ONDC the seamless ecommerce enabler levels the playing field for MSMEs & small traders

Ever since its launch this December, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) Connector has emerged as the architect of seamless business transactions. Government of India backed, ONDC Connector is bringing in interconnected e-commerce, redefining buyer-seller navigation in the digital marketplace.

Gone are the days of isolated online shopping experiences. ONDC Connector establishes itself as a digital gateway that links an array of diverse digital storefronts, breaking down barriers between platforms and enabling transactions to flow effortlessly.

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One of the notable features of ONDC is its ability to level the playing field for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and small traders. By capitalizing on open protocols, ONDC simplifies connections across various business segments such as mobility, grocery, food delivery, hotel booking, and travel. This initiative actively supports the prosperity of businesses of all scales, promoting innovation and ensuring a fair and competitive landscape.

For example, SellerApp, a data analytics company, is helping e-commerce sellers and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands onboard to the ONDC network. The company provides them with the market intelligence and business monitoring tools required to maximize their e-commerce potential through its seamless integrations. Businesses can leverage a seller application like SellerApp to connect their Shopify store to the ONDC network.

ONDC is at the forefront of helping brands thrive in the digital space

Arishekar N, Sr. Director of Marketing and Growth, SellerApp

Arishekar N, Sr. Director of Marketing and Growth, SellerApp, says, “ONDC is at the forefront of helping brands thrive in the digital space. To ensure seamless integration, at SellerApp, we help Shopify sellers to onboard to the ONDC network, streamline their operations, access a wider customer base, and benefit from the network.”

Paytm E-commerce Private Limited (PEPL) is a frontrunner in ONDC and is live across categories like Food & Beverage, grocery, home & kitchen, fashion, electronics, health & wellness, and beauty & personal care. The brand, which was the first to go live as a buyer platform on the ONDC Network, just announced Raksha Bandhan Sale on Paytm se ONDC Network. With this, users can buy gifts with discounts across more than 300 products including Ferns n Petals, Giva, boAt and The Man Company through the Paytm app.

Paytm se ONDC Network has emerged as one of the most popular buyer platforms, driving convenience for users while revamping their online shopping experience

Paytm E-Commerce Private Limited Spokesperson

Paytm E-Commerce Private Limited Spokesperson said, “Paytm se ONDC Network has emerged as one of the most popular buyer platforms, driving convenience for users while revamping their online shopping experience.”

ONDC’s groundbreaking technology facilitates transactions between buyers and sellers regardless of the platforms they use. It acts as a digital bridge, connecting diverse digital storefronts, allowing transactions to occur effortlessly across multiple applications and platforms.

With 37 participants in its network, including industry giants like PhonePe, Hindustan Unilever, and ITC, ONDC has successfully created a dynamic ecosystem that promotes inclusivity and fair competition.

The platform’s growth has been nothing short of remarkable. Boasting a thriving network of over 1,00,000+ merchants and participation from more than 45 entities across 273 cities, ONDC showcases its commitment to providing equal opportunities for businesses of all sizes. The platform’s expansion has made a significant impact on India’s digital commerce landscape, transforming how businesses operate and collaborate in the online realm.

Manoj Gupta, Founder of Plotch.ai, a large ONDC enabler in India says the race for ONDC enablement is heating up.

“The ONDC network is unique and limitless; it aims to enable seamless commerce between 500m customers on one side and 100m SMEs on another side using a democratic network and, in the process, take 7% e-retail to 70% and 1% b2b to 25% b2b. It is on the path to creating a behemoth trillion dollar commerce network which no doubt is going to be the 8th wonder of the world.

The ONDC network is unique and limitless; it aims to enable seamless commerce between 500m customers on one side and 100m SMEs on another side using a democratic network and, in the process, take 7% e-retail to 70% and 1% b2b to 25% b2b. It is on the path to creating a behemoth trillion dollar commerce network which no doubt is going to be the 8th wonder of the world

Manoj Gupta, Founder of Plotch.ai

“For this to happen, large and mid scale enterprises need to join the ONDC network seamlessly and at a large velocity so that they can bring large traffic and supply on to the Network. For that, we need some seriously strong ONDC rail infrastructure.”

Using a suite of software products which are hosted on their infrastructure, Plotch.AI helps enterprises to join the ONDC network in the fastest possible way. In fact, the company made Bluestar live on ONDC Network in 12 days.

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Other players are making moves too. Protean eGov Technologies (formerly NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure), just tied up with Google Cloud to set up a Centre of Excellence and accelerating ONDC. The centre of excellence is planned to harness the potential of recently launched Google’s open commerce solution for ONDC combined with Protean’s ONDC Buyer and  Seller platforms to supercharge adoption of ONDC by participants.

ONDC has been created to democratise the existing ecommerce ecosystem of the country. Since its launch in Bengaluru, ONDC has expanded its presence to Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Hyderabad, Bagalkot and Lucknow.