Know More About ONDC's Major Collaborations

India's e-commerce industry is undergoing a major transformation, led by initiatives like ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce), which was introduced around 2 years ago. By creating a shared platform and teaming up with big tech and consumer goods companies, ONDC is helping grow online businesses easier. ONDC's partnerships aim to create a fair and inclusive digital commerce network where both small businesses and big companies can succeed.

Google and ONDC: A Dream Collaboration

In June 2023, ONDC and Google Cloud had launched the Open Commerce solution, an open-source platform that helps buyers and sellers easily join the ONDC network. The platform simplifies onboarding with tools for managing catalogs and transactions, and over 20 e-commerce companies have already adopted it.

India's e-commerce industry is undergoing a major transformation, led by initiatives like ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce), which was introduced around 2 years ago. By creating a shared platform and teaming up with big tech and consumer goods companies, ONDC is helping grow online businesses easier. ONDC's partnerships aim to create a fair and inclusive digital commerce network where both small businesses and big companies can succeed.

Google and ONDC: A Dream Collaboration

In June 2023, ONDC and Google Cloud had launched the Open Commerce solution, an open-source platform that helps buyers and sellers easily join the ONDC network. The platform simplifies onboarding with tools for managing catalogs and transactions, and over 20 e-commerce companies have already adopted it.

Google also launched the "Build for Bharat" hackathon, aimed at improving India’s e-commerce with solutions for tracking, inventory management, and AI-based customer experiences.

The ONDC-Google Cloud partnership also uses AI to help small businesses with voice-based transactions, product catalog translation, and AI-generated product descriptions. After the success of UPI’s Tez, Google started talks to integrate Google Shopping with ONDC.

Collaborations with Other Tech Companies

Meta is currently working with ONDC to support 500,000 small businesses over the next two years. Through the Meta Small Business Academy, these businesses will learn essential digital skills to improve their online presence and thrive in the digital economy. This partnership also includes ONDC's Sahayak WhatsApp chatbot, which is making it easier for sellers to get support and assistance about ONDC whenever needed.

Google also launched the "Build for Bharat" hackathon, aimed at improving India’s e-commerce with solutions for tracking, inventory management, and AI-based customer experiences.

The ONDC-Google Cloud partnership also uses AI to help small businesses with voice-based transactions, product catalog translation, and AI-generated product descriptions. After the success of UPI’s Tez, Google started talks to integrate Google Shopping with ONDC.

Collaborations with Other Tech Companies

Meta is currently working with ONDC to support 500,000 small businesses over the next two years. Through the Meta Small Business Academy, these businesses will learn essential digital skills to improve their online presence and thrive in the digital economy. This partnership also includes ONDC's Sahayak WhatsApp chatbot, which is making it easier for sellers to get support and assistance about ONDC whenever needed.

Microsoft is also playing a key role by planning on bringing a social shopping app to India through ONDC. This app will help customers easily compare prices, making it more accessible for small businesses to reach new customers. Microsoft is also providing a toolkit to help sellers join the ONDC platform more easily, promoting inclusivity and allowing more small and medium businesses to take part in digital commerce. Microsoft and Oracle are helping create tools like a reputation index, and an online dispute resolution system.

Amazon has also committed to working with ONDC to digitize Kirana stores in early 2023. On the other hand, Flipkart is expanding into food delivery with ONDC, aiming to compete with Zomato and Swiggy, and will let users order food along with other products starting in late 2024. Paytm is promoting digital payments for small businesses, while Reliance Retail is connecting physical stores with online platforms to improve shopping. Razorpay is adding a payment service to ONDC to make transactions easier for buyers, sellers, and logistics partners. It will show all transactions in one place and keep a record of each one to help solve any future issues or disputes.

Microsoft is also playing a key role by planning on bringing a social shopping app to India through ONDC. This app will help customers easily compare prices, making it more accessible for small businesses to reach new customers. Microsoft is also providing a toolkit to help sellers join the ONDC platform more easily, promoting inclusivity and allowing more small and medium businesses to take part in digital commerce. Microsoft and Oracle are helping create tools like a reputation index, and an online dispute resolution system.

Amazon has also committed to working with ONDC to digitize Kirana stores in early 2023. On the other hand, Flipkart is expanding into food delivery with ONDC, aiming to compete with Zomato and Swiggy, and will let users order food along with other products starting in late 2024. Paytm is promoting digital payments for small businesses, while Reliance Retail is connecting physical stores with online platforms to improve shopping. Razorpay is adding a payment service to ONDC to make transactions easier for buyers, sellers, and logistics partners. It will show all transactions in one place and keep a record of each one to help solve any future issues or disputes.

FMCG and Banking Collaborations

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) joined ONDC to reach more customers and reduce reliance on big e-commerce platforms, aiming for direct customer engagement. Reliance Retail is also presently working on connecting its physical stores with ONDC to offer a smooth shopping experience that combines online convenience with offline trust.

Karnataka Bank has teamed up with ONDC in August 2024 to help small and medium businesses (SMEs) avail loans within 5 minutes. Morgan Stanley is also backing ONDC by offering financial technology solutions to improve e-commerce. Its focus is on helping businesses access the ONDC platform more effectively, providing them with better access to funding and resources.

FMCG and Banking Collaborations

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) joined ONDC to reach more customers and reduce reliance on big e-commerce platforms, aiming for direct customer engagement. Reliance Retail is also presently working on connecting its physical stores with ONDC to offer a smooth shopping experience that combines online convenience with offline trust.

Karnataka Bank has teamed up with ONDC in August 2024 to help small and medium businesses (SMEs) avail loans within 5 minutes. Morgan Stanley is also backing ONDC by offering financial technology solutions to improve e-commerce. Its focus is on helping businesses access the ONDC platform more effectively, providing them with better access to funding and resources.

(Credit: Open Designs)

What These Collaborations Mean for the Future

In conclusion, ONDC is working with different companies across a variety of sectors to make online buying and selling easier.

These partnerships mean local shops can now sell to people across different regions more easily, with technologies and brands they are already familiar with and trust. For instance: companies like Shiprocket will be simplifying logistics and Paytm would be making digital payments faster and more secure, sellers on ONDC will experience seamless operations, making it easier to reach customers across the country. With better technology for all the steps along the way, running an online store is becoming simpler and cheaper for sellers who want to scale their small businesses.

There is good news for shoppers too: more businesses means more choices and better prices. ONDC essentially wants to create an online marketplace where small and big sellers can both find success, making digital shopping fairer for everyone.

(Credit: Open Designs)

What These Collaborations Mean for the Future

In conclusion, ONDC is working with different companies across a variety of sectors to make online buying and selling easier.

These partnerships mean local shops can now sell to people across different regions more easily, with technologies and brands they are already familiar with and trust. For instance: companies like Shiprocket will be simplifying logistics and Paytm would be making digital payments faster and more secure, sellers on ONDC will experience seamless operations, making it easier to reach customers across the country. With better technology for all the steps along the way, running an online store is becoming simpler and cheaper for sellers who want to scale their small businesses.

There is good news for shoppers too: more businesses means more choices and better prices. ONDC essentially wants to create an online marketplace where small and big sellers can both find success, making digital shopping fairer for everyone.

Know More About ONDC's Major Collaborations

Know More About ONDC's Major Collaborations