Flipkart is not going completely app-only. It has reintroduced a mobile web option -- something it had discontinued in March.
The new mobile web application, however, is an extremely light version, and provides an app-like experience. Called Flipkart Lite, it is designed for those who do not want to install apps -- for reasons like low storage capacity on the phone -- and to allow customers to use Flipkart straight from links on other websites and social media.
Good guy Kunahl Bahl.TOI: Why? Even Snapdeal sees almost 75% of its total orders through its mobile platform?
Kunal Bahl: What about the remaining 25%? Why should we change consumer behaviour, when it pertains to moving from PC to mobile, when consumers want PC? It's not right to see it only from the perspective that 25% of our orders come through the PC. Twenty-five percent of all discovery for orders that are eventually placed on mobile come from the PC. People start browsing on the PC and start buying on the mobile. When these guys (Myntra) announced they were going app-only, we decided to hold a survey for our consumers...
While only 20-30% use the PC platform, 80% of all consumers wanted the PC site to remain. We're not going to go against consumers' wishes. How do you get 300 million
ecommerce buyers on your platform?
You have to offer all choices--all choices in terms of all screens and all payment methods. Our overall team feels very strongly about this. We've had discussions about this, and we were like (Myntra's) is the dumbest and most consumer-unfriendly idea ever.
May not be related and I know how many people don't like the App only approach of flipkart and even amazon.in where certain deals are app only, here amazon US has also started their app only BS for blackfriday.
There is a $150 50" LED TV deal which is app only on amazon. Some others as well.