ONDC to Get Many More Apps Onboard in Coming Weeks as Beta Testing Begins

The commerce and business ministry on Friday stated many extra purposes will be a part of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) within the coming weeks to increase each patrons and sellers who can take part on this platform.

ONDC — the ministry’s initiative to assist small retailers and cut back the dominance of e-commerce giants — has opened to the general public in sure components of Bengaluru from Friday as a part of its beta testing course of.

“ONDC is a government’s startup. We are now in the process of validating some of the processes and technologies. 20 more apps will come this week,” Additional Secretary within the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Anil Agarwal instructed reporters.

To start with, customers in Bengaluru can place their orders in two domains — groceries and eating places —by purchaser apps collaborating within the ONDC community.

At current, Mystore, Paytm, and Spicemoney can be found as purchaser apps.

Consumers within the metropolis should purchase grocery merchandise or order meals from the shops and eating places enabled by vendor apps — Bizom, Digiit, e-Samudaay, eVitalrx, Go Frugal, Growth Falcons, Innobits Mystore, nStore, SellerApp, Ushop and Uengage.

Dunzo, Loadshare and Shiprocket can be offering logistics providers and Protean eGov Technologies Ltd will present gateway providers.

“HDFC Bank, IDFC Bank, Kotak Bank and eKart are in advanced stages of engagement and expected to go live shortly,” he stated.

ONDC’s beta take a look at in Bengaluru is a serious first step in operationalising a community method to e-commerce as a substitute for platform centric method, he added.

The ministry in April launched the pilot part of the ONDC, a UPI-type protocol, in 5 cities — Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Shillong and Coimbatore.

To construct belief amongst customers, sellers and community members (purchaser apps, vendor apps and gateways) within the open community, ONDC has consulted the present ecosystem specialists and examined finest practices for adapting and evolving the perfect method to construct belief in an unbundled decentralised community.

An in depth rationalization on this regard is out there in a session paper that’s being made accessible for the general public on the official social media handles of the DPIIT, ONDC and its web site.

As many as 20 organisations of nationwide reputation have confirmed investments of Rs. 255 crore in ONDC. Lenders corresponding to State Bank of India (SBI), UCO Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Bank of Baroda have already dedicated investments.

The initiative is aimed toward curbing the dominance of two massive multinational e-commerce gamers, which management greater than half of the nation’s e-commerce buying and selling, restrict entry to the market, and provides preferential therapy to sure sellers and squeeze provider margins.

ONDC is a set of requirements for voluntary adoption by sellers or logistics suppliers or cost gateways.

ONDC acquired its certificates of incorporation as a non-public sector-led non-profit firm on December 31, 2021.

Through this platform, customers can doubtlessly uncover any vendor, services or products through the use of any ONDC-compatible software or platform, thus rising freedom of selection for customers.