India's business giants bet big on AI, quick-commerce, and chips this week
Several major Indian businesses have announced strategic moves this week to strengthen their operations. New partnerships, leadership appointments, and funding rounds highlight a push toward AI, semiconductor manufacturing, and quick-commerce expansion.
Companies like Flipkart, Amazon India, and Delhivery are rolling out cost-cutting measures and AI-driven tools, while startups such as Nester and Inamo secure fresh investments to scale up.
Flipkart Group made two key leadership appointments on 4 March. Somnath Das took over as Vice President of Supply Chain, while Digbijay Mishra became Vice President of Corporate Communications. The company had previously waived seller commissions on products priced below Rs 1,000, a policy aimed at boosting small sellers.
Amazon India also expanded its support for low-cost goods. The e-commerce giant extended its referral fee elimination program to cover over 12.5 crore products, reducing costs for merchants.
In the logistics sector, Delhivery launched SmartAssist, an AI-powered tool designed to automate basic customer support for small and medium businesses. The system handles routine queries, freeing up human agents for more complex issues.
AI adoption spread further as Cars24 partnered with OpenAI to integrate intelligent agents across its operations. The collaboration aims to enhance consumer experiences through AI-driven solutions. Similarly, upGrad announced a tie-up with OpenAI to embed advanced AI tools into its learning platform, improving personalisation for students.
Startups secured fresh funding to fuel growth. Nester, a quick-commerce player, raised ₹19 crore in a Pre-Series A round and brought Kunwarjeet Grover on board as Co-founder and Chief Business Officer. Meanwhile, Inamo closed an $8 million Series A round to expand its quick-commerce infrastructure.
The semiconductor sector saw a new alliance as ROHM and Suchi Semicon joined forces. Their manufacturing partnership aims to bolster India's domestic chip production capabilities.
In healthcare, Bio Valley, 4baseCare, and Define Bio signed an MoU to establish BioSphere, a Genomics and Next-Generation Sequencing Center of Excellence. The facility will be located at Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) in Vizag.
Republic Media Network also entered a media partnership by acquiring a minority stake in ImagiNxt's parent company. The deal strengthens ties between the two entities in content and distribution.
These developments reflect a broader trend of AI integration, cost optimisation, and sector-specific growth in India's business landscape. Flipkart and Amazon India's fee reductions target merchant support, while Delhivery's AI tool and Cars24's OpenAI partnership focus on operational efficiency.
The new funding rounds for Nester and Inamo signal confidence in quick-commerce expansion, and the ROHM-Suchi Semicon deal aligns with India's push for semiconductor self-reliance. BioSphere's launch in Vizag further advances the country's genomics research capabilities.
