Amazon India’s Great Indian Festival (AGIF) 2024 has emerged as the company’s most successful event to date, showcasing record-setting engagement and sales. Running from September 27 through early November, this month-long sale witnessed a massive uptick in customer visits, particularly from non-metro cities, which accounted for over 85% of total visits.

Surge in Non-Metro Engagement

The festival attracted an astounding 140 crore customer visits, with tier-2 and smaller cities contributing significantly to this figure. Nearly 70% of new Prime members were from these areas, benefiting from fast-tracked delivery on over 3 crore items. The sale also recorded the highest single-day Prime sign-ups within its initial two days, marking a milestone in Prime membership growth.

Key Statistics

• 140 crore customer visits during the festival.
• 70% of new Prime members from non-metro cities.
• Highest single-day Prime sign-ups in the first two days of the event.

Impressive Seller Growth

Sellers, particularly those from non-metro locations, reported exceptional sales during the festival. More than 70% surpassed last year’s ₹1 crore sales threshold. Small businesses, artisans, and women entrepreneurs thrived during the event, selling products at a remarkable pace of 1,000 units per minute. Approximately 42,000 sellers achieved their best-ever sales day, with most vendors hailing from smaller towns and cities.

Seller Achievements

• Over 70% of sellers exceeded ₹1 crore in sales.
• Approximately 42,000 sellers reached their highest single-day sales.

Amazon Pay and Financial Flexibility

Amazon Pay usage surged during the festival, with a 50% increase in ICICI Bank credit card transactions and a 20% rise in UPI transactions. Electronics purchases on EMI also grew significantly, with 25% of electronics buyers opting for no-cost EMIs. This financial flexibility contributed to increased travel bookings as well, with flight and hotel reservations rising by 20% and 60%, respectively.

Financial Insights

• 50% increase in ICICI Bank credit card transactions.
• 20% rise in UPI transactions.
• Travel bookings saw a 20% increase for flights and a 60% increase for hotels.

Top-Selling Categories and Consumer Preferences

Product categories such as large-screen TVs, 5G smartphones, and audio products experienced significant demand. Amazon’s own devices, including the Fire TV Stick and Redmi Smart Fire TV, were among the top sellers. Laptops—particularly Intel-powered models—saw a 30% year-over-year growth, while home improvement items like festive lighting and décor also gained popularity.

Popular Products

• Large-screen TVs and 5G smartphones were top-selling categories.
• Amazon devices like Fire TV Stick led sales.
• Home improvement items including string lights and garlands were in high demand.

Non-metro cities drove over half of all sales in large appliances and televisions, underscoring Amazon’s expanding reach in these regions. The introduction of Amazon Bazaar, focused on daily essentials, saw a four-fold increase in users predominantly from tier-2 cities and beyond.

Growth in Amazon Business

Amazon Business experienced a 50% rise in new business customers during this festival season. Many opted for Prime membership to take advantage of early access and faster delivery. The demand for bulk discounts grew significantly, with businesses ordering larger quantities and benefiting from tailored discounts.

Business Insights

• New business customers increased by 50%.
• Strong interest in bulk orders with tailored discounts.

Conclusion

Overall, the Great Indian Festival 2024 highlighted Amazon’s growing influence beyond India’s metro areas, driven by widespread participation from non-metro consumers and a strong push from small and medium businesses. The success of this year’s festival not only reflects changing consumer behavior but also underscores the importance of e-commerce platforms in enhancing accessibility to products across diverse regions.

As Amazon continues to expand its offerings and enhance user experience, the insights gained from this festival will likely inform future marketing strategies aimed at tapping into the burgeoning market outside major metropolitan areas. With ongoing investments in infrastructure and technology, Amazon is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in India’s dynamic e-commerce landscape.

Apple has introduced a repair program to address a camera glitch affecting some iPhone 14 Plus devices. Here’s what users need to know about eligibility, how to check if their device qualifies, and the steps to take for a free repair.

What’s the Issue?

Apple has identified an issue impacting a limited number of iPhone 14 Plus units, where the rear camera may fail to display a preview image. This problem affects models produced between April 10, 2023, and April 28, 2024. Users experiencing this issue may find it frustrating, especially when trying to capture important moments.

Free Repairs for Eligible Devices

If your iPhone 14 Plus is affected, Apple will repair it at no cost through authorized service centers. To determine eligibility, users can check their device’s serial number on Apple’s support site.

How to Check if Your Device Qualifies

1. Find Your Serial Number: Open Settings, go to General > About, and locate the Serial Number.
2. Enter Serial Number on Apple’s Site: Copy the serial number and paste it into Apple’s support page to verify eligibility.

Other Damage Considerations

If your iPhone has other issues, such as a cracked rear glass, you’ll need to address these first, as they may interfere with the camera repair process and could incur additional costs. However, the camera repair itself remains free if your device is eligible.

Refunds for Past Repairs

If you previously paid for a rear camera repair on an eligible iPhone 14 Plus, you may be entitled to a refund. Contact Apple to initiate this process. Apple has stated that users who had repairs done prior to this announcement can receive reimbursement if the repairs were performed by an authorized service provider.

Program Coverage Period

Apple’s repair program covers qualifying iPhone 14 Plus models for up to three years from the date of purchase, allowing ample time for users to access this service. This extended coverage ensures that users can seek repairs even if the issue arises well after their initial purchase.

How to Get Your Device Repaired

To get your device repaired, users can choose from several options:

• Visit an Apple Store: Make an appointment at your nearest Apple retail store.
• Authorized Service Provider: Bring your device to an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
• Mail-In Service: Contact Apple Support to arrange for a mail-in repair service if visiting in person is not feasible.

Conclusion

Apple’s launch of this free repair program demonstrates its commitment to customer satisfaction and product quality. By addressing the rear camera issue affecting certain iPhone 14 Plus models, Apple aims to ensure that users can continue enjoying their devices without disruption.

For those experiencing problems with their iPhone 14 Plus cameras, taking advantage of this program offers a straightforward solution. As always, users are encouraged to stay informed about their device’s status and reach out to Apple support for any further questions or concerns regarding eligibility and repairs.

ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode has officially launched for macOS and desktop users, enabling seamless voice interactions without the need for typing. Previously exclusive to mobile for Plus and Teams users, this feature allows users to give spoken instructions and receive responses in a lifelike voice. With enhanced accent recognition, it facilitates smoother and more efficient interactions. To access this feature, users simply need to download the latest version of the ChatGPT app.

What’s New with Advanced Voice Mode?

Advanced Voice Mode offers more than just basic voice recognition. OpenAI has introduced five new voices—Arbor, Maple, Sol, Spruce, and Vale—adding to the existing voices (Breeze, Juniper, Cove, and Ember). These voices are inspired by nature, aiming to create interactions that feel natural, emotive, and personal. Users can also see a new dynamic blue sphere that responds in real-time, replacing the previous static black dots and making interactions more visually engaging.

Enhanced Interaction Features

This upgrade is part of OpenAI’s suite of personalization tools. Users can set preferences via “Custom Instructions,” allowing ChatGPT to tailor its responses according to individual user styles or needs. The Memory feature enables ChatGPT to recall details from past conversations for more tailored responses. Additionally, Advanced Voice Mode includes improved accent recognition, enhancing ChatGPT’s ability to interpret diverse accents accurately.

Limitations and Future Developments

While this release omits the highly anticipated “Sky” voice—removed after criticism for resembling Scarlett Johansson’s voice—OpenAI plans to introduce video and screen-sharing features soon, allowing ChatGPT to process both visual and audio inputs.

User Experience Insights

In testing, users have found that Advanced Voice Mode significantly enhances conversational experiences. The AI can engage in multi-turn conversations, respond to user emotions, and maintain context over longer interactions. This capability addresses common limitations found in traditional voice assistants, making conversations feel more intuitive.

Conclusion

Overall, Advanced Voice Mode brings ChatGPT closer to lifelike, interactive conversations, expanding its functionality and accessibility for desktop users. This rollout is part of OpenAI’s broader mission to make AI more dynamic, engaging, and natural for users worldwide.

As users begin to explore these new capabilities, it will be interesting to see how they impact user engagement and whether they lead to increased adoption of AI-driven solutions within various workflows. With ongoing enhancements planned for the future, OpenAI is positioning ChatGPT as a versatile tool that adapts to the evolving needs of its user base.