NEW DELHI: Government-backed Online Digital Commerce Network (ONDC) has begun talks with private players, including some major e-tailers, to develop the platform modelled on the lines of UPI. “The idea is to give more choice to consumers, who will be able to access a wider pool of sellers through ONDC. It will help in democratising the world,” Anurag Jain, secretary in the department for promotion of industry and internal trade, told TOI.
He said the open structure will allow companies to build on the architecture just as players such as Google Pay, Paytm and PhonePe are using UPI. On Friday, the ONDC architecture was unveiled at the Startup Innovation Week. With the broad architecture in place, the government is looking at setting up a not-for-profit company with around a dozen banks, depositories, exchanges and NPCI as the initial shareholders. Consumers can simply log on to an app, such as one that offers UPI, and order whatever they want, with ONDC connecting them with sellers and logistics players, besides giving them payment options.
Those developing ONDC have started making presentations to e-commerce players and logistics companies, who would be the main actors.
The pitch to them is that the e-commerce players can focus on the buyers or consumers, without having to focus on sellers. With more sellers, from kiranas to other retailers and service providers on board, the e-tailers, who have been enrolling entities, will be able to use the platform to increase choice, transparency and trust of consumers. The sellers can also enter into arrangements with delivery partners and logistics players to move away from platforms such as Amazon or Flipkart and sell directly to consumers through the platform.
He said the open structure will allow companies to build on the architecture just as players such as Google Pay, Paytm and PhonePe are using UPI. On Friday, the ONDC architecture was unveiled at the Startup Innovation Week. With the broad architecture in place, the government is looking at setting up a not-for-profit company with around a dozen banks, depositories, exchanges and NPCI as the initial shareholders. Consumers can simply log on to an app, such as one that offers UPI, and order whatever they want, with ONDC connecting them with sellers and logistics players, besides giving them payment options.
Those developing ONDC have started making presentations to e-commerce players and logistics companies, who would be the main actors.
The pitch to them is that the e-commerce players can focus on the buyers or consumers, without having to focus on sellers. With more sellers, from kiranas to other retailers and service providers on board, the e-tailers, who have been enrolling entities, will be able to use the platform to increase choice, transparency and trust of consumers. The sellers can also enter into arrangements with delivery partners and logistics players to move away from platforms such as Amazon or Flipkart and sell directly to consumers through the platform.
