Walmart owned ecommerce platform Flipkart acquires direct to consumer (D2C) Software as a service (SaaS) platform ANS Commerce to strengthen the online retail ecosystem.

According to the company, the deal is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions.

Founded in 2017, ANS provides various services to companies and brands looking to sell online. These include services that help brands set up digital storefronts, integration with marketplaces like Flipkart and Amazon, and warehousing and facilities maintenance services.

Flipkart says, ANS had more than 100 clients and that it would continue to operate as an independent business under its existing leadership team.

According to flipkart, after brands started using ANS’s services, they were able to improve their return on advertisements spent on e-commerce platforms, and in managing logistics and warehousing better.

Anand Lakshminarayanan, senior vice president, Flipkart says, “as Indian e-commerce grows, we see new-age brands building direct relationships with their customers. We’re excited to bring new SaaS services via ANS Commerce, to help Indian brands on their D2C journey and look forward to launching new industry-leading SaaS services to businesses adopting digitization.”

According to reports, Flipkart had also recently invested over $800 million in its businesses, including Flipkart Marketplaces, its healthcare business, and fashion retailer Myntra.

Amit Monga, Nakul Singh, Sushant Puri, and Vibhor Sahare - the founders of the company states that, “ANS Commerce was created to enable businesses to leverage the massive opportunity of e-commerce in India. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a dramatic change in consumer behavior, and as a result, brands have also pivoted in their approach on how to engage with consumers.”