On September 30, 2022, beta testing of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) started in 16 pin codes in Bangalore.
This is a great initiative to bring the small merchants who were hitherto loosing their business to the E Commerce giants and were getting wiped out from their traditional business. We were seeing vanishing of many of the known grocery stores from which we were purchasing for generations and regretting the dark side of digital development. Today there is a door open for salvation on this front and protecting the traditional small businesses through the ONDC.
Consumers can now shop from multiple (currently two) categories of products and services from any buyer application of their choice. They will now also be able to purchase from every seller listed on the network, including local sellers who were not present on a digital platform earlier and have been e-commerce enabled for the first time.
For sellers, this will result in added visibility for their products and services leading to additional revenue. Even their existing customers can see them online via any buyer app and order from them, helping them retain existing trusted relationships.
Bizom, Digiit, Enstore by Innobits, eSamudaay, eVitalrx, Go Frugal, GrowthFalcons, Mystore, nStore, Seller App, Uengage, and Ushop are the seller apps are participating in the Beta Test from the seller’s side.
Consumers can shop online from buyer apps like Mystore, PayTM, and Spicemoney.
Dunzo, Loadshare, and Shiprocket are providing logistics services and Protean eGov Technologies Ltd (Formerly NSDL e-Gov) is providing gateway services.
Blowhorn, Craftsvilla, CSC Grameen eStore, Ekart, Global Linker (Faiita IT Mall), Grab, HDFC Bank, IDFC First Bank, ITC Store, Kotak Bank, Magicpin, Microsoft, Peppo, Petpooja, PhonePe, Shopalyst, Snapdeal, and Zoho are in advanced stages of integration and expected to go live shortly.
Floats and Plotch are technology service providers, facilitating buyer and seller apps to join the ONDC network.
Some time back Myn App launched its services to compete with Uber and Ola which were going berserk with “Surge Charges”. The menace of “Surge Charges” were also corrupting the system of Zomato and other food apps and the consumers were feeling that we are now into “Exploitation Phase” in digitization of services as we had observed in the e-Banking scenario earlier.
The ONDC working along with UPI could make a significant impact on the E Commerce world today lead by Amazon and Flipkart.
Future of Digital India is blossoming.
Naavi
