ONDC: Unpacking the internet of commerce

Early next month, Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, will see payments app Paytm trial transactions involving groceries as well as food and beverages with Bengaluru-based seller platform eSamudaay. During the three-day trial, the two distinct technology platforms will operate directly with each other. It will enable nearly 50 sellers in Shillong onboarded by eSamudaay to be visible to select Paytm users in that city.

Similar trials involving other such partnerships between technology applications will play out in Delhi, Bengaluru, Bhopal and Coimbatore. The hope is that these varied platforms will be able to work with each other seamlessly, thanks to the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

So, for instance, in the Shillong pilot, when a Paytm user searches for ‘biryani’, the app will display food sellers from eSamudaay. Paytm will thus be able to increase its revenue through a new category consisting of sellers from eSamudaay during the trial, and from other such ONDC network participants later. eSamudaay’s sellers, meanwhile, will get more orders, thanks to Paytm.