Democratizing E-Commerce Access (23/4/2022)
Democratizing E-Commerce Access
The open public digital infrastructure framework, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), is all set to launch its beta version in 5 cities – Delhi, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Shillong, and Bhopal. Beta version to be completed by end of April and actual launch expected in August.
This program is expected to benefit the millions of small retailers who do not have reach to the traditional ecommerce platforms. Out of the 6 crore small retailers, only 15,000 of them have been onboarded. Features like central registry, local languages will add to the success.
Participation of private sector lenders, integration of major ecommerce platform and around 80 major technology companies are working to make the ONDC network a success. The question commonly raised would be – will this affect the existing players? To that Anil Agrawal, Additional Secretary-DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry said such an expansion of the market was inevitable. “We are not trying to disrupt anything. It is not against anyone. It is about democratizing and making more and more small traders come on to the digital commerce framework which, today, is very difficult.”