Flipkart that was supposed to shut down its desktop website and go app-only by September this year, has put its plans on hold, according to a latest report from the Economic Times.
The homegrown retail giant has delayed this decision as it is to yet assess how the move will impact sales in categories such as furniture and large appliances. “Major sellers who retail white goods, electronics and large appliances are not convinced about the move. Flipkart might pick up the project (to go app-only) soon but as of now things have been stalled and September looks unlikely”, Flipkart officials told ET. Sellers who deal in high price goods feel that going app-only would bring limitation for a user to research products effectively before buying them.
Flipkart’s mobile app accounts for 70-75% of the total traffic hence the company had decided to go app-only. Flipkart-owned fashion retailer Myntra went app-only in May as nearly 95% of Myntra’s traffic and 70% of its sales were already coming from mobile. Last month, Flipkart received $700 million in funding from existing investors.