MakeMyTrip, the online travel company and Flipkart, the e-commerce marketplace announced on Thursday that it would begin a partnership intended for the travel services market.
MakeMyTrip owns several branches such as Goibibo and redBus, and will use the large client base of over 100 Million registered users of Flipkart to increase the its online travel bookings.
This new association will begin by providing domestic flight bookings in the coming weeks and will extend to hotels, bus and holiday bookings subsequently.
“Flipkart is one of the most exciting companies of our times and we are delighted to partner with them to catalyse the massive online travel opportunity in India. This partnership will help us reach out to an even wider consumer base and further open up the online travel market in a significant way,” said Deep Kalra, founder and group CEO, MakeMyTrip Ltd.
“Flipkart and MakeMyTrip have played a defining role in shaping the consumer internet ecosystem in India and bringing millions of people online. This strategic partnership helps us make travel booking a seamless experience for customers, even those in the farthest regions, while also furthering our goal of being a one-stop destination for all digital transactions online,” said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO, Flipkart.
Reports of Flipkart stepping in the online travel market first emerged in the end of March. Back then, it was reported that the e-commerce giant would be offering new travel services to its customers as well. And the vertical integration of Flipkart in the travel sector has nothing surprising about it at all.
Indeed, the prevalent strategy of Flipkart for the last few months has been diversification in different markets. The e-commerce giant first lauched an exclusive line of air conditioners and smart televisions under its private label MarQ. It then launched Supermart, though cautiously, as a means of seizing the opportunity of the expanding online grocery sector. Additionally, to strengthen its assets against Amazon, the Indian e-commerce company is seeking to make investments and acquisitions a major part of its revised marketing strategy.
Reports fuel this claim by suggesting that Flipkart is also keen on backing food delivery app Swiggy, hyperlocal services firm UrbanClap and furniture retailer UrbanLadder too. Flipkart is also interested in investing or acquiring insurance and wealth management startups according to more rumors.