ONDC Network lowers entry-barriers to digital commerce, provides level playing field and unbundles various stages of e-commerce transactions encouraging new business models and opportunities

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is a Section 8 company, under the initiative of DPIIT, with a mission to democratize digital commerce. ONDC develops and maintains the  ONDC Protocol, an open technical standard similar to UPI, HTTP and   SMTP. Any two platforms that are compliant with the ONDC Protocol can interoperate without specifically integrating with each other’s  systems. The ONDC Protocol compliant applications  together constitute the ONDC Network. Just as UPI enables interoperability of banks and payment platforms to transfer money, or SMTP allows  people to exchange emails without worrying about which email service the recipient uses, the ONDC Protocol allows buyers and sellers to  trade goods or services no matter which /platform they use, as long as  the platforms are part of the ONDC Network.

The benefits of the ONDC Network include lower entry-barriers to digital commerce, providing Level playing field for all e- Commerce models and unbundling of various stages of e-commerce transactions to allow new business models and opportunities. Hence, ONDC ensures an expansion of digital commerce, making it more inclusive.

The challenges with the adoption of ONDC are that the ONDC Network is enabling offline businesses to move online for the first time, and hence this transition can be challenging. However, ONDC is providing systems for assistance and capacity building initiatives to make this transition smooth and hassle free.

ONDC promotes transparency, trust and efficiency through its design   as well as operational practices including free and open-source standards and systems, decentralisation and privacy by design, participatory approach and transparency, level playing field, clear audit trail and protecting buyer and seller rights.

ONDC Network is based on open specifications namely the ONDC Protocol. Thus, any two platforms that are compliant with the ONDC Protocol can interact with each other without having to learn the other platform’s specific language for handling messages and processes.

This is achieved through the ONDC Registry. The Registry is like a phonebook which one can use to find other ONDC Protocol-compliant platforms. Details of all the registered platforms are in the registry after certification of the compliance to the protocol and signing the agreement of participation.

The Protocol and the Registry together create a collection of e- commerce platforms that can discover, connect and interact with each other. The ONDC Network includes multiple buyer applications and seller applications all working seamlessly with each other. With this open network, buyers can discover and purchase products/services from sellers using any seller application, through a single buyer application of their choice.

This information has been provided by the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Som Parkash in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Interoperability of e commerce platforms enables seamless cross platform trade, lowering entry barriers and expanding inclusive digital commerce. ONDC, a Section 8 company under DPIIT, maintains the ONDC Protocol and a Registry that together enable certified buyer and seller platforms to interoperate without bespoke integrations. This interoperability lets buyers discover and purchase from sellers across participating applications, unbundling e commerce stages, lowering entry barriers, promoting a level playing field, and supporting offline businesses' transition online, while embedding transparency, decentralisation, privacy by design and auditability to protect participant rights.