Consumers in Bengaluru to experience and shape ONDC’s new e-commerce revolution

ONDC network to start Beta Testing with consumers from 30th September in 16 pin codes

In a significant milestone, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an initiative of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, will progressively open its network to consumers via participant applications in 16 pin codes spread across Bengaluru starting 30th September. The objective of the Beta Test is to allow consumers to experience the network for the first time and gather feedback which will help further refine the network before a pan-India roll-out.

To begin with, consumers can place their orders in two categories – groceries and restaurants through buyer apps participating on the ONDC network.

ONDC’s debut in the city of Bengaluru is the first-step in making the entire eCommerce landscape more inclusive, accessible and experience-driven for all consumers with every seller being visible to every buyer.

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.

Read also - [Funding alert] FourKites raises $10 mn From Japanese Investor Mitsui

In the ONDC terminology, ‘buyer apps’ refers to applications or websites that enable consumers to shop from all sellers available on ONDC. At the start of the Beta Test, consumers can shop online from buyer apps like Mystore, PayTM, and Spicemoney.

‘Seller apps’ are applications or websites that enable sellers to join the network making their catalogues and inventory visible to buyers. Bizom, Digiit, Enstore by Innobits, eSamudaay, eVitalrx, Go Frugal, GrowthFalcons, Mystore, nStore, Seller App, Uengage and Ushop are the seller apps that are participating in the Beta Test.

Dunzo, Loadshare and Shiprocket are providing logistics services and Protean eGov Technologies Ltd (Formerly NSDL e-Gov) is providing gateway services.

Now Floats and Plotch are technology service providers, facilitating buyer and seller apps to join the ONDC network.

As various businesses continue to onboard the network, more buyers, sellers, technology service providers, categories, and pin codes will be added progressively. 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.

Read also - Elev8 Venture Partners announces $200 million fund

T. Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC, said, “This is a milestone for ONDC and e-commerce in India. ONDC will democratise the e-commerce ecosystem by allowing all sellers to access all buyers and all buyers to access all sellers. Even for the Beta Test in Bengaluru, we have chosen the most difficult categories; groceries and restaurants. We are confident this Beta Test will give us important insights which will help us further refine our playbook before a pan-India rollout.”

To build trust amongst consumers, sellers, and Network Participants (Buyer Apps, Seller Apps & Gateways) in the open network, ONDC has consulted current ecosystem and experts as well as examined best practices for adapting and evolving the best approach to build trust in an unbundled decentralised network. This is explained in a paper that is available now for public consultation on the official social media handles of DPIIT, ONDC and on www.ondc.org.

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, envisioned to create a facilitative model to revolutionise 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 decentralisation 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