Flipkart acquires Bengaluru-based AR firm Scapic

Flipkart aims to improve customer experience on its platform by leveraging technologies such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and 3D Content.

Flipkart logo. (HT Tech)

The Flipkart Group on Tuesday announced acquiring Augmented Reality firm Scapic. The e-commerce company said the acquisition will help improve its shopping experience capabilities.

Scapic describes itself as a no-code platform for brands and e-commerce to build AR, VR and 3D shopping experience. The firm was founded in 2017 by Sai Krishna V K and Ajay P V and is based out of Bengaluru. The company was recently adjudged the winners of the National Startup Awards 2020, in the Industry 4.0 – AR category.

Through the acquisition of Scapic, the Flipkart Group will acquire a 100% stake in the company. The team is said to work towards accelerating Flipkart's efforts to improve camera experiences, virtual storefronts, and explore new avenues for brand advertising on its platform.

“… This year has accelerated online adoption - be it education, communication or shopping, as people prioritise health and safety. As we make investments that focus on developing and nurturing the retail ecosystem, we are also committed to making our platform easier to navigate and richer for consumers in terms of content and experience…,” said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO, Flipkart Group.

“…Advancements by the Scapic team in the field of AI, Computer Vision and AR have made this change possible. Scapic's no-code platform helps create immersive experiences across categories such as fashion, furniture & electronics. We are deeply excited about the opportunity that is being presented to scale this up further and make millions of shoppers in India experience the potential of Augmented Reality,” added V K Sai Krishna and Ajay P V, Co-Founders, Scapic.

The latest acquisition comes days after the Flipkart Group acquired Intellectual Property from Mech Mocha, a mobile gaming startup that runs India's first live-social gaming platform 'Hello Play'.

Mech Mocha's team will join Flipkart to help the e-commerce company strengthen its gaming strategy. Co-founded by Arpita Kapoor and Mohit Rangaraju, Mech Mocha has bagged backing from top investors such as Accel Partners, Blume Ventures and Shunwei Capital. The Mech Mocha team will now report to Prakash Sikaria, Vice-President at Flipkart.