The Zomato District App is now Available for iPhone and Android Users

Nitin Konde, Varun Bhardwaj

Nov 19, 2024 — 2 min read

Zomato District App Launches for iPhone and Android Users

The 'District' app is the most recent venture of Gurgaon-based food delivery giant Zomato. The goal of this new platform is to serve Zomato's expanding "going-out" business, which includes reservations for restaurants, events, and cinema tickets. After the rapid commerce platform Blinkit and the food delivery service Zomato, this is the company's third consumer-facing venture.

Zomato made a calculated decision to enter the going-out market in order to increase its revenue sources and take advantage of the growing entertainment sector. In August 2023, the company paid a hefty INR 2,048 crore to acquire Paytm's events and ticketing division, strengthening its dominance in this market.

Attracting Features

The District app provides a wide range of services, including the ability for users to reserve movie tickets from multiple chains, including Cinepolis and PVR-Inox. Bookings for plays, concerts, and other live events are made easier by the app. Zomato's vast restaurant network allows users to book tables at eateries.

Locking Horns With BookMyShow

Competition from well-established firms like BookMyShow (supported by Reliance), which presently commands a sizable market share in movie ticketing, is heightened by Zomato's foray into the going-out sector. Nonetheless, Zomato might have a competitive advantage due to its well-known brand, large user base, and substantial financial resources.

Zomato intends to gradually move services from its main app, the Insider app, and Paytm's platform under the District app, which would house its going-out businesses. This calculated action will improve emphasis on the main offerings and streamline the user experience.

Zomato is in a strong position to benefit from the rising demand for entertainment and leisure activities as it keeps extending its presence in the going-out market.

Zomato and Paytm Deal

In an exchange filing on August 28, food delivery giant Zomato said that it has successfully acquired Wasteland Entertainment Private Limited (WEPL) and Orbgen Technologies Private Limited (OTPL), Paytm's event ticketing subsidiaries. The Insider and TicketNew platforms are run by WEPL and OTPL, respectively. On June 16, media outlets first revealed that Paytm was in negotiations to sell Paytm Insider to Zomato, owned by Deepinder Goyal, who wants to grow the "going-out" industry.

Paytm, a company based in Noida, also attested in a different filing that the events and movie tickets business was successfully transferred to Zomato on August 27. To ensure a seamless and continuous experience for users and merchant partners, the movie and event tickets will be accessible on the Paytm app, as well as on the TicketNew and Insider platforms, for a maximum of 12 months during the transition time. Approximately 280 current workers of the entertainment ticketing company will transfer to Zomato as part of the agreement.

According to Paytm, the company's goal is to concentrate on the delivery of financial services and payments. Following aggressive investments in the popular rapid commerce sector, the deal represents a significant step towards Zomato expanding its operations beyond food delivery.