100 cities in six months: Govt’s ambitious ONDC pilots today

What is the News?

The government of India’s ambitious Open Network for Digital Commerce’s(ONDCs) implementation is set to begin this week. It will be checked how the technology-enabled infrastructure works, thereby making processes more robust, before it is officially launched.

What is Open Network for Digital Commerce(ONDC)?

ONDC has been set up as a private sector-led non-profit organization.

Aim: To promote open networks for all aspects of the exchange of goods and services over digital networks.

Nodal Ministry: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Implementing Agency: Quality Council of India (QCI).

Significance: The network will provide access to businesses by increasing its discoverability at a low cost and will cover retail, mobility, hospitality, food delivery, wholesale trade, and tourism. It will support small, traditional retailers while curbing digital monopolies.

Click Here to read more about ONDC

How will the ONDC pilot initiative work?

Source: Business Standard

As many as 150 retailers will participate in the pilot initiative that will be launched in the five cities.

Five seller platforms will be participating in this exercise and onboard sellers/retailers on the ONDC-compliant application(app), giving them visibility.

Similarly, a buyer-side app, which in this case will be Paytm will also be connected to the ONDC architecture.

Delivery or logistics providers — for delivery of goods — are also being onboarded.

Source: The post is based on an article “100 cities in six months: Govt’s ambitious ONDC pilots today” published in Business Standard on 28th April 2022.