| Introduction: Give a brief description about ONDC. Body: Highlight the challenges and benefits related to ONDC. Conclusion: Conclude the answer by giving positive opinion on ONDC. |
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is a government-backed, not-for-profit entity, whose funders include the Quality Council of India, the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), several financial institutions including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and Kotak Bank. It aims to promote open networks for all aspects of the exchange of goods and services over digital or electronic networks. It is being developed in response to the existing duopoly of both Amazon and Flipkart in e-commerce to provide an open network to buyers and sellers which can be independent of any medium. ONDC is being implemented on a pilot basis in cities like Delhi-NCR, Shillong, Bhopal & Coimbatore.
What are the intended benefits of ONDC?
- Democratize e-commerce: It provides alternatives to the existing platform-based e-commerce model and brings a new “open network model” to the Indian market. The purpose of the project is to ensure that buyers and sellers in the e-commerce market can transact regardless of their registration on any platform.
- Technology and Investment: Microsoft recently joined ONDC which will help small merchants to access new processes and technologies to enhance their market share. Other companies like Paytm, Phone-pe, Reliance, and Snapdeal will also join ONDC which will lead to large investments and help small merchants.
- Level playing field: Companies like Flipkart and Amazon have been accused of promoting sellers in which these companies have held stocks. With open-source networks like ONDC, such policies could be made redundant and make a level playing field for small merchants.
- Increase in income: ONDC will lead to an increase in income of people as goods and services will be offered at discount rates, and sellers will be able to save commissions which “platform model” companies take for their service.
What are the challenges associated with ONDC?
- Large investment: There is a need for considerable investment to break the monopoly of big companies as they possess huge amounts of data which offers them an advantageous position.
- Expertise and innovation: Government needs professional technocrats who could develop efficient alternatives to e-commerce platforms as was seen in UPI.
- Cold start problem: Major companies like Amazon and Flipkart are hesitant to join the platform which is a key requirement for a platform to succeed.
- Need for seamless experience: ONDC will have to focus on the seamless delivery of goods, prompt customer service, and interactive user-based experience.
Conclusion:
ONDC-like platform may enable many sellers to be digitally visible and can help consumers to get products at reasonable prices and maintain healthy competition in the e-commerce market.
