@liveankit

They call it survival of the fittest, but I believe it's important for the traditional "mom and pop" retail model to coexist with e-commerce and, more importantly, quick commerce. While quick commerce has emerged stronger post the wake of the COVID outbreak, excelling in cost, convenience, and catalog, it lacks the crucial element of emotional connection. Blinkit, the leader in quick commerce, is nearing profitability with INR 24,000 crore in gross sales from ~800 stores and a valuation exceeding INR 1,20,000 crore. The question is, will this growth come at the expense of online platforms or traditional stores? Traditional retail offers more than just purchase; it provides an experience and fosters human connections which many households need. India has about 1.3 crore traditional stores with extensive reach, supporting livelihoods across the unorganized sector. While e-commerce penetration in India remains relatively low, wider adoption could have significant repercus

While I haven't been a strong supporter of the incumbent Indian government, my recent visit to the bank to withdraw cash highlighted the positive digital transformation taking place in the nation. Carrying a wallet has certainly become a thing of the past for me, but I hadn't realized how deeply digital adoption has penetrated the community. India leads the global pack in the volume of digital transactions, even if not immediately in value. The total digital payment transaction volume increased from 2,071 crore in 2018 to 18,592 crore in 2024 at a CAGR of 44%. During the same period, the value of transactions grew from ₹952 lakh crore to ₹3,658 lakh crore. UPI transactions have grown from 92 crore in 2018 to 13,116 crore in 2024 at a CAGR of 129%. UPI transactions are expected to cross 20,000 crore in 2025. UPI now accounts for 70% of digital payment transactions

Well, for many of us, Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, has become a part of daily life. ChatGPT and Geminis of the world offer great convenience for day-to-day activities and increase productivity and efficiency. Despite the hype surrounding AI, a significant gap remains between investments and monetization. With over USD 92 billion invested in 2022, and projections of approximately USD 200 billion in a couple of years, demonstrating a return on investment (ROI) for AI is becoming crucial. This is especially challenging due to hurdles such as slower adoption rates and high operating costs. An analysis by Sequoia suggests that AI revenues need to exceed USD 600 billion to justify the current level of investment. However, combined AI revenues were only USD 28 billion in 2022. 

A minor accident and a brief hospitalization were all it took to expose the fragmented state of our healthcare system. This isn't unique to India; most countries grapple with public healthcare challenges. However, India's situation is exacerbated by its large population and the lack of streamlined processes and access. >  > A single visit to any reputable hospital starkly reveals that receiving proper attention hinges on your influence. The shortage of qualified doctors, nurses, and administrative staff is glaringly apparent, and this imbalance between demand and supply creates significant barriers to quality healthcare. With most providers being backed by private money that prioritizes profit over purpose, inadequate insurance can extend these struggles beyond the emotional and physical to include severe financial burdens.