Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) was launched by the Government of India last year in April. Since then, this network has covered 236 cities with over 29 thousand sellers on the platform. Touted as the UPI of e-commerce, ONDC seeks to create an open network of sellers on a single platform, challenging the duopoly of giants like Flipkart and Amazon. Let’s take a deep dive into what ONDC actually is and how it works.
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ONDC: A new democratic network for sellers
The rise of e-commerce websites in India has been quite dramatic in the last few years, largely due to the increasing Internet connectivity among the public. Flipkart and Amazon are two of the biggest e-commerce websites operating in a domain where small, independent sellers are barely visible. To break down this duopoly, the Government of India launched ONDC in April 2022.
As the name suggests, ONDC is an open network where small sellers will share the platform with the bigwigs like Amazon and Flipkart. The network itself is open-source and, like UPI, can be accessed through multiple apps. Users can buy products & groceries and even avail of services like food delivery, ticket booking, logistics, and more. Once you search for a particular product on ONDC, you will be able to browse through different sellers with that product.
A common platform for all sellers works in the favour of small players who get exposure to a wide audience. Since ONDC is an open portal, there are different apps for buyers and sellers. Buyers can use apps like MyStore, Craftsvilla, Magicpin, and even PayTm to purchase goods and services using ONDC. Sellers and traders can use apps like eSamudaay, uEngage, and EnStore to list themselves on the network and work out the logistics.
Current stakeholders in ONDC include banks like HDFC, SBI, Kotak Mahindra, Axis, PNB, and BSE. Paytm, Dunzo, and Ekart are also a part of the network. ONDC has secured investments of up to Rs 2.5 billion from over 20 organisations. Buyers join ONDC by filling out the Network Participation Profile Form here.
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Conclusion
Within its first year, ONDC has made some incredible inroads in the e-commerce sphere. The network currently spans 236 cities in India and has 44 network participants with over 29 thousand sellers. Buyers can use ONDC for buying groceries, electronics, fashion & footwear, beauty & personal care products, mobility products, and more.
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