Newly appointed Chief Product Officer of Soni, who launched various products for Google during his eight-year stint and helped Motorola Mobility turnaround, is back in India after spending his entire professional career in the US and is on the job.
While talking to Times of India, Soni said he is coming to the future with a focus on enhancing Flipkart’s mobile Commerce experience, adding consumers should expect changes on mobile front soon.
For this, he is scanning the world for talent.
"We are focusing on getting amazing talent which is global in nature. Now we are at an inflection point and the world is looking at India as the big opportunity. Just like younger start-ups look up to Flipkart as a role model, now I want Flipkart to do the next thing — bring large number of people from across the globe to work here and live happily, both professionally and personally. This should then seep into the rest of the ecosystem. I think it will happen, it's just about us evolving ourselves into a more thoughtful international employer than an Indian employer," Soni told TOI.
Soni along with another Google veteran Peeyush Ranjan would tap into talent from Silicon Valley’s tech giants like Google.
Flipkart is now focussing on mobile, as outlined by co-owner Sachin Bansal, and seeks to downsize its legacy as a desktop-driven player.
"The conversation is what truly a true mobile commerce experience is— no one has really cracked it yet," Soni said. "Today any mobile app is basically a website condensed into a small little phone with some ability to tap and swipe. Now compare that to the idea of shopping. I'm trying to build what is a true mobile commerce experience. If I can build that up in any geography, it is here in India," he told the news daily.
The e-Commerce company also sees mobile start-ups as a huge challenge.
“We are watchful of these younger start-ups. It is a challenge. I understand that disruption most likely comes from a smaller start-up. Their ability to do things is phenomenal and that is what makes them the prime disruptor of large companies,” Soni added.
Flipkart and fashion online retailer Myntra, which it acquired last year, have been pushing their mobile applications as smartphone penetration in India skyrockets. TOI reported that Myntra planned to its website with Flipkart following the same as the online retailers morph into pure-play mobile outfits.