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<keyword id="22865833" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-vendors" source="keywords">Online vendors</keyword> have generated 15.8 million <keyword id="19914922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jobs" source="keywords">jobs</keyword> in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>, including 3.5 million for women, with about 1.76 million retail enterprises participating in <keyword id="19990771" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-commerce" source="keywords">e-commerce</keyword> activity, says a report released on Wednesday. The report 'Assessing the Net Impact of e-Commerce on <keyword id="19898684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment" source="keywords">Employment</keyword> and Consumer Welfare in India' was launched by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. "Plugging in data from our survey, we estimate that online vendors generate 15.8 million jobs, including 3.5 million jobs for women," the report prepared by Pahle India Foundation (PIF), a Delhi-based policy research institute, said. E-commerce, according to the report, has been a key driver of employment generation In India. On an average, online vendors employ 54 per cent more people and almost twice the number of female employees, compared to offline vendors. The report noted that two of the most widely-recognised contributions of e-commerce penetration in the retail sector are --growth in employment and improvements in consumer welfare. It said rather than displacing physical markets, e-commerce is expanding into new territories like tier 3 cities. "Our data shows that a higher percentage of Tier 3 city consumers spend more than Rs 5,000 per month on online shopping as compared to consumers from bigger cities," it said, adding this is the India consumption story, which enables the co-existence of physical and digital retail. The study analysed the impact e-commerce has had on employment and consumer welfare through a pan-India survey of 2,062 online vendors, 2,031 offline vendors, and 8,209 consumers of products from e-commerce websites across 35 cities in 20 states and UTs. According to the report, each e-commerce vendor on an average employs about 9 people, of which 2 are female, while each offline vendor employs about 6 people, of which only 1 is female. It pointed out that there was increase in employment across skill levels, including high-skilled (management, marketing), medium-skilled (customer service, operations), and low-skilled (warehousing, logistics, delivery) functions. The report said that the growth of e-commerce and accompanying digitalisation have fundamentally changed the skill sets and roles required in the industry. "Vendors have experienced improved business performance parameters since listing online, including higher sales and profits," it said. According to the report, 60 per cent and 52 per cent of vendors, respectively, state that their sales and profits have increased since the time they have started selling online. "Overall, more than two thirds of the online vendors interviewed experienced an increase in online sales value and profits in the past year," the report said, adding that 58 per cent saw an increase in both. Barring costs, it said vendors have seen a positive shift in all other aspects of business performance since they started selling online. The report said there is a strong business case for offline vendors to list on e-commerce platforms or pursue an omni-channel strategy. "E-commerce integration has accrued significant benefits to vendors from smaller cities and micro-enterprises," it said. The study also delves into how e-commerce has reshaped consumer behaviour, noting that consumers have shifted to online shopping for reasons that include convenience, product variety, and access. "A highly engaged consumer base is indicated by the fact that more than 50 per cent of all respondents to the survey spent more than two hours on e-commerce platforms a week, and that 70 per cent made a purchase via e-commerce in the last month alone," it said. Speaking at the event, former NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said, e-commerce has revolutionized India's retail landscape. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation(MoSPI) secretary Saurabh Garg lauded the government's initiatives expanding digital public infrastructure that have enabled the smooth expansion of e-commerce. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-gained-over-3-million-subscribers-in-june-vi-lost-nearly-a-million/articleshow/112670406.cms">Reliance Jio and Airtel gained over 3 million subscribers in June, Vi lost nearly a million</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/the-iphone-pro-models-will-be-made-in-india-for-the-first-time-this-year/articleshow/112653019.cms">The iPhone Pro models will be made in India for the first time this year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/orient-technologies-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112646237.cms">Orient Technologies IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a>

Online vendors generated 15.8 million jobs in India: e-commerce report

Amid the ongoing geopolitical tension, the <keyword id="19904988" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-sector" source="keywords">energy sector</keyword> will continue to face challenge while the <keyword id="20468174" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-goods" source="keywords">consumer goods</keyword>, automotive, healthcare is set to expand in 2025, highlighted a report 'Industry Outlook 2025' by <keyword id="20618515" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Economist-Intelligence-Unit" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Economist Intelligence Unit" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Economist Intelligence Unit">Economist Intelligence Unit</keyword>. The report noted that the Fossil fuel markets will continue to face risks from geopolitical conflicts, particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine. However, investments in <keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">renewable energy</keyword> will remain strong, especially in China, as the world pushes toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. The report said "Fossil-fuel markets will continue to face <keyword id="20064250" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="geopolitical-risks" source="keywords">geopolitical risks</keyword> amid conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, but investment into renewables will remain strong, particularly in China." It also added that the financial sector faces a mixed outlook with falling interest rates anticipated to narrow bank profit margins, potentially leading to smaller dividend payouts for shareholders. Yet, regulatory easing could provide relief, with the Basel III endgame likely seeing further delays, softening the impact on banking institutions amid a challenging economic landscape. For the consumer goods and retailing the report added that the Global retail volumes are forecast to grow by 2.2 per cent in 2025, thanks to easing inflation. However, stricter regulations on online retailing will target high-volume, low-price retailers, to ensure fair competition and consumer protection. It said "Global retail volumes will expand by 2.2 per cent, helped by disinflation, but regulations around online retailing will tighten further" As per report, the <keyword id="20359760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="automotive-sector" source="keywords">automotive sector</keyword> is set for a record year, it said "After a difficult few years, annual new-vehicle sales will reach a record 97.2m units in 2025. This includes a 2 per cent rise in new car sales, a 4 per cent increase in commercial vehicle sales, and a significant 16 per cent growth in <keyword id="19963112" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicle-sales" source="keywords">electric vehicle sales</keyword>, reflecting the sector's recovery and the shift toward cleaner mobility. In technology the report added more countries will adopt satellite internet, although the primary users will be enterprise clients, including military and maritime sectors. Amazon's Project Kuiper will challenge the existing market dominance of Starlink and EutelSat OneWeb, offering more competition and potential growth in satellite connectivity. The resulting tensions will continue to affect investment into production and market entry, with companies taking advantage of government incentives to build out more flexible supply chains. <keyword id="23684177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="investment-in-technology" source="keywords">Investment in technology</keyword>, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), will also be strong as projects gather pace. However, technology companies will face pressure from several directions as regulations tighten (particularly in Europe), investors become more impatient for profits and their energy usage comes under more scrutiny.

Consumer goods, auto and healthcare sector to expand but energy may face challenge in 2025: Report

A public interest litigation (<keyword id="19957723" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PIL" source="keywords">PIL</keyword>) has been filed in the <keyword id="19905533" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bombay-High-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bombay High Court" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bombay High Court">Bombay High Court</keyword>, urging the establishment of stringent guidelines to curb <keyword id="21811854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-marketing" source="keywords">black marketing</keyword> and <keyword id="23311384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ticket-scalping" source="keywords">ticket scalping</keyword> for major events. The PIL comes in the wake of widespread concerns over alleged irregularities during the online sale of tickets for the British band Coldplay’s upcoming concert in Navi Mumbai, scheduled for January 2025. Filed by advocate Amit Vyas, the PIL highlights the growing menace of ticket scalping and black marketing at large-scale events, including concerts, live shows, and sports matches. The plea calls for a thorough investigation into illegal ticket sales and the manipulation of online ticketing platforms, with specific reference to Coldplay's highly anticipated concert. The plea was mentioned on Monday for urgent hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. Noting that a police inquiry into the matter was already underway, the court adjourned the hearing to November, after the Diwali vacation. <h2>Allegations of <keyword id="23627270" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ticketing-irregularities" source="keywords">ticketing irregularities</keyword></h2>The PIL specifically alleges foul play during last month’s sale of tickets for Coldplay's concert on the popular online ticketing platform, <keyword id="20215809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BookMyShow" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BookMyShow" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BookMyShow">BookMyShow</keyword>. According to the petition, many potential buyers were locked out of the website within minutes of the ticket sales opening, only to discover that the tickets had been sold out. Shortly thereafter, these same tickets appeared on secondary platforms at exorbitant prices, fueling suspicions of deliberate manipulation. Vyas, in his submission, noted that secondary websites were still selling tickets at inflated rates. He argued that this exploitative practice deprived fans of their right to fair access to entertainment, violating the <keyword id="20003683" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-protection" source="keywords">Consumer Protection</keyword> (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, which mandate fair and non-deceptive practices by e-commerce entities. The PIL underscored that this problem extends beyond the <keyword id="22044624" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Coldplay-concert" source="keywords">Coldplay concert</keyword>, pointing to similar issues during other major events, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, the 2023 Cricket World Cup, and concerts of global artists like <keyword id="19897184" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taylor-swift" source="keywords">Taylor Swift</keyword> and Diljit Dosanjh. In each case, fans were exploited through black market ticket sales, with prices soaring well above their official rates. According to Vyas, there is an urgent need for the government and judicial system to intervene, as ticketing platforms and event organisers are either complicit or failing to regulate secondary market sales effectively. <h2>Call for stricter guidelines</h2>The plea calls for the Bombay High Court to lay down stringent guidelines to prevent the black marketing and touting of event tickets. Vyas has asked for a framework that would ensure transparency and fairness in <keyword id="23627269" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-ticket-sales" source="keywords">online ticket sales</keyword> and reduce the exploitation of fans. The PIL emphasises that the lack of proper regulations in India’s ticketing sector has allowed platforms like BookMyShow to bypass rules, leaving consumers vulnerable to deceptive practices. It urges the court to consider the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, as the basis for implementing stricter regulatory measures in the ticketing industry. <h2>Ongoing police investigation</h2>Following last month’s irregularities, Vyas lodged a police complaint with the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police, which is currently conducting an inquiry. The PIL has highlighted the need for a more immediate judicial intervention to prevent further exploitation in upcoming events. As the Coldplay concert approaches, the spotlight remains on the High Court’s response to this plea and whether it will pave the way for reforms that will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to India’s ticketing industry. The court is expected to hear the matter again in November. (With inputs from agencies)

Coldplay concert chaos aftermath: PIL filed in Bombay HC to demand stricter controls over online ticket sales

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Wisp, an online pharmacy, said sales of birth control surged after Donald Trump's election win.</li><li>Wisp's CEO told BI that women were "taking action" amid future uncertainty.</li></ul>Wisp, an online pharmacy focused on sexual and reproductive health, says sales of birth control and emergency contraception have surged in the United States in the last week.The company says that's because <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/abortion-pill-women-stockpile-mifepristone-trump-presidency-experts-2024-4">women are stockpiling reproductive healthcare</a> products now that Donald Trump is headed back to the White House.Wisp, which serves over 1.2 million patients nationwide, reported a 1,000% increase in emergency contraception purchases from November 5 to November 6. Wisp CEO Monica Cepak told Business Insider that women are "taking action as they navigate the uncertainty of these next few years.""This data indicates to us that women are really scared and are using this moment in time to take back agency over their reproductive rights by stockpiling things like emergency contraception and investing in preventive reproductive health," Cepak said.In his first term, Trump put three conservative justices on the Supreme Court, which then <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-abortion-decision-final-ruling-scotus-roe-v-wade-2022-6">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>. The decision undid nationwide abortion protections and allowed 13 states to pass laws that effectively banned abortion.Earlier this year, Trump took credit for ending the decadeslong precedent of legalized abortion nationwide. "I did it, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-abortion-roe-v-wade-supreme-court-gop-primary-2024-1">I'm proud to have done it</a>," he said. "Nobody else was going to get that done but me, and we did it, and we did something that was a miracle."In the 24 hours after Election Day, Wisp said it saw a 1,650% increase in new patients purchasing emergency contraception. There was a 600% increase in medication abortion sales and a 50% increase in birth control sales.Overall, Wisp's reproductive health sales (of emergency contraception, birth control, and medication abortion products) doubled compared to the week prior to the election, the company told Business Insider."We expect that momentum to sustain over the next few weeks and months," Cepak said.The purchases came from women in both anti-abortion states as well as states with widespread access to reproductive healthcare. Emergency contraception purchases surged in Texas, Indiana, and Oklahoma, where there are strict restrictions, but sales also increased in states like California and New York."Despite being states where reproductive rights are fully protected, we're seeing women take precautionary measures as the future remains uncertain," Wisp said in a statement.Amy Hagstrom Miller, the founder of Whole Woman's Health, which operates abortion clinics in multiple states, said her organization is also seeing a surge in demand for contraceptive and abortion medication."We are seeing an increased demand for emergency contraception, long-acting contraception, advanced provision of medication abortion, and we are seeing online telemed provision of these things, which I think has really reached a lot of people in states where abortion is banned," Hagstrom Miller said.The Democrats saw the abortion issue as a strength after performing well in the<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/midterms-2022-pro-choice-votes-helped-democrats-defy-election-blues-2022-11"> 2022 midterms</a>. As a result, the Trump campaign <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/abortion-pill-women-stockpile-mifepristone-trump-presidency-experts-2024-4">worked to distance itself</a> from the issue during the presidential election. In March, he floated a national ban at about 16 weeks of gestation. A month later, he said he wouldn't sign a national abortion ban.At a press panel on Thursday for Abortion Access Now, a national coalition advocating for abortion rights, representatives from different reproductive rights organizations reflected on the election results and the path forward."Trump ran from his record and lied about his position on abortion. Even Trump knows how unpopular abortion bans are," Kimberly Inez McGuire, the executive director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive &amp; Gender Equity, said at the panel. "We know that people in this country bristle at the thought of politicians interfering with abortion decisions."On <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-results-trump-harris-presidential-election-2024-11">Election Day</a>, voters turned out in favor of abortion rights in 7 out of 10 states that had it on the ballot."Abortion was on the ballot, abortion won, but the election and the results, particularly for the White House, make it really clear that the path for reproductive freedom will continue to be a long one," Mini Timmaraju, the president and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All, said at the panel. "It won't be won or lost in a single election."

Online sales of Plan B and birth control are surging after Trump's election, retailer says

<ul><li>The <keyword id="8194701" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refurbished-smartphone" source="Orion">refurbished smartphone</keyword> market has recorded rapid growth in India.</li><li>While the unorganised sellers dominate the market, the organised sellers are also growing.</li><li>Affordability and shorter upgrade cycles are among the factors fueling the refurbished smartphone market.</li></ul> India's refurbished smartphone market is experiencing significant growth, outpacing the new smartphone sector. This reflects a maturing market which is increasingly catering to consumers looking for affordable yet reliable options. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, unorganised sellers dominate the refurbished smartphone market, accounting for 77% of transactions. The Indian refurbished smartphone sector has traditionally been dominated by unorganised players, offering devices at a fraction of the cost of the new models. However, the introduction of value-added services like warranties, quality assurance, and after-sales support by emerging e-commerce platforms is beginning to formalise this market, enhancing consumer trust and driving further growth. <h2>What’s fueling the refurbished smartphone market</h2><h3>Affordability</h3><keyword id="2698558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refurbished-smartphones" source="Orion">Refurbished smartphones</keyword> offer consumers access to higher-end hardware at lower costs, making premium technology more accessible to a broader audience. This aspect is particularly appealing in a price-sensitive market like India. <h3>Shorter upgrade cycles</h3>With technology evolving rapidly, many users prefer to upgrade their phones more frequently. Refurbished devices provide an avenue for this without the high cost associated with new purchases. <h3>Environmental impact</h3>There's a growing awareness of the environmental benefits of using refurbished products, which reduces electronic waste and the demand for new manufacturing, which is resource-intensive. <h3>Consumer confidence</h3>The entry of organised players who provide guarantees and quality checks on refurbished devices has significantly boosted consumer confidence. These services add a layer of reliability to what was once a market fraught with uncertainty about product condition and longevity. Despite the growth in the unorganised sector, there's a noticeable trend towards formalisation. E-commerce platforms specialising in refurbished goods are expanding, providing consumers with the convenience of online shopping backed by credible service commitments. The report also notes that this growth is not just contained within India. Globally, the refurbished smartphone market is on an upward trajectory, with similar trends observed in markets like Latin America, suggesting a broader international shift towards sustainable consumption in electronics. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/moto-g35-5g-with-120hz-5000mah-battery-launched-at-9999/articleshow/116172283.cms">Moto G35 5G with 120Hz display, 5,000mAh battery launched at ₹9,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/redmi-note-14-pro-and-redmi-note-14-pro-launched-in-india-starting-at-24999/articleshow/116134415.cms">Redmi Note 14 Pro and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ launched in India starting at ₹24,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/vivo-x200-and-x200-pro-camera-centric-to-launch-in-india-on-december-12/articleshow/115930004.cms">Vivo X200 and X200 Pro camera-centric smartphones to launch in India on December 12</a>

India's refurbished smartphone market witnesses accelerated growth

Driven by UPI-based transactions, about 81 per cent of consumers intend to shop online during this festive season in India, while one in two consumers are willing to increase their spending compared to last year, a new survey report showed on Monday. Digital payment methods are on the rise, with 42 per cent of consumers saying they will choose unified payments interface (<keyword id="6358921" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="upi" source="Orion">UPI</keyword>)-for online festive shopping. In addition, 57 per cent indicated that their preferred digital payment method for earning rewards and cashback is UPI, especially during the festive season. About 75 per cent are interested in buying electronic gadgets and products (smartphones, TVs, refrigerators and ACs), luxury and authentic beauty brands, home furnishing/improvement items and consumables, online, according to the report by <keyword id="17495816" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nielsen-media-india" source="Orion">Nielsen Media India</keyword>, on behalf of Amazon India. The survey said that 87 per cent of consumers in metropolitan cities and 86 per cent across tier-2 cities (population 10-40 lakh) prefer to shop online for the festive period. "We are inspired to learn that consumers this year are excited and willing to spend and shop more online. As a marketplace, we are confident that the 'Amazon Great India Festival 2023' will offer a seamless shopping experience, incredible value and the widest selection of domestic and international brands and products," said Manish Tiwary, Country Manager India Consumer Business, Amazon India. More than 70 per cent of consumers wait for online festive shopping events to purchase electronic items. Over 75 per cent of consumers are excited with attractive bank offers and no-cost EMIs for making their purchase more convenient and rewarding, said the report. Around 80 per cent consumers said online festive shopping events provide access to trendy brands for apparel, footwear, and various fashion accessories with nearly 64 per cent sharing their intent to purchase across these categories this festive season. Driven by about 140 million shoppers, India is likely to witness Rs 90,000 crore worth of online gross merchandise value (GMV) in the festive month this year. This is up 18-20 per cent from last year's festive month sales, according to a recent report by market research firm Redseer Strategy Consultants. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/shubman-gill-becomes-the-fastest-indian-to-score-six-odi-centuries/slidelist/103928533.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/shubman-gill-becomes-the-fastest-indian-to-score-six-odi-centuries/slidelist/103928533.cms" target="_blank">Shubman Gill becomes fastest to score six ODI centuries for India by a mile</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/pixel-8-launch-on-oct-4-from-camera-to-design-specifications-what-we-know-so-far/articleshow/103924696.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/pixel-8-launch-on-oct-4-from-camera-to-design-specifications-what-we-know-so-far/articleshow/103924696.cms" target="_blank">Pixel 8 launch on Oct 4 – From camera to design specifications, what we know so far</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/yatra-online-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/103922162.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/yatra-online-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/103922162.cms" target="_blank">Yatra Online IPO allotment – how to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more</a>

UPI set to drive festive sales this year, electronics to be top choice again: Report

<ul><li>Realme has launched its latest flagship smartphone, the <keyword id="21837377" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Realme-GT-7-Pro" source="Orion">Realme GT 7 Pro</keyword> in India.</li><li>The Realme GT 6T is priced starting at ₹59,999 and is available in two variants.</li><li>Here’s everything you need to know about the latest flagship offering from the Chinese smartphone maker.</li></ul> Realme on Tuesday launched the GT 7 Pro, the company’s latest flagship smartphone in India. The Realme GT 7 Pro is the first device with the new<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/snapdragon-8-elite-announced-to-power-iqoo-13-oneplus-13-xiaomi-15-series-and-more/articleshow/114463844.cms"> Snapdragon 8 Elite</a> chipset to launch in India. The Realme GT 7 Pro kicks off the launch of the next-gen flagship smartphones in India, with the likes of the iQOO 13, OnePlus 13 and more scheduled to hit the Indian market in the coming weeks. <h2><keyword id="23806393" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Realme-GT-7-Pro-price" source="keywords">Realme GT 7 Pro price</keyword> and availability</h2>The Realme GT 7 Pro is priced at ₹59,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB internal storage option and ₹65,999 for the 16GB RAM + 512GB internal storage option. The device comes in Galaxy Grey and Mars Orange colour options. The device will be available from Amazon India, Realme Online Store and the company’s offline stores starting from November 29. <h2>Realme GT 7 Pro specifications</h2>The Realme GT 7 Pro runs on Android 15 out of the box with the company’s Realme UI 6.0 on top. The device will get three years of Android updates and four years of security updates. The device features a 6.78-inch 8T LTPO AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,780 x 1,264 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. The Realme GT 7 Pro is equipped with the <keyword id="24026636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Snapdragon-8-Elite-chipset" source="keywords">Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset</keyword>. It is available in two variants – 12GB RAM + 256GB internal storage and 16GB RAM + 512GB internal storage. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114463844" title="Snapdragon 8 Elite announced, to power iQOO 13, OnePlus 13, Xiaomi 15 series and more" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Coming to the camera department, the Realme GT 7 Pro features a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 50MP primary camera with Sony IMX906 sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera with Sony IMX882 sensor and a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. On the front, the device sports a 16MP selfie camera. The Realme GT 7 Pro is powered by a large 5,800mAh battery with 120W fast charging support, which the company claims can charge the device to 100% in 30 minutes. While the device was launched with a 6,500mAh battery in China, the company has opted for a significantly smaller 5,800mAh battery in India. It comes with IP68+IP69 water and dust resistance. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oppo-find-x8-and-find-x8-pro-launched-in-india-starting-at-69999/articleshow/115521010.cms">Oppo Find X8 and Find X8 Pro launched in India starting at ₹69,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-13-announced-with-snapdragon-8-elite-6000mah-battery-and-more/articleshow/114842638.cms">OnePlus 13 announced with Snapdragon 8 Elite, 6,000mAh battery and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/tata-to-buy-a-majority-stake-in-pegatrons-iphone-plant-in-india/articleshow/115414852.cms">Tata to buy a majority stake in Pegatron's iPhone plant in India</a>

Realme GT 7 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset launched starting at ₹59,999

The United States government isn’t holding back when it comes to Big Tech, and <keyword id="19902762" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Google" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Google">Google</keyword> is squarely in its sights. After years of concern over the tech giant’s grip on the digital world, the US Justice Department (DOJ) has made a bold demand: sell your Chrome browser. The move comes amid two high-stakes antitrust trials that accuse Google of monopolistic practices. So, what’s at the heart of the government’s case, and why is Chrome a key piece of the puzzle? Let’s break it down. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">Search, Chrome, and monopoly madness</h3>In one corner, we have the DOJ versus Google in a trial in Washington, D.C., where a judge has already ruled that Google’s search business operates as an illegal monopoly. The DOJ argues that Google’s dominance in search, bolstered by its Chrome browser, gives the company an unfair advantage, effectively locking in users and advertisers. To remedy this, the DOJ has proposed that Google sell off Chrome entirely. This drastic move, they argue, could level the playing field and restore competition to a market where Google currently reigns supreme. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">The ad tech tug-of-war</h3>Meanwhile, in Virginia, a second trial focuses on Google’s grip on the ad tech market — the engine behind the ads you see while browsing. The government alleges that Google’s trio of advertising software products effectively monopolises the ad tech ecosystem. Publishers like News Corp and Gannett claim they’re stuck using Google’s ad tools to survive. DOJ lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum summed it up bluntly: “Google is once, twice, three times a monopolist.” The DOJ accuses Google of using its financial clout to buy out rivals and control the auction systems that determine which ads appear online. This, they say, allows Google to charge advertisers more while paying publishers less. The government wants Google to divest parts of its ad tech business to dismantle this stranglehold. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">Google fights back</h3>Unsurprisingly, Google has a different story. The tech giant calls the government’s arguments an attempt to pick “winners and losers” in an already competitive market. “The law simply does not support what the plaintiffs are arguing in this case,” said Google’s lawyer Karen Dunn. Google also argues that the ad tech market isn’t as straightforward as the DOJ claims. The company points out that ads appear across multiple platforms — search engines, social media, and apps — and Google doesn’t dominate all of them. In fact, it says rivals like Meta, Amazon, and TikTok are gaining ground. Dunn warned that forcing Google to sell parts of its business or work with competitors would essentially amount to government interference. “This is central planning,” she said, urging the court to reject the DOJ’s proposals. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">What’s at stake?</h3>If the court rules against Google, the implications could be seismic. The DOJ’s proposals — selling Chrome or divesting parts of Google’s ad business — would fundamentally reshape how the company operates. But don’t expect a resolution anytime soon. Presiding Judge Leonie Brinkema is expected to issue her opinion swiftly, but any decision will almost certainly be appealed, dragging the case potentially to the US Supreme Court. Even then, the question of enforcement remains murky. While the Biden administration is eager to rein in Big Tech, future administrations could change course. Whether Google will ultimately be forced to sell Chrome or parts of its ad tech business is up to the courts — and potentially years of appeals. For now, the trials highlight a growing unease with the power of tech giants like Google. For Google, the stakes couldn’t be higher. For the rest of us, these decisions will shape the future of the internet as we know it. Stay tuned — this battle is far from over.

Why does the US want Google to sell its Chrome browser?

<ul><li>This year’s initial <keyword id="19894908" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="festive-season" source="keywords">festive season</keyword> has been good for smartphone makers, with an 11% increase in sales.</li><li><keyword id="19897758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Samsung" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Samsung" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Samsung">Samsung</keyword> has emerged as the biggest smartphone maker in the first phase, followed by <keyword id="19894961" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Apple" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Apple" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Apple">Apple</keyword>.</li><li>Samsung recorded a 20% market share in the first phase, followed by Apple with a 16% market share.</li></ul>The festive season is here and e-commerce platforms Amazon, Flipkart and others have started their festive sales, offering devices such as smartphones at a discounted price. According to a report by Tech Insights, <keyword id="21017681" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="smartphone-sales" source="keywords">smartphone sales</keyword> recorded an 11% growth in the first wave of the festive season sales in India between September 26 to October 6. Among the smartphone makers, Samsung topped the chart with a 20% market share in volume terms during the first phase. "Samsung led the smartphone sales volume with a 20% market share followed by Apple in the first wave of the festive season," Tech Insight said in a blog. Apple is also gaining speed in the Indian market, with over 10 lakh iPhones being sold during the 11-day sale period. The top-selling models for Samsung include the Samsung Galaxy M35, Galaxy S23, Galaxy A14, Galaxy S23 FE and more. "Samsung was also the main sponsor for sales events on Flipkart and Amazon which also gave it an additional push. Samsung sales in unit terms grew 17% year-on-year in 2024's first wave compared to 2023's first wave," the blog said. The platform estimates that online sales volume accounted for 78% of the total sales during the phase 1 period. It was driven by online sales festivals like Big Billion Days on Flipkart and The Great Indian Festival on Amazon India while offline sales started to pick momentum with the start of Navratri. Apple was a surprising second with a 16% market share driven by strong sales of the iPhone 15 which crossed a million mark in 11 days of sales. iPhone 13 followed but the sales gap between iPhone 15 and 13 was significant. Oppo, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Realme were also among the top vendors in the first wave of the festive season by volume. "North region sales were less compared to other region sales due to the importance of Shradh in this region. Also, states like West Bengal and Gujrat experienced better sales compared to other regions given the preparation for the popular Durga Pooja festival in these states," the blog said. With inputs from agencies. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/byd-emax-7-electric-mpv-launched-in-india-starting-at-26-9-lakh/slidelist/114046121.cms">BYD eMax 7 electric MPV launched in India starting at ₹26.9 lakh</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/heres-how-a-reddit-user-was-able-to-get-an-iphone-16-at-under-27000/articleshow/114035179.cms">Here’s how a Reddit user was able to get an iPhone 16 at under ₹27,000</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/hyundai-swiggy-ather-upcoming-large-ipos-in-india/slidelist/114014140.cms">Hyundai To Swiggy: Everyone wants to cash in on the IPO bonanza</a>

Samsung leads the first phase of festive sales with a 20% market share

<ul><li>Samsung has launched the <keyword id="23594780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Galaxy-A16-5G" source="Orion">Galaxy A16 5G</keyword> smartphone in India.</li><li>The Galaxy A16 5G has been priced starting at ₹18,999 in the country.</li><li>The smartphoneoffers six years of Android and security updates.</li></ul> Samsung today announced the launch of its latest smartphone in its Galaxy A series, dubbed the Galaxy A16 5G. The device was introduced in Europe some time ago and has now made its way to India. The Galaxy A16 5G was launched in other markets with the company’s Exynos 1380 chipset, which is also used in the company’s<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/samsung-galaxy-m35-5g-with-6000mah-battery-launched-in-india-starting-at-16999/slidelist/111806447.cms"> Galaxy M35</a> smartphone. In India however, the company has equipped the device with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset. <h2><keyword id="23471093" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Samsung-Galaxy-A16-5G" source="Orion">Samsung Galaxy A16 5G</keyword> price and availability</h2>The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is priced at ₹18,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant and ₹21,999 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. The device comes in Blue Black, Gold, and Light Green colour options and will be available from Amazon India, Flipkart and Samsung Online Store starting today, October 18. <h2>Samsung Galaxy A16 5G specifications</h2>The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G runs on Android 14 out of the box with the company’s OneUI 6.0 on top. The company has promised six years of Android updates and six years of security updates for the device, a first in this segment. It features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy A16 5G runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset in India. It is available in two variants – 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage. Coming to the camera department, the Galaxy A16 5G features a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 50MP primary camera, a 5MP ultra-wide-angle sensor and a 2MP macro lens. On the front, the device sports a 13MP selfie camera. The Galaxy A16 5G is powered by a 5,000mAh battery coupled with 25W charging. It is IP54-rated for water and dust resistance and comes with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/best-smartphones-under-25000-in-india-in-october-2024/slidelist/114339207.cms">Best smartphones under ₹25,000 in India in October 2024</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/hyundai-ipo-gmp-how-to-check-allotment-status-ipo-subscription-and-more/articleshow/114317600.cms">Hyundai IPO allotment – How to check allotment, IPO GMP, listing date and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/bigger-they-are-harder-they-fall-a-look-at-how-the-countrys-biggest-ipos-have-fared/articleshow/114307997.cms">Bigger they are, harder they fall – A look at how the country’s biggest IPOs have fared</a>

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G with six years of Android updates launched starting at ₹18,999

<ul><li><keyword id="19899647" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="iPhone-16" source="keywords">iPhone 16</keyword> can be delivered to your doorstep in under 10 minutes</li><li>The phone is available on Blinkit, <keyword id="19939136" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BigBasket" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BigBasket" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BigBasket">BigBasket</keyword> and <keyword id="19939134" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zepto" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Zepto" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Zepto">Zepto</keyword></li><li>The iPhone 16 was made available for sale in India today</li></ul> Earlier this morning, <keyword id="19894961" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Apple" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Apple" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Apple">Apple</keyword> stores in Mumbai and Delhi witnessed huge lines of iPhone buyers, ready to get their hands on the next-gen models. Apple’s iPhone 16 series went for sale in India today and the excitement around the new phones is palpable. However, what if we tell you that you can order an iPhone within the comfort of your home? Blinkit is selling the iPhone 16 promising to deliver it to your doorstep in a few minutes. The phone is also being sold at BigBasket. However, it is to be noted that Blinkit and Big Basket are not selling the pro variants of the iPhone 16. If you are looking for the higher-end variants, you will have to either buy from a store or order it online. In India, the iPhone 16 is priced at ₹79,900, while the iPhone 16 Plus is available for ₹89,900. The <keyword id="20656465" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iPhone-16-Pro" source="keywords">iPhone 16 Pro</keyword> starts at ₹1,19,900, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at ₹1,44,900. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113214171" title="iPhone 16 Pro with A18 Pro chip launched: Should you upgrade if you own an iPhone 15 Pro?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Let us take a look at where you can buy all variants of the iPhone 16 and what are the bank offers available. <h2>iPhone 16 available in under 10 minutes</h2>Blinkit is currently selling the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models, though only the 128GB variant is available for purchase. The higher storage options are currently unavailable on Blinkit, and BigBasket. It's still unclear if the Pro models will be added to their listings in the coming week. In addition to Blinkit and Big Basket, the iPhone 16 is also available at Zepto. Blinkit and BigBasket, meanwhile, promise to deliver the phone in under 10 minutes. On the other hand, Zepto is promising to deliver the device in about 30 minutes. <h2>Customer orders iPhone 16 via BigBasket</h2> In a press release, BigBasket shared that a customer from Koramangala, Bengaluru had ordered an iPhone 16 at 8:00 AM and received the product in just seven minutes, at 8:07 am. The customer, upon receiving the product, said as per the press release, “I’ve always trusted bigbasket for my daily needs and groceries. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they are also delivering the new iPhone 16. What topped the excitement was getting the iPhone 16 within minutes of ordering! It’s a game-changer in quick delivery.” <h2>Bank offers on the iPhone 16</h2>Shoppers can enjoy savings of up to ₹5000 when purchasing an iPhone 16 using eligible credit cards from Kotak Mahindra, SBI, and ICICI Bank credit cards on Amazon. To make the purchase even more convenient, no-cost EMI options are available for 3 to 6 months through most major banks. Meanwhile, Vijay Sales is offering various deals to select card holders of ICICI bank, SBI, HDFC bank, Kotak Mahindra bank, YES Bank, IDFC FIRST Bank and Federal Bank. EMI options are also available on the website. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113448967" title="You can get free Apple Airpods 4 and Apple Pencil with this limited-time deal in India, details here" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> In addition to this, Apple is also offering its popular Trade-In program, which allows buyers to exchange their old devices for a discount. Depending on the condition and model of the device being traded in, customers can receive anywhere from ₹4000 to ₹67,500 off their new iPhone. In addition to these savings, those purchasing an iPhone 16 will receive a complimentary three-month subscription to Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade, adding even more value to their purchase. <h2>About the iPhone 16 lineup </h2> Apple has introduced some new features in the new iPhone 16 series, aiming to make both the standard and Pro models more advanced and user-friendly. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus now boast a new Camera Control button, giving users quicker access to key functions. Both phones are powered by the upgraded Apple A18 chip and come with an improved dual-camera system that includes a new spatial capture feature for enhanced photography. Running on iOS 18 right out of the box, these models are set to receive further smart updates with upcoming software enhancements. The vanilla iPhone 16 features a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Plus offers a larger 6.7-inch screen. Both displays are protected by Ceramic Shield technology and reach a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, though they continue to use 60Hz OLED panels. On the camera front, these models come with a 48MP main sensor capable of 2x zoom and a 12MP ultrawide camera that can now take macro shots. For selfies, a 12MP TrueDepth camera is included on both models. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max take things a step further, with bigger screens and narrower bezels. The Pro comes with a 6.3-inch display, while the Pro Max offers a 6.9-inch one. Both feature Retina XDR OLED screens with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and up to 2,000 nits of brightness. Both phones are powered by the advanced A18 Pro chip and run on iOS 18. For photography enthusiasts, the Pro models pack a triple-lens setup, including a 48MP main camera, a new 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP periscope camera offering 5x optical zoom. The front-facing camera remains a 12MP TrueDepth unit, and both Pro models now support 4K video recording at 120fps. Like the standard versions, they also come equipped with the new Camera Control button, making it easier than ever to snap photos and capture moments.

You can get the iPhone 16 in under 10 minutes while sitting at home, here is how

<ul><li>The <keyword id="21441808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Honor-200-Lite" source="Orion">Honor 200 Lite</keyword> smartphone has been launched in India.</li><li>The <keyword id="20014359" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Honor" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Honor" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Honor">Honor</keyword> 200 Lite is priced at ₹17,999 and is available in a single variant.</li><li>Here’s everything you need to know about the latest smartphone from Honor.</li></ul>Honor today announced the launch of the company’s latest budget smartphone, the Honor 200 Lite in India. The device is the third offering in the Honor 200 series and is also the most affordable among the three. The company had earlier launched the Honor 200 and Honor 200 Pro smartphones in the country. The Honor 200 Lite is an affordable option, aimed at users looking for a smartphone in the highly competitive sub-₹20,000 segment. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111830855" title="Honor 200 and Honor 200 Pro launched in India starting at ₹34,999" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2><keyword id="23231527" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Honor-200-Lite-price" source="Orion">Honor 200 Lite price</keyword> in India</h2>The Honor 200 Lite is priced at ₹17,999 for the single 8GB RAM + 256GB internal storage variant. The device comes in Cyan Lake, Midnight Black and Starry Blue colour options. It will be available from September 26 from Amazon India, Honor Online Store and the company’s authorised retailers across the country. <h2>Honor 200 Lite specifications</h2>The Honor 200 Lite runs on Android 14 out of the box with the company’s MagicOS 8.0 on top. Honor has promised two years of Android updates and three years of security updates for the device. The Honor 200 Lite features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The Honor 200 Lite is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, coupled with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Coming to the camera department, the Honor 200 Lite features a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 108MP primary camera, a 5MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2MP macro sensor. On the front, the device sports a 50MP selfie camera. The Honor 200 Lite is powered by a 4,500mAh battery with 35W charging support. The device comes with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/xiaomi-emerges-as-the-worlds-second-biggest-smartphone-brand-in-august/articleshow/113478178.cms">Xiaomi emerges as the world’s second-biggest smartphone brand in August</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/iphone-16-series-allows-users-to-wirelessly-restore-the-firmware-using-an-iphone-or-ipad/articleshow/113455048.cms">iPhone 16 series allows users to wirelessly restore the firmware using an iPhone or iPad</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/instagram-will-force-teenagers-to-have-a-private-account-enable-sleep-mode-after-10-pm/articleshow/113449313.cms">Instagram will force teenagers to have a private account, enable sleep mode after 10 PM</a>

Honor 200 Lite budget smartphone with 108MP primary camera launched in India

Last Christmas, my partner's parents made an extremely generous offer: We'd been sleeping on a luxuriously cooling, king-size Zinus mattress whenever we visited, and they asked whether we wanted one of our own. The only thing we needed to do was pick a bed frame. Easy, right?Our first thought was to head to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ikea-cut-prices-deflation-red-sea-shipping-crisis-inflation-greedflation-2024-1">Ikea</a> and purchase our current bed frame in a bigger size, but it was out of stock, so <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/luxury-retail-ecommerce-online-sales-stores-wealth-the-realreal-2024-7">we turned to the internet</a>. Searching "wooden bedframe" on the furniture <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wayfairs-opens-first-ever-physical-store-take-a-look-2024-6">e-commerce store Wayfair</a>, whose tagline is "every style, every home," yielded over 13,000 results. Amazon gave us a smaller but not particularly more manageable 6,000, with sponsored or "trending" bed frames that weren't in our price range — or made of wood at all — frequently front-loaded. The task was daunting.We spent hours at a time clicking between product pages and toggling between search parameters, but none of the options ever lined up. Eventually, buying a new bed frame began to feel like a part-time job that neither of us had time for. Almost a year later, we're still crowding into our old, sagging queen with two dogs and a cat.We aren't the only people feeling paralyzed by making a purchase: On the Reddit forum r/Mattress, person after person complains of the time they have spent navigating a maze of distinctions, like "cooling" and "ultracooling," "medium" and "medium firm," or "memory foam" and "hybrid." For some, the task of buying a mattress was too much: "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Mattress/comments/194n1c5/the_mattress_industry_destroyed_me_emotionally/">The mattress industry destroyed me emotionally and spiritually</a>," one post read. "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Mattress/comments/1chv833/this_is_ruining_my_life_just_tell_me_what_the/">This is ruining my life</a>," someone else wrote.It's not just big, life-altering purchases, either: In a recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/consulting/consumer-goods-cutting-through-noise">Accenture survey</a> of 19,000 consumers around the world, 74% of respondents said that they had abandoned an online shopping cart at least once in the past three months because they felt "bombarded by content, overwhelmed by choice and frustrated by the amount of effort they need to put in to making decisions." This inability to commit to a purchase was reported by people shopping for clothes (79%), flights (72%), and even snacks (70%).Barry Schwartz, a Swarthmore College psychology professor, famously called this the "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-too-many-choices-are-screwing-us-up-2016-11">paradox of choice</a>": While having a wider variety of choices can initially make us happier, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-the-paradox-of-choice-could-explain-why-youre-still-single-2018-2">the more options we have</a>, the harder it can be to choose the best one for us.Schwartz's 2006 book drew inspiration from <a target="_blank" href="https://faculty.washington.edu/jdb/345/345%20Articles/Iyengar%20%26%20Lepper%20(2000).pdf">a study</a> that found that shoppers in a grocery store were 10 times as likely to purchase jam after sampling from a display of six jam varieties than they were from a sampling of 24. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-social-media-online-shopping-30-days-regain-control-productivity-2024-7">Online shopping</a>, which the US Census Bureau estimates accounts for roughly 16% of all retail sales, theoretically makes it easier to find exactly what we are looking for. But it also takes the jam problem and multiplies it by several orders of magnitude: We're inundated with hundreds and thousands of choices. With so much information about those choices, it sometimes can feel impossible to go on. What's more, experts say that many of the tools we rely on to help us sift through all of this information — from product descriptions to search engines to e-commerce filters — may actually be making the process even harder.The golden age of comparison shopping isn't so golden after all.The internet changed not just how we shop but also the number of options retailers can offer. Superstores that used to be limited by their square footage <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warehouse-nation-boom-ecommerce-jobs-2022-10">could now fill warehouses</a> with thousands of items that would ship straight to customers' doorsteps. As a result, the retail landscape began to lean toward larger stores with more options.Jason Goldberg, the chief commerce-strategy officer of Publicis Groupe, said "category killers" like PetSmart and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-tumultuous-history-of-toys-r-us-photos-2020-8">Toys "R" Us</a> outcompeted the neighborhood mom-and-pop pet and toy stores of yesteryear — only to find themselves losing out to stores with even bigger inventories, such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-q3-earnings-shoppers-cheaper-items-high-frequency-good-business-2024-11">Amazon</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-stock-price-sam-walton-family-wealth-billionaires-retail-strategy-2024-10">Walmart</a>. "In the history of retail, businesses with larger assortments have come in, and they've won out over businesses with small assortments," he said.Shoppers, it turns out, love the convenience of the one-stop shop. But that has left us with an ever-increasing number of options. "Amazon's doing what we think the American dream is, which is, have all the choice in the world," Jessecae Marsh, a professor of psychology at Lehigh University, told me. "But choice can be paralyzing." Part of the problem, Marsh said, comes down to the way our brain makes choices. When shopping, we typically start by looking for ways to narrow down the set of choices, such as by filtering out things we can't afford or that aren't the size we want. Then we look for a reason to pick one of the remaining items over the others. "When we try to make decisions, we want a reason behind the decision," she said.This helps explain why ratings and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/insider-reviews-expertise-in-product-reviews">reviews</a> have become such a popular feature on online marketplaces: When we're comparing two similar items, we need to find a piece of information that breaks the tie. A higher star rating, or a slate of glowing reviews from other customers, can be enough to do the trick. The trouble is that having more information at our disposal isn't always helpful. And sometimes, it can render decision-making more difficult.In a <a target="_blank" href="https://cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-023-00509-7">series of experiments</a> testing how the presence of diagrams influenced people's ability to correctly answer questions about topics like managing body weight, Marsh and Samantha Kleinberg, a professor of computer science at the Stevens Institute of Technology, found that while some guiding information could be helpful, too much information made picking the right answer almost as difficult as if the participants had received no guiding information at all. While the study, published last year in Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, didn't focus on shopping, their results suggested that the more information we wade through when we're trying to make a decision, the more likely we are to come across something that conflicts with our beliefs, which complicates the decision-making process."If you've tried an Oil of Olay moisturizer, and you had a reaction to it, but you're seeing website over website telling you that's the best one, you're now in a position where the information that you're getting doesn't match information that you hold in your own head," Marsh said. "That conflict is always going to be hard for people because they don't exactly know how to resolve it."It doesn't help that the tools we use to reduce overwhelm may actually make things even more daunting. Raluca Ursu, an associate professor of marketing at New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business, told me that tools like filtering, sorting, and using recommendations could bog us down by revealing new factors to investigate, which leads people to search more — and, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/25674430">research has found</a>, be less satisfied with their choices. Search engines such as Google, which present options in a ranked list, <a target="_blank" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1509/jmr.09.0481?journalCode=mrja">can also lead</a> to a "maximizer" mindset. "Consumers start to believe they can find 'the best option' out there, which can then lead to additional stress and decision paralysis," Ursu told me. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/search-web-email-google-streaming-online-shopping-broken-2022-4">decline of Google Search</a> probably doesn't help matters, either.Ursu has studied two factors in shopping: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/document/2022-01/SearchGaps_UrsuZhangHonka_Dec2021.pdf">search costs and search fatigue</a>. "Search costs generally reflect the time and effort consumers require to obtain information about a product," she said via email. "How difficult is it to determine this TV's price and technical specifications?" While search costs are typically much smaller online than they are IRL, where you have to jump in a car and drive to a store, search fatigue grows when shopping online because there's more information available and more options to sift through. Ursu guessed that the most exhausting stage of shopping is comparison shopping — when people pore over minuscule details between products to find the best one.If people <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/online-shopping-coping-mechanism-target-pandemic-2021-3">abandon their shopping carts</a> because they get overwhelmed by search fatigue, it can come back to bite retailers. In a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/document/2022-01/SearchGaps_UrsuZhangHonka_Dec2021.pdf">study</a> that looked at browsing data from clothing shoppers in the Netherlands, Ursu and her fellow researchers Qianyun Zhang and Elisabeth Honka found that reducing search fatigue by half led to a slight increase in transactions. They also found that search fatigue tended to affect smaller retailers more than larger ones since people tend to spend all their energy shopping at larger stores first.In fashion, perhaps no company embodies the paradox of choice more than <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stitch-fix-subscription-clothes-review-work-from-home-2021-9">Stitch Fix</a>, which launched in 2011 with a counterintuitive business model: People who didn't have the time or patience to shop could undergo a virtual consultation with one of the firm's in-house stylists, then receive a subscription box filled with a selection of items that had been handpicked for them. It worked: By 2017, the company had gone public at a valuation of $1.4 billion, only to surge to a $11 billion market cap in early 2021, when many customers were holed up at home."Having someone do that front-loaded effort, that seems really valuable," Marsh said. It's the same thing we would do by bringing a contractor into a house to ask, "What are the options here to expand this bathroom?" After lockdowns ended, the company decided to introduce an option where customers could shop for individual items from categories like "jeans," "Lauren Ralph Lauren," and "workwear under $80." But since that pivot away from its core business, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stitch-fix-stylists-say-role-company-is-losing-flexibility-2021-8">the company has been losing customers</a> every year. Today, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/sfix-stock">Stitch Fix is valued at $400 million</a>, just a fraction of its market cap at its 2017 initial public offering. Goldberg, the chief commerce-strategy officer, said it's possible that the company's struggles are due to macro factors, like subscription fatigue and a sales slowdown in the clothes business. "Twenty years ago, you spent 6% of your budget on clothes; today, you spend 3% of your budget on clothes," he said. "People used to buy Stitch Fix for clothes to wear to work. You know what people don't do anymore?" Still, the company's decline raises an important point about the value of curation.Short of changing their business models, companies can make things easier on shoppers by simplifying their site designs, reducing friction during checkout, and keeping extraneous information to a minimum. Offering shoppers more personalized search results is another big piece of the puzzle, and the experts I spoke to say <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-amazon-is-using-ai-from-rufus-to-movie-recommendations-2024-7">artificial intelligence may be able to help us</a> winnow our choices down — that's the guiding idea behind <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-amazon-ai-shopping-assistant-rufus-is-like-2024-7">Rufus, a new conversational chatbot</a> from Amazon that answers questions and makes product recommendations. Of course, there's the danger AI <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-scam-spam-hacking-ruining-internet-chatgpt-privacy-misinformation-2023-8">will overwhelm us with spam and slop</a> first.As Marsh sees it, though, the most important thing is shoppers getting to a place where they're dealing with fewer options, even if they believe that more is better. "Whatever people think they want, they should have something a little bit less than that," she said. Marsh recommended researching a category and figuring out what product attributes matter most to you before you start shopping. She also suggested turning the decision over to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides">a consumer guide</a>, a retailer quiz, or someone who has tried a product before you. Many people already do this with<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-luxury-perfume-obsession-tiktok-fragrance-teen-boys-branding-2024-10"> beauty influencers</a>: If you have a similar skin or hair type to someone, seeing what works and what doesn't for them can help narrow down your choices.Still, deciding what to buy can be excruciating — even for people who study decision-making for a living. Recently, after an "extremely overwhelming" experience selecting a bed frame for her own house on Wayfair, Marsh said she realized she was going to need a new rug. "I started looking through the options, and I was like, 'I just can't,'" she told me. "We're going to have to go to a store. I just can't do it again."<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/emilie-friedlander">Emilie Friedlander</a> is a journalist and editor from Brooklyn, currently based in Philadelphia. She co-hosts <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://theculturejournalist.substack.com/">The Culture Journalist</a>, a podcast about culture in the age of platforms.

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