SoftBank-backed Oyo has written to hotel owners invoking the ‘force majeure’ clause in their agreements, with the Covid-19 pandemic severely impacting business at the hotels. ET has seen a copy of the letter dated March 28. Oyo said in the letter that since hotel revenues have dwindled and are unlikely to improve in the next […]
How lockdown-hit online retailers are cheering customers up
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi How to keep customers engaged in times of lockdown? Some e-commerce businesses deemed non-essential or with limited items on the essentials list have found several ways of staying in touch. Myntra, Bookmyshow, FirstCry and Nykaa are using informational content, gaming, and entertainment on their apps to connect with customers. This is aimed […]
Food delivery firms reassure customers with contactless delivery, body temperature checks
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi The rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus has made customers sceptical about the safety of food delivery platforms. In India, one user tweeted, “Can anyone give us the assurance that the online food delivery platform will be 100% safe? If someone is harmed, who will be responsible?” The country’s top two delivery […]
CERT-In warns Zoom users of cyber risks
India’s nodal cyber security agency has warned users of video-conferencing app Zoom that it is prone to cyberattacks. This came following instances of leaked passwords and hackers hijacking video calls midway through conferences. “Insecure usage of the platform may allow cyber criminals to access sensitive information such as meeting details and conversations,” Indian Computer Emergency […]
Amazon India to clear backlog of essential items before taking new orders
Amazon India will fulfil existing orders of essentials before accepting new purchases, the online retailer’s country manager Amit Agarwal said on Twitter in a bid to placate consumers facing delays or cancellations of deliveries comprising essential items. The e-commerce company is working with local authorities to get clearances and curfew passes for on-ground workers, Agarwal […]
ETtech Top 5: Startups turn to layoffs, pay cuts; healthtech firms speed up efforts to fight Covid-19 & more
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi Startups turn to layoffs, salary cutsWhat’s the news? Startups have started laying off staff and, in some cases, asked employees to take pay cuts as they look for ways to weather the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Why it matters? In these unprecedented times, layoffs and pay cuts, according to companies, will […]
SoftBank won’t buy $3 billion in WeWork stock
By Peter EavisSoftBank has decided it will not buy $3 billion in WeWork stock from other shareholders, a board committee of the office space company said Wednesday night, dealing a blow to shareholders, including Adam Neumann, the company’s co-founder and former chief executive, who had hoped to sell their stock. SoftBank, a Japanese conglomerate and […]
Bigbasket, Flipkart look to hire cabs for deliveries
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi A driver from a cab aggregator might deliver your next grocery order from Flipkart or Bigbasket as the online retailers are in talks with the ride-hailing platform for deliveries of essentials amid the national lockdown. Flipkart has also sought government approval for the same as it is in advanced discussions with Uber, […]
God goes online as places of worship shut doors to save people
The muezzin calls out the faithful to prayer five times a day. But nobody comes to the mosque. These days, devotees spread out janamaz in the confines of their homes to pray. This, perhaps, is happening for the first time in 1391 years of Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kerala, where an azaan has not beckoned […]
Mounting orders and staff crunch stretch online grocers
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi Online grocers BigBasket and Grofers may be working hard to deliver essentials, but a lack of delivery slots will remain for the next week or two as these e-tailers witness heavy demand from consumers following the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak. Both companies have seen demand for […]