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<keyword id="1356293" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="barcode-scanner" source="Orion">Barcode scanner</keyword>s are a must have in the modern grocery store. They make logging and indexing of items very easy. Barcodes come in various sizes, shapes and forms, and you need a barcode scanner which can scan it all quickly, without a hitch. Barcode scanners are very effective at handling shop inventory and helping you keep a log of what has been sold, how many units sold, and other parameters. These are fascinating machines with fast sensors that can read complex code in less than seconds. Here are some of the best Barcode scanners on Amazon.<br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B0753H9768" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B0753H9768_head"><div type="image" title="Fast Decoding" msid="88694467" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B0753H9768</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B0753H9768_body"><bulletContentRow name="B0753H9768_5005172608349552"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Restol 450 Laser Barcode Scanner</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Here’s a handheld scanner built for 1D barcodes. The Handheld Wired 1D Barcode Scanner can effectively scan 1D barcodes in bright sunlight or dark environments or on curved surfaces. It is ideal for the supermarket environment. It can perform 100 decodes per second, and the 32-bit decoder makes for fast scanning even at wide angles, meaning you don’t need to put the scanner close to the code. This Barcode Scanner has a durable protective cover that can save it from falls up to 1.5 meters.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B0753H9768_1960405837518301"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It has the most accurate scanning which ensures you’re never logging things incorrectly.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B079ZTNDB8" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B079ZTNDB8_head"><div type="image" title="Ergonomic Design" msid="87320510" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B079ZTNDB8</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B079ZTNDB8_body"><bulletContentRow name="B079ZTNDB8_1923110459513096"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">iBall WBS-650MV 2.4GHZ Wireless High-Speed 1D Barcode Scanner</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Here’s a high performance barcode reader that gives accurate readings and fast data operations. Its superior speed is capable of scanning 300 scans per second, and the best part is that the reader can be used wirelessly. You can get a full charge in 6 hours of charging time. Its also got a built in barcode memory which can store up to 65,000 barcodes, in case you want to crosscheck inventory.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B079ZTNDB8_0171364135665298"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Wireless, sturdy, efficient and functional are the key highlights of this highly well built barcode scanner.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B00HWOU0IO" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B00HWOU0IO_head"><div type="image" title="Auto-Scan" msid="87320511" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B00HWOU0IO</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B00HWOU0IO_body"><bulletContentRow name="B00HWOU0IO_8368348194456356"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">TVSE BSC 101 Bar Code Scanner with Ultrascan Decoding Technology</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">If you’re looking for a fast machine, that’s reliable and easy to operate, this is the right pick. It is the fastest in this segment with 330 scans per second, and can read codes at an increased resolution of 2500 pixels. This enables fast and accurate scanning. Not just that, it also has greater decoding accuracy in addition to auto-scan mode which enables hands-free operation. For convenience, depth-of-field up to 300 mm enables decoding from longer distances</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B00HWOU0IO_5094174959551905"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">High resolution scanning, fast and easy operation make it a must have for the modern marketplace.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B07WZP91BC" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07WZP91BC_head"><div type="image" title="Wireless Operation" msid="87320512" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07WZP91BC</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07WZP91BC_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07WZP91BC_0178502940788483"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Syga 1D Barcode Scanner</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This is a wireless barcode scanner which can work for hours, is highly cost effective, and ideal for small- to medium-sized enterprises. The CCD Ultra fast scanner has wireless operation for ease of use, and is very easy to set up. It offers a flexible function as it can read all kinds of barcodes at 300 scans per second. It can decode Code11, Code39, Code93, Code32, Code128, Coda Bar, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, JAN. EAN/UPC Add-on 2/5 MSI/Plessey, Telepen and China Postal Code,Interleaved 2 of 5, Industrial 2 of 5, Matrix 2 of 5 barcodes with ease. There are 300 configurable options for prefix, suffix and termination strings.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07WZP91BC_0957530043100310"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It is fast, and can read damaged codes as well. It can decode a variety of barcodes, making matters easy at the checkout counter.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B08933X4FW" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08933X4FW_head"><div type="image" title="High Compatibility" msid="87320583" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08933X4FW</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08933X4FW_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08933X4FW_7300191814135884"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Henex HC-3208 Handheld 2D Barcode Scanner Wired QR Code Scanner 1D Barcode Reader USB Bar Code Scanner</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Here’s a scanner compatible with all systems. It works perfectly on Windows as well as Linux. It functions with Word, Excel and all common software. The best part is the accurate barcode scanning speed. The scanner can easily read barcodes on labels, paper, mobile phone or computer displays. It is also able to scan damaged codes which gives it an advantage over less capable machines. It can scan 1D as well as 2D barcodes with ease, meaning you needn’t have two scanners for different codes.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08933X4FW_2895254834227588"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It is wired, works with multiple operating systems and offers ease of use. It can scan 300 codes in a second.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B082RYYT6Z" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B082RYYT6Z_head"><div type="image" title="Easy Installation" msid="87320585" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B082RYYT6Z</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B082RYYT6Z_body"><bulletContentRow name="B082RYYT6Z_9153141958464457"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Syga Wired Barcode Scanner Laser Barcode Scanner</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Small stores can benefit from this cost effective scanner. It has a scanning speed of 200 scans per second, and is compatible with all operating systems- Windows, Linux and others. You need to plug in the device and you’re good to go. It has a scanning distance of 10-600mm which eliminates the need to move codes very close to the scanner, letting you do things from afar.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B082RYYT6Z_1502274658016111"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Cost effective option which can scan a variety of barcodes.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br />

Best barcode scanners for shop and business

<br /> <keyword id="6357120" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="PayTM">Paytm</keyword>, which is based in Noida and has emerged as India's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Santas-come-visiting-Paytm-Its-wallet-size-expected-to-increase-tenfold-in-2016/articleshow/50351147.cms">largest wallet provider</a>, has tied up with multiple parking-management companies across India, so that it can offer cashless payment solutions to its users in more than 500 parking lots. As a result of this, parking lots will provide <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Paytm-joins-hands-with-Flipkart/articleshow/51696229.cms">Paytm </a>users an option to pay through their wallets using QR codes and barcode scanners.<br />
<br />
It is another important step in what seems like the company’s vision to make its users’ lives totally independent of hard cash.<br />
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"The need of the hour is ease of payments and faster turnaround times, all of which is possible with cashless transactions," said Kiran Vasireddy, Paytm’s VP. They aim to turn 25% of the parking transactions to digital payments in the coming six months.<br />
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Interestingly, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Will-Paytm-pave-the-way-for-Alibabas-entry-in-to-India/articleshow/51490871.cms">Alipay</a>, which is Paytm's largest-investor, also offers such digital parking facilities to its users in China, and Paytm thinks that this move has a lot of the potential in the untapped and unorganised parking industry in India.<br />
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Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/ExclusivePaytm-founder-CEO-Vijay-Shekhar-Sharma-talks-about-his-plans-to-go-global/articleshow/52108221.cms">Exclusive: Paytm founder-CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma talks about his plans to go global</a><br />
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Other areas where <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Paytm-is-expanding-its-warehouse-network-is-willing-to-double-investment-to-Rs-500-crore/articleshow/50957579.cms">Paytm </a>has entered and made its users independent of cash include 'paan' shops, vegetable vendors and big retail outlets such as Aditya Birla Group's food and grocery retail arm More, Indian Oil petrol pumps, food chains such as Cafe Coffee Day and Pizza Hut, and several schools and colleges, other than being able to buy <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/You-can-buy-a-PVR-movie-ticket-on-Paytm-now/articleshow/51494335.cms">online movie tickets</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://paytm.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Paytm-wallet_blog3.jpg"><em>Image source</em></a><br />

Go cashless: Paytm ties up with 500 parking lots to let you park cars without cash

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton</span></p><p class="caption">Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos speaks at a news conference during the launch of Amazon's new tablets in New York, September 28, 2011</p></div><p></p></div></div>Amazon has been in talks with phone makers at a "factory level" to get its services onto Android handsets in place of Google's, <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/amazon-next-phone-play-android-google">according to a report from The Information</a>. </p><p>The company wants to go deeper than pre-loading apps onto phones, which it currently does on some Android handsets. Instead, Amazon has its sights set on getting a third-party to make a phone that resembles the Kindle Fire tablets. </p><p>Google currently has rules for Android which prohibit certain types of activity by software makers. The penalty for breaking them is a lack of access to Google's core services, such as Google Play. Amazon has been working on its own app store, called the Amazon App Store, which has many apps that are available on Google's store. </p><p>The reason for Amazon's talks are simple: The company wants an expanded presence on mobile - a platform it has traditionally been lacking on, besides shopping - without having to split revenue with Google. </p><p>Amazon had a brief foray into making its own phone, called the Fire Phone, that ran a version of Android overlayed with Amazon's own services. The phone bombed, however, and is no longer available for sale. </p><p>Amazon has recently been beefing its smartphone app offerings up, breaking out some features - such as grocery shopping or barcode scanner - into separate apps. </p><p>The strategy to get Android users onto Amazon services is also important because iPhone users are currently the most valuable customers. However, emerging markets such as India - which an Amazon executive described as a "<a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/amazons-plan-in-india-a-trillion-dollar-market-2016-1">trillion-dollar market</a>" - predominantly use Android phones. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-unique-hidden-sub-categories-code-tearjerkers-stand-up-comedy-2016-1">How to find Netflix's secret categories</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="VlZjM2MDE6YhzeEmGWLIfJXnPkAikBM-" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Amazon is reportedly trying to push Google out of Android phones

New Delhi, Feb 23 () Fintech platform Pine Labs is confident of expanding the base of its Android POS machines to 1.5 lakh by the next fiscal, as it deploys these new machines across industries like hospitality, retail, healthcare and automobile.<p>The company, which had launched Plutus Smart (its Android-based point of sale machines) about nine months ago, has already deployed over 50,000 of these POS terminals.</p><p>"Merchants across large, medium and small enterprises have chosen Plutus Smart as their preferred mode of payment acceptance. Apart from just accepting multiple modes of payment, it allows merchants access to a plethora of features like bill generation, inventory management etc," Pine Labs Chief Business Officer Kush Mehra told .</p><p>The company plans to considerably scale up its Android POS network in 2020-21 to 1.5 lakh machines and diversify into newer industries. POS machines are used by merchants to accept payments through cards among other features, he added.</p><p>Some of its customers of Android POS include merchants across industries like hospitality, apparel and lifestyle, entertainment and healthcare. Organisations like Cinepolis India, Flipkart, Vijay Sales, Lenskart, Air Asia India and Miniso are among its customers.</p><p>"Additionally, multiple State Traffic Police departments have signed up to empower their personnel with the latest Android-based Plutus Smart terminals. We are working on onboarding customers from newer verticals like automobile dealers and educational institutions as well," he said.</p><p> Plutus Smart can accept payments across multiple payment modes including debit/credit cards, UPI, mobile wallets, QR codes, loyalty cards, amongst others. It also has an in-built barcode scanner and helps customers to compare EMI offers across banks on the POS.</p><p>"We have built an extensive network of banks and brands to offer EMI-led purchase option on its POS terminals. It also helps merchants gain intelligent and real-time business insights and capture customer feedback," Mehra said.</p><p>Pine Labs has built a portfolio of over 25 third-party billing apps developed using its open APIs since July 2019. </p>These apps help merchants with inventory management, easy option for splitting payment across multiple payment modes, returns management, online ordering feature, and creating GST bills in the recommended GST format, among other features.  SR  BAL

Pine Labs plans to deploy 1.5 lakh Android POS devices by next fiscal

<br /><ul><li><strong>In a bid to curb smoking, the Indian government banned <keyword id="44749" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Foreign-Direct-Investment">foreign direct investment</keyword> on manufacturing in the tobacco sector in 2010.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>However, Philip Morris, the world’s largest tobacco company, allegedly made indirect payments to its manufacturing partner, <keyword id="6413014" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Godfrey-Phillips">Godfrey Phillips</keyword>, to produce its iconic <keyword id="4795823" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Marlboro-cigarettes">Marlboro cigarettes</keyword>.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>To the authorities and Indian consumers, it looked like Philip Morris had outsourced manufacturing to Godfrey Phillips on a contract basis, when in reality, the <keyword id="144478" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Marlboro">Marlboro</keyword> maker had paid for and covered the costs of local manufacturing.</strong></li></ul><br />In a bid to curb smoking, the Indian government <a href="https://dipp.gov.in/sites/default/files/ru2181.pdf">banned foreign direct investment</a> on manufacturing in the tobacco sector in 2010. While a lot of international firms like <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/japan-tobacco-s-indian-jv-goes-up-in-smoke-111111000031_1.html">Japan Tobacco</a> were forced to exit joint ventures, it seemed that <keyword id="152138" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Philip-Morris-International">Philip Morris International</keyword> had an ace up its sleeve to circumvent the law.<br /><br />The world’s largest tobacco company allegedly made indirect payments to its manufacturing partner, Godfrey Phillips, to produce its iconic Marlboro cigarettes, according to <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/us-pmi-india-exclusive/exclusive-philip-morris-paid-for-india-manufacturing-despite-ban-on-foreign-investment-documents-idINKCN1QN0TR">a Reuters</a> report. <br /><br />As per internal invoices, bills and legal arrangements dated between 2009 and 2018, Philip Morris reportedly struck an exclusive local manufacturing deal with Godfrey Phillips while maintaining its majority-owned wholesale and branding operations in the country. <br /><br />To the authorities and Indian consumers, it looked like Philip Morris had outsourced manufacturing to Godfrey Phillips on a contract basis, when in reality, the Marlboro maker had paid for and covered the costs of local manufacturing. These included costs of equipment like barcode scanners and cigarette-making machines - which is highly unusual when a company “outsources” manufacturing. <br /><br />The indirect nature of the payments could have allowed Philip Morris to skirt authorities. Given that it focuses on direct investment, there is some ambiguity in the FDI policy regarding the indirect payment for manufacturing expenses. <br /><br />Pratibha Jain, a partner at Mumbai’s Nishith Desai Associates, told Reuters that the FDI law did not explicitly ban such indirect payments, especially when they’re made through invoices. <br /><br />In an email to Reuters, R. Venkatesh, Philip Morris’ country director for corporate affairs, said the company was in compliance with FDI rules.<br /><br />To determine if there is an actual case against Philip Morris for violating FDI rules, ndian authorities will likely have to investigate the commercial and profit-sharing arrangement between the two companies. <br /><br />This wouldn’t be the first time Philip Morris has run into problems with the Indian government. In 2017, India’s health ministry <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-exclusive-india-threatens-philip-morris-with-punitive-action-over-alleged-violations-2017-8">reprimanded</a> the company over its marketing tactics such as advertising at kiosks, the handing out of free cigarettes during nightlife events and television promotions. <br /><br />Separately, the Indian government was considering <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/dipp-calls-meeting-of-stakeholders-on-fdi-in-tobacco-sector/articleshow/63665873.cms">extending the FDI ban </a>in the tobacco sector from just manufacturing to licensing and technology collaboration as well, but the proposal was put on hold after protests from trade groups and farmer associations. <br /><br /><br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-witnessed-a-drastic-decline-in-tobacco-smoking-over-the-past-decade-who/articleshow/64415653.cms">India witnessed a drastic decline in tobacco smoking over the past decade: WHO</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/in-india-cigarettes-will-get-even-costlier/articleshow/67669669.cms">Smokers alert — cigarette prices in India may rise even further</a><br />

Here’s how Marlboro maker Philip Morris exploited a loophole in India’s foreign investment laws

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gop32000/7352877340/in/photolist-ccKqgf-dV6pmX-aEbhvW-fw58-7hsGxo-ojhoaU-j5qLEG-aLTXut-5uA19k-34cCjY-8pc8kM-7G4gXo-7FZm38-b5UZzc-iGxZ9-btANff-btANgA-btANfW-btANiJ-bGvBLi-bGvBMn-4GjBmg-pnZXNk-86qzRy-dpivXp-MqVkh-pmfiaq-3kD66a-7Ksqm-nD8Xm-6ts3Dx-8R6vtv-aty166-9c4L4k-9BEYkf-2oH5pJ-7aZ8KB-6VZekT-DSA4Y-6X35wc-wJHT3-8Uj7sS-6SgMNJ-jsiTbh-hhuwR5-eertVC-4H2ULZ-dkuNY-ic5h34-7SjEki">Flickr / the foreign photographer</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div>The pace of change and disruptive innovation happening around us is exhilarating. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We are not only rethinking and reimagining how people shop, bank, dine, and travel, we have an incredible potential to address a very real societal problem: the growing number of unbanked and underbanked individuals. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At last count, </span><a href="http://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/counting-the-worlds-unbanked"><span style="font-weight: 400;">McKinsey &amp; Company</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> estimated that 2.5 billion of the world's adults are currently unbanked, with just short of 2.2 billion of these in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. And in the U.S., one government study showed that 20% of US households are underbanked.</span></p><p>Financial inclusion is about much more than just having a bank account. At its root level, it is a key element of social and economic inclusion. It is about helping people participate in today's connected economy. Reaching the unbanked and underbanked population is a win for both sides - it can provide new customers for banks, while connecting people to financial services that can help them manage their money, save and obtain access to a wider range of welfare benefits.</p><p>Many large technology and banking providers are already looking at how we can address this problem, alongside governments who are introducing new policies to support this. The challenge is to create meaningful opportunities to bring banking services to underserved communities.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The problem of financial inclusion is global, and it is not just a third world problem. It is true that in developing economies, only 59% of adults have a traditional bank account. In India, more than 233 million people have never been to a bank.  But highly developed economies have challenges too. A World Bank study showed that 11% of adults in high-income economies do not have traditional bank accounts.  </span></p><p>And another recent study estimated that 93 million people in Western Europe are financially underserved. While solutions like online payments, mobile banking, and prepaid cards have made important strides in promoting financial inclusion, these sobering numbers make it clear that there is still a great deal of work to do.</p><p>There are many ways that technology can help open the vaults of banking to the unbanked and the underbanked. Among these are:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Video tellers:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Imagine an ATM where you can talk live with a bank teller 24 hours a day on a video screen. This technology allows banks to bring a wide range of always-on services at a fraction of the cost of a fully-staffed branch. Banks can now operate branches in low-income and rural neighbourhoods where it wasn't economical or sustainable in the past. Furthermore, customers have much more freedom in when they bank - someone who is holding down two or three jobs can now talk to a live teller at 2 am just as easily as 2 pm. In some parts of the world, people have to walk miles to reach a bank, so imagine the possibilities that can be created by bringing services to them in an affordable way.</span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Accessibility solutions</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">: New technology innovations such as accessible ATMs now make it easier for people with vision and hearing impairments, and all types of disabilities, to access convenient financial services. NCR has a long history of creating accessible ATMs - something we're particularly proud of is our current work building accessibility features for ATMs that match the highly regarded accessibility features on smartphones and tablets so people with disabilities can bank at an ATM just like they bank online.</span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong><strong>The cloud for microbusinesses:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Financial inclusion isn't just about individuals. It also means giving small businesses the tools they need to compete, and this is something that doesn't get enough attention. The cloud is opening new doors for SMBs, who can now take orders, manage inventory, accept payments and forecast demand on a mobile device at a price they can afford. This is a powerful competitive advantage and a great equalizer - you can have the same reach and access to big data and analytics as a small business that a billion-dollar corporation has.</span></strong></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These kinds of innovations are already in existence, and ready to roll out. However, if countries are to better support financial inclusion through technology, there are several steps they must take. First, they must have a clear national strategy, such as the goal set by India to ensure every household in the country has a bank account by 2018. This is where the government needs to play a pivotal role in encouraging financial inclusion.</span></p><p>Second, public-private partnerships are essential to ensure that new technologies reach underserved populations that need them. Governments and technology providers need to work together to ensure that the latest technology is embraced and capable of reaching a wider audience. </p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">A technician shows a cell phone to a customer in his store in Khartoum</p></div><p></p></div></div>Third, more support is needed to extend the rollout of fast, reliable broadband technology, as this will underpin almost all of the technologies that are essential to financial inclusion. Without it, other technology solutions will not succeed.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps most importantly, countries must take an omni-channel approach to financial inclusion. While tools such as digital banking are immensely powerful, not everyone will have access to every solution, or will want digital channels. Likewise, physical channels themselves are not always the answer.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">To open more doors to financial inclusion, we must not get locked into existing technologies - the pace of innovation is too fast for that. Government rules must be flexible and technology-neutral to allow the best technologies that drive financial inclusion to flourish, and technology providers need to ensure they are embracing the latest technology innovations in their products to be able to reach an ever-larger banking population.</span></p><p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The NCR Corporation is an American computer hardware, software and electronics company that makes self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, automated teller machines, check processing systems, barcode scanners, and business consumables.</span></em></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sugar-effects-human-body-explained-2016-12">Here's what happens to your body when you stop eating sugar</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="5oMGljMzE6lf0JBPB-pyxq10IYKalQNS" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Here's how technology can open the doors to financial inclusion

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rishi Sunak will soon become the new prime minister of the UK.</li><li>His family's wealth clocks in at an estimated $825 million, making him one of the richest people in Britain.</li></ul><p>Rishi Sunak is set to become Britain's newest prime minister, taking over from Liz Truss after her astonishingly short — and chaotic — time in office. </p><p>Truss's slashing of taxes and subsequent policy U-turns during her brief <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/liz-truss-resigns-as-uk-prime-minister-2022-10">six weeks in office</a> spooked the markets and plunged Britain into <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/bonds/recession-uk-economy-tax-cuts-markets-crash-warning-global-leaders-2022-10">financial turmoil</a>. </p><p>Her aggressive tax-cutting plan coupled with already soaring interest rates and a squeeze on energy prices worldwide has left many Brits with distinct financial worries and in a cost of living crisis.</p><p>The UK now has more food banks than McDonald's, and many people are making the choice between eating and heating their homes, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-of-living-there-are-more-food-banks-mcdonalds-uk-2022-9">as Insider's Bethany Dawson reported</a>. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/29/almost-quarter-of-uk-plans-to-go-without-heating-this-winter-energy-price-cap">The Guardian reported</a> in August that almost a quarter of the country is planning not to turn on the heating this winter. </p><p>On Monday, October 24, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rishi-sunak-penny-mordaunt-next-uk-prime-minister-2022-10">Sunak secured the backing of his Conservative Party to become its leader</a>, thereby becoming the UK's presumptive PM. </p><p>As a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sunak's grasp of fiscal policy may be welcomed by a country facing immense financial difficulties.</p><p>However, Sunak also faces fierce criticism for his family's extraordinary wealth. With a net worth that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/14/the-sovereigns-wealth-uk-royal-familys-finances-explained">rivals that of King Charles III</a>, many <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/22/rishi-sunak-rich-730m-fortune-prime-minister">fear</a> that Sunak will not be able to understand the daily financial struggles the British public faces, especially as Britain <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/uk-recession-outlook-liz-truss-quits-economy-tax-goldman-sachs-2022-10">faces the prospect of a painful recession</a>.</p><p>Political research consultancy <a href="https://comresglobal.com/">Savanta ComRes</a> summed up public sentiment in a tweeted word cloud on Monday, based on the most common responses given to the surveyed question, "How would you describe Rishi Sunak in one word?"</p><p>"Clever," "good," and "okay" were prominently featured, but they were dwarfed by one word: "Rich." At the time of publication, the survey's methodology was not made public.</p><h2>A privileged childhood</h2><p>Sunak's parents were <a href="https://www.tatler.com/article/rishi-sunak-chancellor-of-the-exchequer-feature">born in colonial Africa</a> — his father, Yashvir, in Kenya, and his mother, Usha, in Tanzania. They met and married in the UK, where his father became a general practitioner and his mother went on to run a pharmacy. In a story for <a href="https://www.tatler.com/article/rishi-sunak-chancellor-of-the-exchequer-feature">Tatler</a>, a family friend described the pair as "passionately British." Sunak was educated at Winchester College — a fee-paying school that, in 2022, cost $38,500 to $52,000 a year to attend. In an <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/rishi-sunak-donates-more-than-100-000-to-his-old-boarding-school-winchester-college-12582879">interview with Sky News</a>, he expressed an understanding of how beneficial attending Winchester was for his career: "I was really lucky to have that opportunity. It was something that was really extraordinary, it certainly put my life on a different trajectory."</p><p>Sunak became head boy at the distinguished boarding school before taking a path well-trodden for British politicians, studying philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford. There, he received a First, the highest accolade for an undergraduate degree. </p><p>It was during a Fulbright scholarship at Stanford in 2006, where Sunak gained an MBA, that his future fortune first entered his life. It was there where he met Akshata Murthy, the <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rishi-sunak-wife-akshata-murty-marriage-b2209298.html">daughter of Infosys billionaire Narayana Murthy</a>. The couple married in 2009 in an extravagant two-day wedding in Bangalore. Together, the couple's wealth is estimated at $825 million, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rishi-sunak-first-uk-politician-to-enter-sunday-times-rich-list-2022-5">according to the Sunday Times Rich List</a>, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2022/09/15/how-rich-is-king-charles-iii-inside-the-new-monarchs-outrageous-fortune/?sh=c03f0f6757f1">rivaling the net worth of King Charles III</a>.</p><p>It's a union that made Sunak <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rishi-sunak-first-uk-politician-to-enter-sunday-times-rich-list-2022-5">the first frontline UK politician to enter The Sunday Times' annual wealth listing</a>.</p><div type="image" title="Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murthy" height="526" width="702" msid="95069520" hostid="261"></div><p>After becoming the Conservative Party's MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire in 2015, he was soon seen as a rising star and became Boris Johnson's chancellor between 2020 and 2022.</p><p>In that role, he oversaw several fiscal stimulus measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-business/uk-unveils-420-billion-lifeline-for-firms-hit-by-coronavirus-idUSKBN2140VY">nearly $420 billion lifeline</a> of loan guarantees for affected businesses. But after Johnson was embroiled in numerous scandals, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-ministers-sajid-javid-rishi-sunak-quit-cabinet-2022-7">Sunak resigned</a> and entered the race for the top job himself. </p><h2>Clumsy displays of wealth</h2><p>In the leadership election that ensued — which Liz Truss eventually won — Sunak played up his parents' humble beginnings, <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunaks-privileged-childhood-no-27567616">emphasizing</a> how much they had "sacrificed" to give him an expensive education.</p><p>But despite his attempts to portray a down-to-earth image, the British public has had numerous reminders that Sunak has a very different experience with money than most people. </p><p>In August, a video clip of Sunak holding his contactless debit card up to the barcode scanner — rather than tapping it on the payment device — went viral, giving the impression that he rarely buys things in person. He <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-admits-someone-teach-27702443">later confessed</a> that someone had to teach him how to use the card reader. In another resurfaced <a href="https://youtu.be/p9bbBYcwFOk">clip</a> from a 2007 interview with the BBC, Sunak suggested he didn't have any "working-class friends."</p><p>He has also come under fire for his overt displays of wealth, including splashy purchases such as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/07/rishi-sunak-prepares-for-mini-budget-with-help-of-180-smart-mug">a $200 self-heating "smart" coffee cup</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2022/jul/30/liz-truss-rishi-sunak-no-10-race-dress-prada-claires-fashion">$500 Prada loafers.</a> ("Values are what are important, what I'm wearing is irrelevant to all of that," Sunak <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/22/rishi-sunak-rich-730m-fortune-prime-minister">told</a> the Guardian about his extravagant purchases.)</p><div type="image" title="Rishi Sunak" height="3000" width="4000" msid="95069522" hostid="261"></div><p>Sunak's wealth, however, has provided more than just the odd, embarrassing photo-op. </p><h2>Tax and visa scandals</h2><p>In November 2020, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/27/huge-wealth-of-sunaks-family-not-declared-in-ministerial-register">The Guardian reported</a> that Sunak had failed to mention his wife's massive wealth on the ministers' register of interests. While ministers are supposed to declare anything that might represent a conflict of interest, a subsequent investigation found that <a href="https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/sunak-cleared-of-ministerial-code-breach-over-tax-affairs">he had not breached the UK's ministerial code</a>. </p><p>Earlier this year, Sunak's wife Murthy was also embroiled in a tax scandal after it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/apr/07/rishi-sunaks-wife-says-its-not-relevant-to-say-where-she-pays-tax-overseas">emerged that she had "non-domiciled" status in the UK</a>, which allowed her to avoid paying British taxes on the income she earned abroad, primarily from Murthy's stake in Infosys, which is based in India. Murthy is also the <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fakshata-murty-5a04232%2F%3ForiginalSubdomain%3Duk">director</a> of her father's venture capital firm, Catamaran Ventures, and has shares in several other companies.</p><p>Around the same time, Sunak faced scrutiny for holding a US green card while he was chancellor, despite his primary residence not being in the US, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-61044847">provoking questions</a> about whether he enjoyed tax benefits as a result. He relinquished his green card in October 2021, according to his spokeswoman.</p><p>It's yet unclear whether Sunak and his family's wealth will prove to be an issue. His supporters, including British chancellor Jeremy Hunt, argue that Sunak's experience in finance and at the treasury make him the right man for the job.</p><p>"To restore stability and confidence, we need a leader who can be trusted to make difficult choices," Hunt, who will be looking to keep his position as chancellor, <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/10/23/why-backing-rishi-sunak-prime-minister/">wrote</a> in the Daily Telegraph. "We also need someone who can explain those choices to members of the public who are worried about jobs, mortgages and public service. We have a leader who can do just that in Rishi Sunak."</p><p><em><strong>Correction: October 25, 2022 —</strong> An earlier version of this story misrepresented King Charles III's net worth. It has been updated to reflect that while Rishi Sunak's family's net worth rivals King Charles III, it is not double that of the royal's.</em></p><p><em><strong>Correction: October 25, 2022 —</strong> An earlier version of this story overstated Britain's economic crisis. It has been updated to reflect that while the UK faces the prospect of an economic recession, it is not a certainty.</em></p>

New UK PM Rishi Sunak married into almost $1 billion in tech money, has a net worth that rivals King Charles, and takes over a country struggling to afford heating

<br /> Shopping is a lively experience. While many do it as a stress-busting exercise, some do it because they just feel the need to buy. With the Festival of Lights just around the corner, most people are out on a shopping spree. But this Diwali could be a bit different for the majority of <keyword id="44446" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="retailers">retailers</keyword> and <keyword id="1073727" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="e-tailers">e-tailers</keyword> across the country as they engage with a tech-savvy and digitally informed crowd.<br />
 <br /> Interestingly, not all shoppers are geeky millennials (born after 1980) looking for the coveted Gold iPhone or the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch at mega-retailers. Instead, ‘digitally driven’ customers (who might have already done their research online) are invading every nook and cranny – right from top notch electronics outlets to sparkling jewellery stores and <keyword id="1915266" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="neighbourhood-shops">neighbourhood shops</keyword> who have stocked up on traditional Diwali ware including dry sweets, clay diyas, crackers and rangoli materials.<br />
 <br /> The domestic retail market in India is worth an annual $500 billion and about 45 million small merchants are now operating here. Yet, catering to a connected and high-spending consumer community is a big challenge, especially with so many big-box retailers, hypermarkets and e-commerce mammoths around. If you own a shop, a brick-and-mortar one, here are 9 quick-fix <keyword id="514572" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tech-Solutions">tech solutions</keyword> that may help you drive in more customers this shopping season – without spending a fortune on branding, marketing or revamping your current outlet/s.<br />
 <br />
<strong>Push your store online – the more eyeballs you get, the better</strong><br />
Unless they know you are there, people can’t find their way to your business. Setting up a digital store only takes a few minutes, thanks to numerous e-commerce enablers like the SmartStore from Bigfoot Retail, Infibeam-run Build a Bazaar and more, all of whom offer DIY solutions. Then there are online marketplaces like Amazon India and Flipkart where SMEs can register as third party sellers/franchises and business is bound to boom.<br />
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<strong>Leverage the location advantage – mobile is the watchword</strong><br /> If you are selling designer diyas or sterling silverware in Delhi, not too many in Kerala will be interested. But trust the NCR crowd to turn up for the sale if you have done some <keyword id="1915279" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="geospecific-advertising">geospecific advertising</keyword> and <keyword id="1915281" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="geofencing">geofencing</keyword>. With the world going mobile and India no exception either, apps are aplenty to help shoppers find the best local deals – be it shopping, sightseeing, movies or dinner. As most people love to keep track of deals, coupons, product information and freebies, it makes sense to leverage the location advantage and hook your local customers via mobile.<br />
 <br /> Local promotion will also turn big on <keyword id="6354632" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Social-media">social media</keyword>. For instance, Twitter will soon allow companies to promote tweets to people who are near specific latitudes and longitudes. You can also take a call on Big Data analytics that will give you access to demographic details, shopping patterns and social behaviour – so that you can send most relevant marketing messages.<br />
 <br />
<strong>Enhance In-store experience – build a ‘physical’ Web</strong><br />
This may take some time and a little investment, but works well in the long run. The mantra is to create a ‘physical’ web that replicates one’s online experience within the brick-and-mortar outlet. An amazing example is the recently launched Android Land store in Bangalore and NCR. Set up interactive kiosks for product browsing, comparisons and access to consumer reviews; provide in-store inventory search and finally, allow customers some hands-on time to understand product functionality. Put together, it will feel like a seamless navigation between Web and physical environments, done interchangeably to meet one’s shopping needs. In case you are running a hybrid model, offer a bouquet of services that will combine both online and offline features.<br />
 <br />
<strong>Speed up shopping with a smile – tech tools can help</strong><br />
Unlike the previous breed of shoppers, the current lot doesn’t shop by printed specs or gut feelings. In fact, you are sure to find one or the other spending ages on the smartphone or tab, comparing features and pricing. Another could be walking around the store, trying to track you via Google Maps. And those deep into social shopping could even try and get peer reviews before making a purchase.<br />
 <br />
Not all shoppers will go to that extreme, but many feel irritated if they are hurried by human assistants before their personal browsing is over. Keep a discreet distance till then or better still, provide some technology touch points to speed things up. Your sales staff can be on the floor with handheld devices through which they can accept payments and assist people with product search, specs comparison and more. Or how about self-help barcode scanners like iScan that allow customers scan their merchandise? It means they need not spend time in check-out queues as their purchased items are scanned and billed automatically.<br />
 <br />
<strong><keyword id="1468988" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Showrooming">Showrooming</keyword> hurts – but this TV commercial has a solution</strong><br />
We recently came across a TVC that shows a young couple hurrying out of a store (presumably to find better pricing elsewhere) and the sales person asking them back. He then displays a full price comparison on a handheld device and proves that the store offers the best deal. What the couple did is popularly known as showrooming – the act of checking out a product in a store and then buying it online for a lower price. According to a recent IBM study, it is a growing trend in the country and there is a higher incidence of showrooming in China (26%) and India (13%) than in the US (7%).<br />
 <br />
Although it hurts most retailers, there are ways to curtail it – in the same way the TVC suggested. The trick lies in creating an exciting customer experience through hi-tech tools, hands-on product experience and personalised services. In brief, retailers must understand consumer interests and expectations in a bid to develop curated experience for all. And a well-aligned, multi-channel approach (Web, mobile, tab and physical store) is the way to win today’s consumers who love convenience over everything else.<br />
 <br />
<strong>Cash and swipe are last-century relics – go for <keyword id="1915270" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="mobile-PoS">mobile POS</keyword></strong><br />
For small-format consumer retail, mobile payment can be a great option as it has greater acceptability among young shoppers, does away with checkout queues and helps one handle just about any transaction anywhere. Business owners can also accept payments via credit/debit cards without paying high transaction fees. You only need to pay the m-payment enabler, which is usually a small percentage of each transaction. Although Near-Field Communication (NFC) is the best bet for m-commerce till date, a whole lot of home-grown companies are now providing cost-effective software solutions/apps that can turn even a simple feature phone into a POS terminal for swiping credit/debit cards or even for some simple bank transactions.<br />
 <br />
<strong>Showcase things upfront – it speaks of integrity</strong><br />
That’s the best way to win customer loyalty in a highly competitive scenario. Don’t just say you are the best in the town – prove it with your products and services. Amazon is the role model here – even for those retailing offline. After all, business values like speed, efficiency and transparency can boost your venture no end. What’s more, there are cool tools to prove it to your customers as well, as e-tailing major Myntra.com has recently showcased. During its Diwali sale, the e-commerce site was offering special prizes for top spenders and had in place a real time leader board – so that customers can track their positions online and find out if they had won. Apple does the same when a deal is going in iTunes Store and the message is clear enough. A transparent model puts your customers in the driver’s seat and shows you have a cherish-worthy value system.<br />
 <br />
<strong>To stay ahead of competition – re-invent your business</strong><br />
Every business has its quirky moments and out-of-the-box thinking (even with some risk elements) can really get the market going for you. Take a hint from fashion e-tailer Yebhi.com or online jeweller CaratLane.com, both of whom offer a try-and-buy service and bring home the store experience. Lenskart.com has gone one step ahead – it not only offers home try-on, but will also get your eyes tested at your doorstep.<br />
 <br /> So think differently about your business. You should be ready to give something new to your customers every 6-8 months. <keyword id="3670298" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Small-retailers">Small retailers</keyword>, too, can think along new lines which can gain them good traction. For instance, a local grocery shop we knew in Bangalore used to mail new recipes every Sunday if people ordered from the store and that worked out fabulously.<br />
<br />
<strong>Meet your customers fast – you need to build a relationship</strong><br />
That’s what Yelp’s Jeremy Stoppelman did and he did it face to face to understand what kind of people were using the revamped Yelp and what they were looking for. The company still holds these get-togethers, but you can keep things simple and do it via social media.<br />
<br />
That’s one must-not-skip strategy exercise nowadays as brands are built through storytelling and connected customers want to get involved in a meaningful way. It means they want to share their stories, opinions and insights which are both relevant to your business and a pronounced assertion of their own self. So keep your finger on the social pulse and build your business around it to ensure crowd following.

<b>9 Tech Makeovers That
Can Lure Festive Shoppers Back To Local Stores</b>

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="REUTERS/Jason Redmond" title_caption="Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5408cd69ecad04845f9d3034-960/jeff-bezos-amazon-43.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Jason Redmond</span></p><p class="caption">Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos</p></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Amazon is one of the most brutal  companies to compete against. </p>
<p>With founder and CEO Jeff Bezos at the helm, Amazon forgoes profits, endures slim margins, and relentlessly prioritizes customers. Bezos snuffs out competition with low prices, and takes a hardline in negotiations companies that want to sell products on Amazon. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">This has led to Amazon taking vastly more ecommerce sales than anyone else. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>Amazon started as a site to buy books online, but today it sells everything. It's </span><span></span><a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ae?s=AMZN+Analyst+Estimates">expected</a><span> to do ~$91 billion in sales this year. </span></span></p>
<p>In a 2013 <a href="http://jeff.a16z.com/2013/10/25/so-you-want-to-compete-against-amazon/">blog post on competing with Amazon</a>, <span>Andreessen Horowitz investor Jeff Jordan</span> included the following chart, noting, "Amazon is larger than the next dozen largest e-tailers-COMBINED!  Its resulting scale advantages are staggering."</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="Jeff Jordan, Andreessen Horowitz" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/532c7c96ecad0404355b5572-960/screen shot 2014-03-21 at 1.47.20 pm.png"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span><a href="http://jeff.a16z.com/2013/10/25/so-you-want-to-compete-against-amazon/">Jeff Jordan, Andreessen Horowitz</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Benedict Evans, an analyst at Andreessen Horowitz, recently wrote <a href="http://ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2014/9/4/why-amazon-has-no-profits-and-why-it-works">a big analysis of Amazon</a>. In it, he included the following chart that shows Amazon's willingness to give up on profits.</p>
<p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div><br /></span></p>
<p>Now, it's important to note that it's not like Amazon <em>can't </em>make money. It's that it chooses not to make money. As Evans puts it Amazon has someone at the company whose job it is to make sure that net income gets to zero. </p>
<p>Amazon takes nearly every dollar of cash that it generates and pumps it right back into the company, which you can see represented here by the growth in capital expenditures:</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p><span>Amazon's willingness to reinvest its money makes it an intimidating company. It's run like a startup, not a 20 year old mainstream company. </span></p>
<p><span>"We won't invest in a company unless they can tell us why they won't get steamrolled by Amazon," Jordan once </span><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3014817/amazon-jeff-bezos">told Fast Company</a><span>. </span></p>
<p>But recently, it feels like something has changed. As Amazon expands into more verticals, its sheer number of competitors has exploded, and they're attacking Amazon in ways that are both big and small. Amazon remains a strong company, but it suddenly seems at risk of stretching itself too thin, exposing itself to too many competitors. </p>
<h2>The startups that could disrupt Amazon</h2>
<p>For instance, Andreessen Horowitz just <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/instacart-raises-44-million-2014-6">invested $44 million in Instacart</a>, a grocery delivery service. Instacart hires people to drive their own cars to grocery stores to pick up stuff that users order through their smartphone. This is a direct competitor to AmazonFresh, which also delivers groceries, but in fewer markets around the country than Instacart does.</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Business Insider / Jillian D'Onfro" title_caption="Jeff Bezos introducing the Amazon Fire phone" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5409f28feab8ea3e6277b8f5-960/amazon-fire-phone-jeff-bezos-19.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>Business Insider / Jillian D'Onfro</span></p><p class="caption">Jeff Bezos introducing the Amazon Fire phone</p></div><p></p></div></div>The Instacart example is telling, partly because the company exists almost entirely because of our smartphones and the desire for instant gratification.</p>
<p>Mobile apps are changing shopping (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mobile-commerce-is-exploding-2014-8" target="_blank">mobile commerce grew three times faster</a> than e-commerce year-over-year overall in Q2). But, until its recent release of the Fire phone, Amazon had done hardly anything to make its mobile experience distinct from its desktop experience. <span>It basically just ported its website into an app. </span>With the Fire phone, Amazon went hard in the opposite direction. Part of the reason why <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-fire-phone-usage-growth-chitika-survey-2014-8" target="_blank">the Fire phone hasn't done well</a>, is that it feels like the phone exists mainly as a portal to the Amazon ecosystem.</p>
<p>Besides providing a better gateway to instant gratification, many e-commerce apps also offer a more personalized shopping experience. Amazon may be the "everything store," but it isn't great at pointing you towards things you weren't specifically looking for. </p>
<p><a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/08/6-ways-competitors-are-trying-to-kill-amazon.html" target="_blank">As Kevin Roose put it in a recent New York Magazine piece</a>, Amazon has issues with "discovery." Startups like Spring, Fancy, and One Kings Lane, to name a few, are all beautifying the e-commerce process while giving customers new ways to browse. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Fancy" title_caption="Fancy uses big, beautiful pictures and personalized recommendations to help users find things on a whim" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5409e79a69bedd3857ff257b-960/screen shot 2014-09-05 at 12.38.34 pm.png"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>Fancy</span></p><p class="caption">Fancy uses big, beautiful pictures and personalized recommendations to help users find things on a whim</p></div><p></p></div></div> </p>
<p>Lee Hnetinka, founder and CEO of New York City-based startup WunWun thinks his company undercuts Amazon in several different ways. WunWun is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wunwun-announces-free-deliveries-2014-7" target="_blank">a delivery service app that lets customers purchase goods from local stores and then delivers them within an hour for free,</a> and Hnetinka says that operating without warehouses and inventory makes it much more nimble than Amazon. <span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="WunWun" title_caption="A WunWun courier on a delivery run " class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/540a00a9ecad043c451fa4ad-960/wunwun-1.png"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>WunWun</span></p><p class="caption">A WunWun courier on a delivery run </p></div><p></p></div></div>"We're also empowering merchants," Hnetinka told Business Insider "We're empowering them to compete with Amazon." <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Although he says that he doesn't "wake up everyday thinking about how [WunWun] can kill Amazon," he's not afraid of the competition. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The other reason the Instacart story is important is that it only competes with Amazon because Amazon is doing everything now. <span>If Apple is famous for its focus, Amazon should be famous for its lack of focus.</span></span></p>
<h2>The "everything" store</h2>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>In the last nine months, Amazon has made three new forays into hardware, with a </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-fire-tv-2014-4">TV streaming box</a><span>, the </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-fire-phone-review-2014-7">Fire smartphone</a><span> (which was largely seen as </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-fire-phone-reviews-2014-7" target="_blank">a bit of a flop</a><span>), and </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-local-register-2014-8" target="_blank">its Square-killer, Local Register</a><span>. Amazon also launched a </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-exclusive-amazoncom-plans-local-services-marketplace-this-year---sources-2014-10" target="_blank">local services marketplace</a><span>, an </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-amazon-unveils-e-book-subscription-service-with-unlimited-access-2014-18">unlimited e-book subscription service</a><span>, </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-pantry-groceries-2014-4" target="_blank">Amazon Pantry</a><span> for grocery delivery (and an accompanying </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-dash-order-groceries-on-the-go-2014-4" target="_blank">barcode scanner</a><span>), its own </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazing-is-testing-its-own-delivery-service-2014-4" target="_blank">in-house delivery system</a><span> for same-day and grocery services, and </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-music-streaming-service-2014-6">a music-streaming offering</a><span>, while also continuing its </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-drones-2014-7" target="_blank">experimentation with drones</a><span> and pouring millions into its </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-amazon-will-lose-so-much-money-in-q3-2014-7" target="_blank">original video content.</a></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>Plus, it owns Zappos, Diapers.com, and IMDB. There's a lot more, that's just a taste. There are few, if any, other companies trying to do as much all at once as Amazon.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Amazon" title_caption="Amazon's grocery service." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5409cd6b69beddd960ff257b-960/amazon-fresh-3.png"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span><a href="http://fresh.amazon.com/Gateway?browseMP=A241IQ0793UAL2">Amazon</a></span></p><p class="caption">Amazon's grocery service.</p></div><p></p></div></div><br /></span></p>
<p>Another thing that makes this this period of competition different han the others is that Amazon itself has trained its newest competitors. </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">For instance, Flipkart, an India-based e-commerce company built by two Amazon alumni, </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/former-amazon-executives-flipkart-2014-7" target="_blank">just raised $1 billion</a><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">. After they announced their raise, Amazon said it would go spend $2 billion in India. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Then there's <a href="http://jet.com/" target="_blank">Jet</a>, a soon-to-be-launched <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-marc-lore-jet-raised-55-million-2014-7" target="_blank">e-commerce startup from Marc Lore</a>. Lore knows Amazon's brutal tactics as well as anyone. Prior to starting Jet, he co-founded Quidsi, which was the parent company of Diapers.com. In 2010, BusinessWeek called Diapers.com <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_42/b4199062749187.htm">"What Amazon Fears Most."</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Diapers.com was shipping hundreds of millions of Diapers annually, making a dent in Amazon's business. To compete, Amazon went nuclear on Diapers.com, </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-diapers-price-war-2010-11">drastically lowering prices </a><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">forcing </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/quidsi-marc-lore-new-startup-jet-2014-5">Quidsi to sell to Amazon for  $540 million</a><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></p>
<p><span>When he announced his new company, Lore said, "At Jet we will make use of the latest advancements in technology to create a new shopping experience that will empower customers like never before. Jet will bring unprecedented transparency and efficiencies to the overall e-commerce market, and as a result, will transform the customer experience in a way that, until now, has not been possible."</span></p>
<p><span>Lore raised $55 million for his new venture, and although he doesn't specifically call out Amazon, his ambitions are clearly big. </span></p>
<h2>The giant companies that want to disrupt Amazon</h2>
<p><span>Amazon isn't under attack from just startups, though. There are big companies with deep pockets ready to challenge Amazon, too.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Chinese e-commerce giant, Alibaba is about to IPO. It's hoping to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/alibaba-21-billion-ipo-raise-2014-9">raise $21 billion in the biggest IPO in history</a>, giving Alibaba billions in cash to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/alibaba-opens-11-main-2014-6" target="_blank">try to crack into the U.S. market</a>.  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Then, there's Google, which has ramped up its inclusion of paid product listings. These listings show products right in Google searches. Amazon-Google is one of the most underreported, but important, rivalries in tech. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Google makes its money when people do commercial searches for products. As Amazon grows in power and ubiquity, consumers are going straight to Amazon.com to do searches for stuff instead of Google. To fight back, Google has tried to improve its shopping results. As these results improve, Amazon is hurt. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="Google" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5409efc0eab8eaa25777b8f5-960/google shopping.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>Google</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">The companies compete in many other ways. Amazon just launched <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazons-new-mobile-ad-network-is-a-huge-threat-to-google-2013-3" target="_blank">a new mobile ad network that could threaten Google</a>. Google is testing Shopping Express, a delivery service that goes right at the heart of Amazon's e-commerce business. Google partners with local stores, and if you order something through Google, it will deliver it that day. </span></p>
<p>Google and Microsoft are both taking on Amazon Web Services, which is one of Amazon's biggest businesses (<span>Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has even said that he expects AWS to eventually be </span><a href="http://techcrunch.com/2013/11/13/jeff-bezos-believes-aws-could-be-amazons-biggest-business/" target="_blank">Amazon's <em>biggest</em> business</a>). From tiny startups, to big companies like Netflix, AWS powers a lot of the services you use on the web.</p>
<p>Google and Microsoft have slashed their own cloud computing prices to compete with Amazon's. Although the Amazon doesn't break out its AWS business in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-q2-earnings-2014-7" target="_blank">its earnings</a>, you can parse through the report to see that the revenue growth of its "other" category - which is mainly AWS - slowed, from 60% growth year-over-year first quarter, to only 38% growth year-over-year in Q2.</p>
<p>Here's the chart Microsoft (Azure) and Google are trying hard to change:</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>"People still think of Amazon as a retailer," says SunTrust analyst Robert Peck, "But when you think about all of its investments, it has expanded into many new areas."</p>
<p>Whether it's expanding too much, spending too heavily, and losing its focus are a crucial questions. When Amazon revealed it expects to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-amazon-will-lose-so-much-money-in-q3-2014-7" target="_blank">lose a whopping $410 to $810 million in Q3</a>, investors panicked, and the stock tanked more than 10%. Overall this year, it's down nearly 20%. </p>
<p><a href="http://fortune.com/tag/analysts/" target="_blank">Scott Tilghman, from B. Riley &amp; Co., said</a> that although the firm is used to Amazon's slim profits or even losses, it downgraded its estimates because "we are finding no end to the company's spending this time around."</p>
<h2>Amazon's view: This is only day one</h2>
<p>Peck, however, believes that CEO Jeff Bezos and Amazon are making a series of well-calculated decisions, even if they don't "bat a thousand." In fact, he thinks that bold moves outside of are the strategy du jour. </p>
<p>"There are four or five tech titans have expanded outside their core, and are now stepping into each others' core businesses and competing for the future, the new opportunities. It's a really unique time." he says. "I think where Amazon is going makes a ton of sense." </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Amazon's strategy has always been to focus on the long-term and make bold decisions and investments that it thinks will help it gain market leadership. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span>"Some of these investments will pay off, others will not," <span>Bezos wrote in his original letter to shareholders,</span> "And we will have learned another valuable lesson in either case." </span></span></p><p class="tagline">Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through his
personal investment company Bezos Expeditions.</p>

Amazon Is Under Attack Like Never Before

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Walmart</span></p><p class="caption">CEO Doug McMillon.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/walmart">Walmart</a> released its annual report on Tuesday, showing that total revenue grew 3% to $514.4 billion in worldwide sales in the latest fiscal year.</strong></li><li><strong>CEO Doug McMillon also talked about five lessons he has learned in his five years as Walmart's leader.</strong></li><li><strong>Read the full letter below.</strong></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul><p>Walmart released its annual report on Tuesday. It showed that the retailer's total revenue grew 3% to $514.4 billion in worldwide sales in the latest fiscal year.</p><p>Alongside the letter was CEO Doug McMillon's annual shareholder letter, where he shared Walmart's full-throated embrace of change, five leadership lessons he has learned in the five years he has been CEO, and a general roadmap for the company's future:</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/method-soap-factory-renewable-energy-rooftop-greenhouse-2019-4">Method Soap's factory runs entirely on renewable energy and houses a rooftop greenhouse that produces 1 million pounds of food a year</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

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