UP Govt Launches ONDC-like Open Network for Agriculture, Powered by Google's Gemini and Beckn Protocol

The Government of Uttar Pradesh, in collaboration with Google Cloud India, has launched the Uttar Pradesh Open Network for Agriculture (UPONA). This initiative is powered by Google's Gemini framework and the Beckn Protocol, aiming to provide millions of farmers with a comprehensive digital platform.

The UPONA specifically targets farmers, providing services like agricultural advisory, credit access, and market linkages

The UPONA is quite similar to the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) as both initiatives aim to create open, decentralized platforms that facilitate access to essential services and promote digital inclusion. Both initiatives aim to create open, decentralized platforms that facilitate access to essential services and promote digital inclusion.

The Beckn Protocol, which is the backbone of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), is also powering UPONA. While the UPONA focuses on farmers, ONDC aims to support small businesses and retailers by providing a unified platform for e-commerce.

Key Features:

Services Offered: The network offers advisory services, credit access, mechanization, and market linkages.

Accessibility: Farmers can access the network using voice commands in multiple languages, including Hindi, Bangla, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, and Punjabi.

Open and Decentralized: Unlike traditional marketplace apps, this network is designed to be open and decentralized, allowing various service providers to join and connect with farmers.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): The network leverages Google Cloud’s DPI-in-a-box offering and the Beckn Protocol to enable interoperability and decentralized discovery of products and services.

This initiative is a significant step towards enhancing the agricultural ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh and empowering farmers with the tools and resources they need to thrive.

Key Similarities Between UPONA & ONDC

Open and Decentralized: Both networks are designed to be open and decentralized, allowing various service providers to join and connect with users.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Both initiatives leverage DPI to enhance service delivery and accessibility.

Interoperability: Both networks use open standards to enable interoperability and decentralized discovery of products and services.

Focus on Farmers and Small Businesses: While the UP Open Network for Agriculture focuses on farmers, ONDC aims to support small businesses and retailers by providing a unified platform for e-commerce.

Key Differences Between UPONA & ONDC

Target Audience: The UP Open Network for Agriculture specifically targets farmers, providing services like agricultural advisory, credit access, and market linkages. ONDC, on the other hand, targets a broader audience, including small businesses and consumers, to facilitate digital commerce.

Services Offered: The UP Open Network for Agriculture offers specialized services for the agricultural sector, while ONDC focuses on creating a unified e-commerce platform for various industries.

Both initiatives are significant steps towards enhancing digital infrastructure and promoting economic growth in India.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma-backed Pai Platforms Launches New Shopping App as Part of ONDC Initiative

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder of Paytm, has backed Pai Platforms in launching a new shopping app. This app is part of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative and aims to sign up at least 10 million merchants before the end of 2025.

While Paytm itself does not own shares in Pai Platforms, the 'PaiPai' app has been developed by Paytm's parent entity, One97 Communications. The launch represents a significant move in the e-commerce space, especially considering the previous experience with Paytm Mall and the renewed interest in ONDC among tech companies.

Pai Platforms' launch of a new shopping app is part of the broader Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative, which aims to democratize digital commerce and reduce the dominance of a few large e-commerce entities.

The app seeks to onboard a significant number of merchants to expand its reach and influence in the e-commerce sector. It's an interesting development in the digital commerce landscape, especially with the backing of a prominent figure like Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

Paytm E-commerce Private Limited (PEPL) owns Paytm Mall, and in May 2022, the company announced that it will focus on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) as its main focus. The partnership with ONDC aims to create a sustainable business and democratize the purchase and sale of goods in India.

This year in February, Paytm E-commerce renamed as Pai Platforms, acquires ONDC seller firm Bitsila. Bitsila was launched in 2020, and is among top three seller platforms on ONDC. It supports marquee brands like McDonald's, BigBasket on ONDC.

The rebranding of Paytm E-commerce Private Limited to Pai Platforms and the strategic acquisition of Bitsila, a Bangalore-based seller-side platform on ONDC, suggest that Pai Platforms is positioning itself to be a strong player in this competitive landscape. However, it's worth noting that Pai Platforms predecessor, Paytm Mall, faced setbacks despite substantial investment, highlighting the challenges in the e-commerce sector.

Besides, Pai Platforms also faces competition in the e-commerce space, particularly within the ONDC framework. One notable competitor is PhonePe, which launched a shopping app called Pincode. The ONDC initiative itself has seen significant growth, with a sixfold increase in monthly retail purchases, indicating a competitive and rapidly evolving market.

Pai Platforms and PhonePe's Pincode app are both part of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative, but they have some key differences. While Pai Platforms is integrated into the Paytm ecosystem, PhonePe launched Pincode as a separate app. This strategic choice means that Pincode starts from scratch in terms of user base, whereas Pai Platforms can leverage Paytm's existing users.

PhonePe's decision to launch a separate app for ONDC could be seen as a move to not dilute its main app's user experience, which is centered around quick and efficient payments. In contrast, Pai Platforms seems to be more directly integrated with Paytm's broader digital commerce strategy.

Meta Partners ONDC To Enable Small Businesses Build Conversational Buyer-Seller Experiences on WhatsApp

• Meta will enable and educate small businesses, through an ecosystem of our business and technical solution providers capable of building seamless conversational buyer and seller experiences on WhatsApp.
• With you ONDC partnership, Meta will digitally upskill five lakh MSMEs through the Meta Small Business Academy.

Meta, the parent of social media giant Facebook, today announced its partnership with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to enable and educate small businesses in building seamless conversational buyer and seller experiences on WhatsApp through an ecosystem of Meta's business and technical solution providers. As part of this collaboration, ONDC will help these business solution providers become seller apps, bringing the businesses they service onto the ONDC network and helping them drive commerce.

To kick-off the partnership, over the next two years, Meta will also digitally upskill 5 lakh MSMEs through the Meta Small Business Academy. Born out of Meta's commitment to up-skill 10 million small businesses across the country, Meta Small Business Academy offers a certification to empower entrepreneurs and marketers to gain critical digital marketing skills to grow on our apps.

“At ONDC, we are committed to accelerating and democratizing the digital landscape and towards that, we aim to empower MSMEs, help them build digital visibility, and boost their businesses. Today, for any business to grow, it is critical for them to market themselves and reach a wider audience. Our partnership with Meta will not only digitally upskill these businesses but will also enable them to connect with a customer base far and wide. I am confident that our collaborative efforts will pave the way for millions of small businesses by providing them with the right impetus for growth.” – T Koshy, MD & CEO of ONDC. 

“India’s digital transformation story is unfolding at a revolutionary pace, and for this growth to continue, we need the right ecosystem and partnerships that enable millions of small businesses to build and deepen their digital presence. Meta has been a frontrunner in partnering with the government and the industry to advance digital inclusion, especially for MSMEs across India. Our partnership with ONDC builds on supporting the government’s vision for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and furthering our ongoing commitment to skilling small businesses and aiding this rapid digital transformation and growth story in the country.” – Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President, Meta in India. 

As part of the partnership, Meta will also support Sahayak, ONDC’s WhatApp chatbot, in enhancing the services offered on the bot as the single point of seller communication and customer communication for ONDC.

Earlier this year, Meta launched ‘WhatsApp Se Wyapaar’ program to upskill 10 million traders across 29 states in 11 Indian languages on the WhatsApp Business app. Today, there are more than 200 million users of the WhatsApp Business app across the world, and more than 60% of people on WhatsApp in India message a business account.

In April this year, Meta partnered with NIESBUD, AICTE and CBSE, to train students, Entrepreneurs, Startups and small-businesses in Digital Marketing. The partnership agreement was inked through Ministry of Education, Ministry Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

Coca-Cola Launches Its Marketplace on ONDC – 'Coke Shop'

American beverage giant Coca-Cola's India unit has announced that it has joined the government-initiated Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), while also launching its own marketplace, the 'Coke Shop', on the platform.

The initial association with ONDC is being supported through SellerApp, which will help the company leverage the ONDC network with its data-driven insights, market intelligence, and strategies.

“Through the ‘Coke Shop’ marketplace model, Coca-Cola is benefitting retailers by enabling them with another channel to sell their products whilst simultaneously facilitating multiple touchpoints for consumers to purchase from. Retailers who have not been able to access major e-commerce platforms will now have an opportunity to regain customers and cater to a wider audience,” the beverage major said in a statement.

The company joins a slew of FMCG companies that have come onboard ONDC. The other FMCG brands that have joined ONDC include Hindustan Unilever, Polycab,Me n Moms, Mama feast, BRBChips, Ustraa, Sublime, Fackelman, Keventer, Brill, Hyderabad Foods, Healthkart, Nourish Mantra, Buy One Gram, Selzer, and Dugar Oversees.

Coca-Cola rival PepsiCo had already joined ONDC in August this year.

Coca-Cola's bottling partner in India, Moon Beverages Limited, will be the ‘Network Participant’ for its offerings on the platform, ensuring consumers have seamless access to its beverage portfolio, said the company in a release.

"We are happy to see Coca-Cola join onto our network on this transformative journey and give consumers an exceptional shopping experience while offering expanded choices for buyers on the network,” said T Koshy, managing director and chief executive officer, ONDC.

Coca Cola India currently has a strong network of close to ~ 4 million retail outlets across the country.

Mahindra Logistics Launches Services On ONDC Network

Mahindra Logistics Limited, one of India's leading integrated third-party logistics service providers launches services on ONDC Network and commences its operations. Mahindra Logistics will provide same-day & next-day intra-city pick-up and delivery services to all sellers on ONDC. The company will extend this to a full range of services including inter-city express parcel, full truck load and mobility services. Sellers on the ONDC network will have access to Mahindra Logistics’ entire range of services enabling intra-city and inter-city delivery in up to 19,000 pin codes.

Efficient logistics is a key enabler for members on the ONDC network. Mahindra Logistics’ services provide a full stack of technology, providing D2C brands and sellers with rapid integration and fulfilment services. As part of this initiative, Mahindra Logistics is also committed to collaborating with other members of the ONDC Network in providing solutions to empower local businesses.

Commenting on this integration, Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan, MD & Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Logistics Ltd., said, "ONDC is a path breaking attempt program to empower and democratize local commerce. Efficient logistics is a key enabler to harnessing the full potential of ONDC and we are pleased to join the network. We share ONDC’s vision of accelerating commerce and are pleased to partner with them on a range of services. We provide customers a range of hyper-local and inter-city transport and mobility solutions and technology integration with their end customers. Our aim to accelerate commerce by delivering innovative logistics solutions on the platform will ultimately benefit both, businesses and consumers.”

T Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC, said, “Logistics is a key element for the successful adoption of ecommerce across the country. Especially, for small and medium enterprises this will be a key enabler for enhancing their reach. With a major player like Mahindra Logistics coming onboard onto ONDC Network, it will add significant logistics options across the country for diverse merchants that are part of the ONDC ecosystem''.

ONDC has created an Open Network for seamless logistics operations, opening up opportunities for increased business, better capacity utilization, and a stronger brand presence. This collaboration aligns with the Indian government's vision of promoting a fair and open digital commerce net

About Mahindra Logistics

Mahindra Logistics Limited is an integrated third-party logistics (3PL) service provider, specializing in supply chain management and enterprise mobility. Mahindra Logistics serves over 400+ corporate customers across various industries like Automobile, Engineering, Consumer Goods and E-commerce. The Company pursues an “asset-light” business model, providing customised and technology enabled solutions that span across the supply chain and people mobility services. 

For more information, visit www.mahindralogistics.com

About Mahindra

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate.

The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise. Learn more about Mahindra on www.mahindra.com / Twitter and Facebook: @MahindraRise/ For updates subscribe to https://www.mahindra.com/news-room

About ONDC:

Incorporated on December 31, 2021, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a Section 8 company, is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, to create a facilitative model that revolutionizes digital commerce, giving greater thrust to the penetration of retail e-commerce in India. ONDC is not an application, platform, intermediary, or software but a set of specifications designed to foster open, unbundled, and interoperable open Networks.

Peak XV backed Plotch.ai and IDFC First Bank's Payment Solution Nodepay Goes Live in ONDC using NBBL's Payment Rails

ONDC clocks the first network payment transaction via Nodepay using NBBL.

Plotch.ai, the largest ONDC rails  infrastructure company, and IDFC First Bank, a fast-growing leading digital age bank in India, have announced that their payment solution Nodepay for ONDC network payments has gone live.

Nodepay, a one-of-a-kind ONDC-specific payment product, had been launched by Plotch.ai and IDFC First Bank earlier this year. On July 28, 2023, a payment of Rs. 197.74 for a jewellery product was initiated through Nodepay by Craftsvilla buyer app to the Ideamasters seller app which was successfully credited.

This was the first real-time and live payment transaction in ONDC as per RSP framework which makes it an ONDC-First. The transaction was settled using NOCS, the settlement platform developed by NBBL. This further solidifies the leadership of Plotch.ai and IDFC First Bank in ONDC technology and fintech domains respectively.

Nodepay is based on the RSP framework of ONDC. Through Nodepay, a buyer app or seller app can pay to another network participant in ONDC seamlessly through a payment switch. Also, Nodepay will give detailed reconciliation to network participants so that they can validate the payments easily. Later Nodepay will also enable payments to sellers also which will help build trust from smaller merchants and retailers as they will receive payments in almost real time. Nodepay will support payments in multiple domains of ONDC including retail, logistics, fintech and mobility.

On this development, Manoj Gupta, CEO of Plotch.ai, says, "This is an amazing milestone for ONDC, NBBL, Plotch.ai and IDFC First bank as together we have given motion to a payment channel which will define how billions of payments will flow in ONDC network every day. We also want to thank the ONDC, IDFC First Bank and NBBL teams for their efforts in making it live."

“We are very excited about this development and believe that together with Plotch.ai & IDFC First Bank we can enable payments to flow seamlessly between buyer apps and seller apps in the ONDC network. Our settlement platform, NOCS boosts trust in ONDC transactions and we look forward to enabling it further with settlement products curated for ONDC network”, says Noopur Chaturvedi, Chief Executive Officer, NBBL (NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd).

“Payments is a critical part of any digital public goods rails infrastructure and for ONDC also seamless payments is a critical success factor for scaling transactions in the network. We have empowered network participants to pay each other via ONDC RSP framework which was released earlier this year. Today's development is a culmination of that effort and we are proud of this achievement ”, says Mr Nitin Mishra, Chief Technology Officer, ONDC.

Late last month, Plotch.ai had raised its pre-seed funding led by Antler India,along with participation from Peak XV, Global Founders Capital, and Apoletto.

Plotch.ai expects to offer Nodepay to all buyer and seller apps in ONDC by the end of July 2023. Nodepay will use NBBL as a primary settlement agency for all their node-to-node payments.

About Plotch.ai

Plotch.ai is the largest ONDC rails infrastructure company in India which is helping enterprises to join the ONDC network with an innovative suite of technology products. Plotch's product suite includes a buyer and seller app node solution Nodeapp, node to node payment solution Nodepay, an ONDC-enabled Kirana App and a ONDC enabled CRM solution Nodedesk. Plotch.ai customers include large enterprises like IDFC First Bank and Meesho.

ONDC Network Partners, Delhivery, and Mystore Collaborate to Drive Growth for Rural Entrepreneurs

Delhivery Ltd., India's largest fully-integrated logistics provider, has partnered with Mystore, an ONDC-powered marketplace for Indian sellers, to provide express parcel shipping for rural entrepreneurs nationwide.

ONDC (Open Network For Digital Commerce) is a government-led initiative to create an open, secure, and interoperable network for digital commerce in India. Through ONDC, Mystore's e-commerce platform is leveraging Delhivery's extensive pan-India network of over 18,500 pin codes to offer affordable and reliable shipping to rural entrepreneurs.

Healthline Foods, a Srinagar-based healthy food brand, is using the services of both enablers to expand its reach to Maharashtra and other parts of India.

Commenting on this, Mudassir Ahmed, Co-founder of Healthline Foods, said, "As a Kashmir-based seller, both discoverability and logistics can be challenging, but through ONDC and enablers like Delhivery and Mystore, we've successfully fulfilled orders in many parts of India. For sellers like us, democratizing commerce and easy partner access has been a growth driver."

Coonoor-based Honeybee Tea Company sells fresh Nilgiri products such as tea, honey, essential oils, and TODA embroidery.

Speaking on this, Dileep Ramu, Chief Executive Officer of Honeybee Tea Company, said, "It is the power of digitalization and the strength of collaborations that a small retail store in Coonoor now caters to the customers in India's biggest metros. ONDC and its partners have created new revenue streams for us entrepreneurs and given people across India access to unadulterated, fresh, and unique products to enhance their lifestyles."

Commenting on the partnership, T. Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC, added, "The collaboration between Mystore and Delhivery has the potential to drive economic growth and create new opportunities for businesses emerging from remote areas. This will be a key driver in enabling overall development and social upliftment in rural communities."

Kriti Aggarwal, Co-Founder of Mystore, said, "We are an ONDC-connected Marketplace providing seamless onboarding to sellers and a convenient online shopping experience (across categories) to customers pan India. We are proud to be the digital commerce solution provider for farmer producers. With our collaboration with Delhivery, we are now enabling FPOs to deliver their products directly to buyers in tier-1 and tier-2 cities. This strategic alliance between Mystore and Delhivery expands rural entrepreneurs' reach, boosts their confidence, and increases revenue."

Commenting on the partnership, Ajith Pai, Chief Operating Officer, Delhivery, said, "ONDC's pathbreaking design and execution promises to democratize e-commerce in India, transforming the growth paradigm for millions of small businesses. Delhivery, with its extensive pan-India network, technology, and data-driven backbone, is the ideal partner for ONDC's participants. With seamless integration across our different service lines, we are excited to be part of this transformative journey being chartered by ONDC."

About Delhivery

Delhivery Ltd. is India's largest fully integrated logistics services provider. With its nationwide network covering over 18,500 pin codes, the company provides a full suite of logistics services such as express parcel transportation, PTL freight, TL freight, cross-border, supply chain, and technology services. Delhivery has successfully fulfilled over 2 billion shipments since inception and today works with over 27,000 customers, including large & small e-commerce participants, SMEs, and other enterprises & brands. For more information about Delhivery, please visit www.delhivery.com.

About Mystore

Mystore® is an ONDC-connected marketplace helping SMEs and enterprise brands leverage the ONDC network to accelerate their growth. With its Mystore Seller App and Multilingual Buyer app for ONDC, Mystore enables seamless selling and buying on the Open Network for Digital Commerce. Mystore's cutting-edge e-commerce solutions are built on StoreHippo® - the leading enterprise e-commerce platform powering top enterprise brands across the globe.

PhonePe's ONDC App Pincode Surpasses 50K Installs on Play Store and Achieves

The app ranks among the top 50 most downloaded apps on the Play Store and the top 10 on the App Store.

Pincode is currently available in Bangalore, with more locations set to launch soon.

Pincode, a leading shopping app on the ONDC platform, today announced significant milestones. Within just one month of its launch, the app has surpassed 50,000 installs on the Play Store. Pincode has quickly risen to become one of the top 50 Android apps on the Play Store and is also among the top 10 apps on the App Store.

In addition to this milestone, Pincode has been processing over 5,000 orders per day, showcasing strong customer preference and the app's growing popularity in Bangalore, where it currently serves customers. Users in Bangalore are utilizing the app to buy daily necessities such as groceries and order food. Pincode’s success can be attributed to its mission of promoting local commerce and digitally connecting consumers with their favorite supermarkets and restaurants, while offering the convenience of online ordering, attractive discounts, and hassle-free refunds and returns.

The Pincode app, built on the ONDC platform, is poised to revolutionize the way consumers shop by bridging the gap between offline and online shopping experiences. By enabling every Indian shopkeeper digitally, Pincode aims to empower local businesses and ensure their participation in the 21st-century e[1]commerce revolution. The platform's success will also contribute to creating sustainable employment opportunities for numerous individuals, attracting more small merchants to the ecosystem.

"We are thrilled to witness the rapid growth and acceptance of the Pincode app among consumers," said Lalit Singh, General Manager, Pincode. "The ONDC platform has emerged as a game changer for India's local commerce, and we are delighted that Pincode is leading the charge on this. The strong customer preference we are seeing for the Pincode app is a testament to the seamless and convenient shopping experience we offer. Pincode remains committed to enhancing the shopping experience for its users by consistently expanding its selection of stores and adding more categories within the app.’’

The Pincode app will be available in additional cities across India over the next few weeks.

About Pincode: Pincode is a shopping app from PhonePe that offers a revolutionary new approach to e-commerce. Designed on the ONDC network, Pincode places the local stores and sellers at the forefront of the digital shopping growth story. With Pincode, every Indian shopkeeper, regardless of their location, is digitally empowered to tap into the vast potential of e-commerce, creating unprecedented opportunities for growth, while driving innovation at scale.

NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd Launches NOCS Platform to Further Enhance the Scalability of ONDC

NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) has announced the launch of the NOCS platform to support Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) in its goal of decentralising digital commerce in India. This platform will serve as the foundation for the ONDC network enabling a smooth and secure transfer of funds for all its stakeholders.

ONDC aims to create an inclusive competitive marketplace by enhancing the participation of multifarious entities and bringing them together under one unified platform network. NBBL, with its expertise to run the national platform Bharat BillPay, has developed NOCS to aid ONDC in its mission by offering a population-scale platform to tackle the challenges posed by the increased volume of transactions occurring among different entities on the network.

NOCS will provide reconciliation and settlement services, under the guidance of RBI, for the transactions occurring on the network, assuring a timely flow of payments to network participants. NBBL is also working closely with ONDC to bring other innovations to the ecosystem and launch more value-added solutions for the customers, sellers and network participants in the foreseeable future.

Commenting on the occasion, Ms. Noopur Chaturvedi, CEO, NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd., said, “At NPCI & NBBL, we take immense pride in our role as drivers of digital payment solutions in the country. Continuing on our legacy, we have launched the NOCS platform which will support ONDC in its pursuit of democratising digital commerce in India. We believe NOCS will reinforce the trust of the stakeholders in the network, empowering merchants to evolve, thereby, elevating communities and stimulating India’s economic growth."

The NOCS platform is integrated with Banks, Tech-Fins, and E-Commerce Players to facilitate seamless flow of payments. The platform is going live soon with the first set of 5 banks on ONDC – AU Small Finance Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, IDFC First Bank, and Yes Bank.

About NPCI

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. NPCI has created a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in the country. It has changed the way payments are made in India through a bouquet of retail payment products such as RuPay card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), BHIM Aadhaar, National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC FasTag) and Bharat BillPay.

NPCI is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems through the use of technology and is relentlessly working to transform India into a G7 digital economy. It is facilitating secure payments solutions with nationwide accessibility at minimal cost in furtherance of India’s aspiration to be a fully digital society.

For more information, visit: https://www.npci.org.in/

About NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd.

NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India. It came into effect from April 1, 2021. NBBL operates Bharat BillPay Platform that processes millions of transactions in a month and has more than 20,000 billers present on its platform.

ONDC Platform Can Be A Game Changer for Many Small Businesses in India: Jayesh Ranjan

E-retail penetration is only 4.3% in India; well below China (25%), South Korea (26%), and the UK (23%): Shireesh Joshi, Business Officer, ONDC

ONDC Is the first of its kind in the world and there is no parallel to it: ONDC Official

ONDC is an answer when people cannot do physical commerce: Experts

ONDC can shape the future of not just Indian but global e-commerce space: T. Koshy, CEO of ONDC

A session on How ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) will be a game changer for your business held on Tuesday at FTCCI, Red Hills, Hyderabad.

ONDC is an open network for Digital Commerce and is a Govt of India initiative. It can be the next big revolution in Digital Commerce in India.

It is the first of its kind in the world and there is no parallel to it, said Shireesh Joshi, Chief Business Officer, ONDC.

ONDC is the response to a situation if people are confined to homes, like in the last pandemic times and could not do physical commerce, said Shireesh.

Khyati, Shireesh, Koshy and Jayesh Ranjan at the opening of the seminar on INDC

Seen participants in the seminar  HOW ONDC WILL BE A GAME CHANGER FOR YOUR BUSINESS held in FTCCI

E-retail penetration is only 4.3% in India; well below China (25%), South Korea (26%), and the UK (23%). There is a huge growth potential he observed.

India has 1.2 crore Kirana shops, but just 15000 are e-commerce enabled, which is 0.125%.

We are working towards enabling population-scale inclusion of merchants and buyers. Increasing the Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of digital transactions. Expanding the coverage of retailers using digital commerce Expanding the share of Indians using eCommerce to buy online Amplifying the geographic coverage of every domain via eCommerce, shared Mr Shireesh.

Anil Agarwal, President of FTCCI seen welcoming T Koshy, CEO of ONDC

Many industry insiders viewed it as Amazon, and Flipkart's killer when our Prime Minister Mr Modi launched it a year ago. It is like a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) , an instant real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) which has revolutionized digital transactions and many countries are trying to replicate this model. The next big thing on the making similar to that is ONDC observed speakers while interacting informally.

Open Network for Digital Commerce, is a private non-profit Section 8 company established by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Government of India to develop open e-commerce.

The Seminar was jointly organised by FTCCI, Govt of Telangana, Globallinker, and ONDC.

Addressing the 250-plus gathering Jayesh Ranjana said there are many national examples of the success of ONDC, which include Kancheepuram sarees onboarded. Kerala state is fully supportive of online stores.

Telangana State GlobalLinker started early even before ONDC started. Now 12000 MSMEs are part of Globallinker, Mr. Rajan shared.

Telangana State GlobalLinker is one of the early ONDC-compliant platforms. Any business owner can join the GlobalLinker network, create an online store in under 10 minutes and link their catalogue to the ONDC network. This is done in collaboration with the Government of Telangana said Malavika Jaggi, Director, GlobalLinker

GlobalLinker' is a Business Enablement Platform powering the growth of SMEs. It enables SMEs to 'Get Digitized' (E-Biz Card, E-Commerce Enablement); 'Get Connected' (Matchmaking) and 'Get Partner Solutions' (3rd Party Offers on Preferential Terms), she dded.

ONDC platform can be a game changer for many small businesses in India Jayesh highlighted

Nearly 25000 merchandises across India are onboarded on the ONDC platform. The traction is very good. Home-based manufacturers and entrepreneurs can take maximum advantage of the platform. Once the products are onboarded, they may face global competition. So, they must pay attention to quality, labelling and packaging. Only quality products will survive. So back-end work is also equally important, Mr Jayesh Rajan said.

Giving a welcome address Vatsala Mishra, Officer on Special Duty, Industries Department and Director MSME said India’s share of Global E-Commerce is only 1.5% in the year 2023 and will grow to 2% in the year 2030. India’s E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. Tier 2, and 3 cities continue to dominate India’s e-commerce growth in near future.

Giving Telangana Government initiatives, she said it launched Globallinker in collaboration with Digivation Digital Solutions P Ltd. to build a digital ecosystem for MSME retailers of the State, offering a range of services, either free or highly discounted compared to market standards. An AI-powered platform dedicated to serving MSMEs. It has 12,000+ registrants in Telangana. It has allowed them to network with other existing 4 Lac+ MSMEs across the world. It’s an online store builder, enabling MSMEs to digitize their business. Companies can make their store free of cost, with domain and lifelong cloud hosting. TSGL (Telangana State Global Linker) handholds these clients right from inception to execution, including integrating payment gateway & logistics on the stores informed Vatsala.

Amidst 1st lockdown (May 2020), Telangana State Govt. and GlobalLinker collaborated to launch a portal called KiranaLinker. This enabled local grocery/ kirana store owners to create their online store in under 10 minutes she said. 

Speaking on the occasion T. Koshy, CEO of ONDC said the unique platform ONDC can shape the future of the global e-commerce space.

ONDC is a unique initiative across the globe, he added. In future, every merchandise can make their catalogue visible with ONDC. He urged merchandise to join it in the early stages.

Giving his closing remarks, Anil Agarwal, President of FTCCI said, it will be a game changer for your business. Online commerce is the mainline commerce of the future. He urged participants to take advantage of first movers and join the mission and make the world discover your business.

Ms Khyati Naravane, CEO of FTCCI, ICT Committee Chair, members, guests, and government functionaries participated in the seminar. 

Meesho Joins ONDC on Mission to Democratize Internet Commerce

Vidit Aatrey, Founder & CEO - Meesho

Meesho, India’s fastest-growing internet commerce company, today announced its integration with the government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to help connect buyers with hyperlocal sellers and support India’s vision of creating an inclusive e-commerce ecosystem.

In line with Meesho’s mission to democratize internet commerce for everyone, the integration will fuel discoverability of products for consumers while creating a wider market for hyperlocal suppliers. The pilot will first be launched in Bangalore and gradually rolled out in other locations over the coming months.

With 80% of Meesho’s 14 crore annual transacting customers coming from Tier 2+ cities, the company has been instrumental in boosting access for underserved users across the country. More than 8 lakh sellers are currently registered on the platform, of which ~40% are from Tier 2 cities and beyond. Meesho has always focused on making e-commerce more inclusive and the integration with ONDC will amplify the company’s efforts in that direction. 

Vidit Aatrey, Founder and CEO, Meesho, said, “With a shared goal to empower small sellers and give a fillip to hyperlocal businesses, the integration will boost our efforts to democratize internet commerce for everyone. ONDC will also play an important role in expanding India’s e-commerce sector by bringing more consumers online. We have been working closely with ONDC to ensure that the integration is smooth and the user experience remains seamless.”

T Koshy, Chief Executive Officer at Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) commented, “At ONDC, our aim is to create an open e-commerce ecosystem that caters to one and all. We are pleased to onboard Meesho as its deep capabilities in small towns will set the network flywheel in motion and take ONDC closer to our goals. E-commerce is still small in India and new-age platforms like Meesho will be strong network participants for ONDC in this journey.”

About Meesho:

 Meesho is India’s fastest growing internet commerce platform. With a vision to enable 100 million small businesses, including individual entrepreneurs, to succeed online, Meesho is democratizing internet commerce and bringing a range of products and new customers online. The Meesho marketplace provides small businesses, which includes SMBs, MSMEs and individual entrepreneurs, access to millions of customers, selection from over 700+ categories, pan-India logistics, payment services and customer support capabilities to efficiently run their businesses on the Meesho ecosystem.

Ecom Express To Integrate with ONDC for To Offer Logistics Services To Small Sellers

The Company will provide end-to-end logistics services to small sellers and retailers on the ONDC network

Ecom Express Limited, one of India’s leading technology-enabled integrated logistics service providers, today announced that it is in an advanced stage of integration with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to provide end-to-end logistics services to small sellers and retailers on the ONDC network.

The Company will be among the first logistics service providers to be available on the ONDC network, potentially enabling millions of SMEs and retailers across India to be able to accept orders from their customers across the country and deliver through the Company’s network.

Dipanjan Banerjee, Chief Business Officer, Ecom Express, said, “We are pleased to partner with ONDC to drive the digital economy forward. The SMEs and retailers, especially in the last two years, have shown great tenacity and resilience in adapting online, transforming their business growth with access to a wider market. As an integrated logistics service provider to the e-commerce industry, we are here to simplify logistics for millions of retailers and small sellers by providing shipping convenience and empowering them to make their products available to consumers anywhere in the country.’’

T. Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC, said, “The integration of Ecom Express on the ONDC network will help increase logistics choices for buyers and sellers and help expand reach of ONDC. This integration will help the retailers and SMEs to expand their e-commerce business to wider market opportunities.”

He further added, “On the ONDC network, either buyer or seller can select a logistics provider. A retailer can act both as seller-side participant in the retail domain, and also as buyer-side participant in the logistics domain to provide a complete and seamless experience for the buyer.”

Ecom Express has a fleet of nearly 50,000 delivery personnel and provides e-commerce shipment pickup and delivery service in 27,000+ PIN codes in 2750+ cities across 28 states. Currently, the Company’s personnel pick up shipments from over 2.9 lac unique points, which include warehouses, shops, residences, etc. With around 2 million shipment deliveries daily, Ecom Express offers pre-paid, cash-on-delivery, reverse & quality check reverse logistics services to over 1.5 lac sellers.

Sellers will also benefit from real-time in-transit information as they get direct control over their shipped orders through a dedicated state-of-the-art dashboard, and closure on their shipments within the Company’s supply chain.

In 2021, Ecom Express launched a self-sign-up portal called ‘E-zippie’ to onboard micro, small, and medium enterprises in under 30-minutes and benefit from its nationwide network and reliable services.

Ecom Express Limited is one of India’s leading end-to-end technologies enabled logistics solutions providers to the Indian e-commerce industry. Headquartered in Gurugram, Ecom Express was incorporated in 2012 by T. A. Krishnan, Manju Dhawan, K. Satyanarayana, and Late Sanjeev Saxena with their 100+ years of cumulative experience in the Indian logistics and distribution industry. Ecom Express has a presence in all 28 states of the country and operates across 27,000+ PIN codes in India. Through its deep reach strategy, the company has the capability to deliver to 95%+ of India’s population. For more information, please visit: www.ecomexpress.in

About ONDC

Incorporated on 31st December 2021, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a Section 8 company is an initiative of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India build envisioned to create a facilitative model to revolutionize digital commerce, giving greater thrust to penetration of retail e-commerce in India. ONDC is not an application, platform, intermediary, or software, but a set of specifications designed to foster open, unbundled, and interoperable open networks thereby eliminating the dependency on a single platform.

Major ONDC objectives are as follows: 

1. Democratisation and decentralization of eCommerce
2. Inclusivity and access for sellers, especially small and medium enterprises as well as local businesses
3. Increased choices and independency for consumers.

SIDBI and ONDC Ink MoU to Accelerate E-Commerce for Small Industries

SIDBI and ONDC ink MoU to accelerate E-Commerce for Small Industries

Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) in partnership with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is aiming to democratise and accelerate the participation of MSMEs.

ONDC, a first-of-its-kind initiative to democratize the country's e-commerce ecosystem has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SIDBI, the principal financial institution set up under an Act of Parliament for promotion, financing and development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector and for coordination of functions of institutions engaged in similar activities. The partnership is aimed to change the landscape of MSMEs by bringing them into the ONDC network and accelerating their participation in e-commerce.

SIDBI and ONDC ink MoU to accelerate E-Commerce for Small Industries

The association between ONDC and SIDBI will establish a programmatic approach for MSMEs where sessions will be held first to educate them about ONDC, then masterclass sessions on ONDC protocol and MVP definition, followed by incentivised accelerator programs and finishing with participants and their ecosystems going live and being able to transact

The MoU, signed by Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann, CMD, SIDBI and Shri T Koshy, MD&CEO, ONDC, provides for several collaborative efforts by SIDBI and ONDC in helping MSMEs access open network e-commerce platform proposed by ONDC

T. Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC, said, “We are building a network of networks and through this MoU, we will connect the SIDBI network with ONDC, which will revolutionize the ecosystem of small industries. This initiative will be a driving force to initiate the participation of the small industries across the country onto e-commerce on a larger scale and enable their growth.

S.Ramann, CMD, SIDBI, said “ SIDBI is very keen to ensure success of this important national initiative and it will leverage its strong relationships with all major MSME industrial clusters in the country starting with Morbi, Coimbatore and Ludhiana for engagement with ONDC. SIDBI will also facilitate engagement of ONDC with its network of partner grassroots agencies, inter-alia, working for market access to informal enterprises. Three partners being introduced to ONDC are Annapurna Finance Pvt. Ltd, Access Livelihoods Group and the women co-operative ‘Looms of Ladakh’. SIDBI will also use its strong presence in fintech ecosystem to explore e commerce embedded financing solutions.

About ONDC

Incorporated on 31st December 2021, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a Section 8 company is an initiative of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India build envisioned to create a facilitative model to revolutionize digital commerce, giving greater thrust to penetration of retail e-commerce in India. ONDC is not an application, platform, intermediary, or software, but a set of specifications designed to foster open, unbundled, and interoperable open networks thereby eliminating the dependency on a single platform.

Major ONDC objectives are as follows:

1. Democratisation and decentralization of eCommerce
2. Inclusivity and access for sellers, especially small and medium enterprises as well as local businesses
3. Increased choices and independency for consumers

SIDBI Acquires Stake in Digital Infra Framework ONDC, for Rs.10 Cr.

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), an India's apex Financial Institution for financing and development of MSMEs, has acquired 7.84 % stake in the open public digital infrastructure framework entity named Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) through an investment of Rs 10 crore.

The DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) has launched Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to control digital monopolies and make the industry more inclusive for buyers and sellers alike. It is a government initiative to promote open networks for all aspects of the exchange of goods and services over digital networks. 

ONDC has been recently incorporated on December 30, 2021, with an objective to create a first of its kind open public digital infrastructure to develop and transform the Indian digital commerce ecosystem for both goods and services. 

Shri S Ramann, CMD, SIDBI said “We are confident that our investment in ONDC will help develop digital infrastructure which aims to democratize the digital commerce in the country.  The infrastructure created would serve as a public good by augmenting market access for MSMEs, particularly micro enterprises and retailers by lowering cost and effort for them to onboard the e-commerce market places. SIDBI, along with its network of Institutions, shall actively engage with ONDC to make this ambitious national project a success.”