Two by Two
Are we past peak Amazon India?
Feb 3, 2025
Srikanth Rajagopalan, CEO of Perfios and former Amazon employee, along with Vishal Karungulam, a professor at the Indian School of Business, discuss Amazon India's challenges. They explore how Amazon has lagged behind competitors like Flipkart and Meesho, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 markets. The conversation highlights Amazon's potential shift to AWS and the need for a customer-centric approach. They delve into the changing consumer behaviors and strategic adaptations necessary for Amazon to reclaim its competitive edge in India.
01:25:03
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Quick takeaways
- Amazon India struggles to compete in the e-commerce market due to slow adaptation to local consumer behaviors and emerging rivals.
- The company's future success may hinge on leveraging its AWS division instead of solely relying on its declining retail operations.
Deep dives
The Arrival of Amazon in India
Jeff Bezos' first visit to India in 2013 marked a significant moment for Amazon, as he arrived in traditional attire and presented a $2 billion check, symbolizing the company's bold entry into the market. This gesture was viewed as a strategic move to overshadow local competitor Flipkart, which had recently secured substantial funding. Despite this initial impact, the landscape has shifted over the last decade, and Amazon has struggled to maintain its market share, especially against agile local players who have outperformed its management team. This shift indicates that Amazon's approach in India has evolved, departing from its tried-and-true strategies employed in the US.
