Speculation around incentives playing a key role in salvaging New Year’s Eve operations has been making the rounds, but Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has pushed back against the narrative. Addressing the chatter, Goyal clarified that incentives were not the deciding factor behind the company’s performance on one of the busiest nights of the year.
According to him, the smooth execution on New Year’s Eve was driven primarily by strong planning, better demand forecasting and improved operational systems rather than last-minute financial push. He emphasised that Zomato has been consistently investing in long-term efficiency, focusing on technology, logistics and partner experience to handle peak demand periods.
Goyal also highlighted the role of delivery partners and restaurant collaborators, stating that preparedness and coordination across the ecosystem made a bigger difference than short-term incentives. He added that relying solely on payouts is neither sustainable nor effective in building reliable operations at scale.
By addressing the rumours head-on, the Zomato chief underlined the company’s shift towards structural improvements over temporary fixes, signalling a more measured approach to managing high-pressure events like New Year’s Eve in the future.
