Hot on the heels of a rapid global transition to digital, e-commerce is a highly competitive space – with companies competing to solve problems using the most efficient technologies. And LEAP offers the ideal place for brands to gain access to key technologies and new research that can elevate their business.
Rajesh Kumar (CEO at Ferns N Petals, GCC & SEA) heads up the GCC and SEA regions of India’s largest gifting platform. With over a decade of experience in his e-commerce segment, Kumar understands the critical importance of technological innovation for successful business growth.
We asked him about the biggest challenges he faces in delivering convenient e-commerce services – and what advice he’d give to fledgling e-commerce brands with a vision to launch in the Middle East market.
“We have been very fortunate to be a part of the Middle East e-commerce growth journey for the last nine years and especially in the UAE market. I can proudly say that we were one of the few players in the entire industry to start 60 min delivery eight years back, and the only gifting player to do so in the market.
“The biggest challenge today is that customers are becoming used to on-demand service and the expectations are changing every year with respect to delivery timeline, quality and personalisation. We used to get the majority of the orders one day in advance in the gifting business a few years ago – but that’s changing nowadays, and becoming the same day, and then in a few hours too.
“The beauty of operating in the Middle East is that you learn what luxury is all about; and at the same time, you have to be a multicultural brand.”
“Yes, We have been working on using AI for content creation as of now, and the plan is to extend the use case to product creation as well.
“Robotics is also an important element in our business both from supply chain as well as production standpoint but we are a bit far from doing that. I hope to show the industry very soon the kind of innovation that can be done in automation in the flower and gifting business.”
“I would say that the most important thing is to find your niche and follow a customer-first approach to launch in the Middle East market. The region is close to the top when it comes to the ease of doing the business index.”
“Data is the king, and one can't really survive without being on top of data in such a competitive market. We have a dedicated team to track multiple sets of data to keep analysing the consumer and market behaviour – and on the basis of those analyses we make the majority of the business decisions on quarterly and on annual basis.”
“Being one of the top tech networking events in the Middle East, LEAP is important for business professionals like me – it gives a platform to learn from leading tech experts, as well as to show the industry who we are and what we’re known for.”
Thanks to Rajesh Kumar at Ferns N Petals. Does your e-commerce company need to learn how to get ahead of the curve with the latest technologies? Join us in Riyadh for LEAP 2025.
Reema Khan (CEO at Green Sands Equity) founded her boutique private equity investment firm in 2016. Currently based in Green Sands Equity’s San Francisco office, she is responsible for all aspects of the firm’s investment strategy – as well as the team and operations across its global network. With
How did we get here – and what’s the point in it all? Since 1984, the SETI Institute has been dedicated to its mission to explore, understand, and explain life in the universe. With more than 100 scientists exploring everything from exoplanets to communication between different animal species, the institute
“During my time there, I had a visceral connection with the world I was living in – I could feel the edges, breathe the oxygen supplied by the plants. At one point, I and the rest of the crew turned orange from eating so many sweet potatoes.” LEAP 2024 speaker Jane
Reema Khan (CEO at Green Sands Equity) founded her boutique private equity investment firm in 2016. Currently based in Green Sands Equity’s San Francisco office, she is responsible for all aspects of the firm’s investment strategy – as well as the team and operations across its global network. With
How did we get here – and what’s the point in it all? Since 1984, the SETI Institute has been dedicated to its mission to explore, understand, and explain life in the universe. With more than 100 scientists exploring everything from exoplanets to communication between different animal species, the institute
“During my time there, I had a visceral connection with the world I was living in – I could feel the edges, breathe the oxygen supplied by the plants. At one point, I and the rest of the crew turned orange from eating so many sweet potatoes.” LEAP 2024 speaker Jane
