity. As you can see, the numbers in the table included speaking for themselves.
Although the term “smart home” is loosely used as the automation of residential properties, it is used just as interchangeably in other property categories too. For instance, hotels, especially in the luxury segment and commercial properties that include both retail and office buildings are upgrading their property management systems to integrate such smart technologies.
Flipkart has already a few smart home products listed on their online store and with the brand they have, they can easily partner with top manufacturers creating a complete solution for this segment.
4. Flipkart SEO Consultant
There simply isn’t a business today that doesn’t need the help of a search engine optimization (SEO) consultant. Every business is on the internet and for the business to remain visible on the internet, it needs to be optimized for search engines.
Investment : Rs. 20,0000 and above per customer
Requirements : In-depth knowledge of SEO strategies
Market Size : Rs. 5,53,000 crore globally
CAGR : 28.9%
SEO is an integral part of every business’ digital marketing efforts. An SEO consultant develops the right strategies for a business to help it rank favourably on a search engine result page. If you are a marketing enthusiast who is willing to learn more about SEO, you should consider looking into this opportunity.
SEO is a very dynamic field. Search engines are always updating their algorithms to offer a seamless experience and who better than Flipkart to help businesses for SEO as they have built the empire on this.
This will be a Flipkart’s B2B venture targeting Startups and small businesses to large businesses with the urge to grow their digital presence can be ideal clients. Flipkart’s expertise can be tremendously helpful for businesses to grow SEO strategy.
5. Flipkart Senior Services for Essentials
The current senior population in India stands at 134 million and is estimated to reach 300 million by 2050. At the outset, that might not seem like a large number, but if you pay close attention, it accounts for about 18% of the population in 2050. This goes to show that there is going to be a growing demand for senior care and senior services.
Investment : Rs. 400000 and above
Requirements :
· Knowledge about elderly care
· Well-trained staff
Market Size : Expected to reach Rs. 43,000 crore by 2020
CAGR : 11%
To set up a successful senior services business, Flipkart will need to hire staff from the very beginning. They also have to provide proper training and ensure that they are capable of providing impeccable service.
This will be a completely new venture for Flipkart with a social angle to it. Flipkart can build infrastructure as this will be a very healthy business for them.
