How Any Seller Can Join The ONDC Network For Better Business Opportunities

The Open Network for Digital Commerce Protocol is a groundbreaking e-commerce initiative that was launched in September 2022. The ONDC network brings a non-discriminatory, unified, and open network setup where sellers and buyers connect directly to do business. With the aim to onboard millions of sellers, in the next five years, the ONDC network is predicted to completely transform the digital landscape in India. 

The ONDC network or the Open Network for Digital Commerce protocol is a government-led initiative to bring millions of startups, SMEs, retailers, hyperlocal sellers, social sector sellers, craftsmen, artisans, weavers, etc to mainstream ecommerce.  From small sellers to big enterprises, the ONDC network provides equal opportunity for every seller to grow their business digitally. 

By adopting an open-network model, the ONDC network gives sellers better visibility and access to top-notch tech and delivery partners. 

Here is how the ONDC network is reshaping the digital landscape in India.

The Growth of ONDC Network: A Statistical Overview

• 150,000 merchants have on boarded the ONDC network including 90,000 taxi and auto drivers
• 15,000 to 18,000 average transactions are done on the ONDC network  per day
• 620 cities have their presence for the ONDC network

Source: Livemint, Business Today

The figures say it all.  

The ONDC network is all set to completely revolutionise the Indian ecommerce landscape. 

If you want to boost your business digitally and tap into new market opportunities, it's high time to register and sell on ONDC network.

The ONDC Network - What’s in it For Indian Sellers

Any seller, irrespective of their scale and size can join the ONDC network to increase their visibility to pan-India Customers. Sellers can easily mark their presence on the ecommerce landscape and expand their business to pan-India customers by joining the ONDC network. 

With the ONDC network, sellers no longer need to depend on monopolistic marketplaces to sell their products. Instead, they can build their own identity among buyers and other sellers and are free to manage their business in their own way. 

Initially, the ONDC network was limited to only food and beverages and grocery industries. Now several other industries like fashion, beauty and personal care, baby care, electronics, automotive, agriculture, health and wellness, home decor, etc are part of the ONDC network.

The ONDC Network has also opened up for B2B and enterprise businesses.

Due to its democratic and non-restrictive nature, many high-profile names in payment gateway providers (Paytm, PhonePe), logistic service providers (DTDC, FedEx, Dunzo), technology service providers, etc have joined the revolutionary open network.  

The sellers and the service providers can connect directly on the open network to do business smoothly. 

With the aim to onboard 900+ mn sellers by 2027, the ONDC network will soon expand to 260 + cities around the nation.

Benefits of the ONDC network to Indian Sellers:

• Easy onboarding with zero upfront cost
• Opportunity to do business in a democratic and unified network.
• Increased discoverability to pan-India buyers
• Minimal commission as compared to platform-centric marketplaces
• Freedom to do business on their own terms
• Access to customer analytics, to help make strategic decisions
• On-network logistic partners for hassle-free order fulfillment
• Payment gateway integrations 

How does the ONDC Network operate

The ONDC network is not an app or a platform, instead, it's a network that connects buyers and sellers directly in the digital space to buy or sell anything.  

Unlike the traditional ecommerce ecosystem of India, where sellers and buyers have to present on the same platform to do any transaction, on the ONDC network, any seller can sell to all buyers and every buyer can discover products from all the sellers and buy from them directly. 

Both sellers and buyers need to have an app to access the ONDC network. A seller has to use an ONDC network-connected seller app to register on the ONDC network. Similarly, buyers have to use an ONDC network-connected buyer app to explore the sellers and buy on the ONDC network. 

There are many seller apps (Mystore seller app, eSamudaay, GOFRUGAL Technologies, Growth Falcons)  and buyer apps (Mystore, Paytm, Pincode, Magicpin) connected to the ONDC network,  are available to download on the Google Play Store and App Store.

A seller can register on the ONDC network using any seller app and all their product catalogs are discoverable to pan India Buyers. 

For example, if a seller lists on the Mystore seller app, a consumer looking for a product on Paytm will also see results from Mystore on the Paytm buyer app itself. This is what the ONDC network is all about - fostering an open network where small sellers can compete with large brands on a level playing field. ONDC Network India aims to reshape India’s eCommerce landscape by shifting the power dynamics back in favor of small businesses.

Steps to join the ONDC network as a seller using the Mystore Seller app: 

• Create your account using a valid business name, bank account details, and GSTIN number
• Upload the product catalogs you want to sell
• Start getting orders from pan-India buyers
• Optimize logistics by choosing on or off-network logistics partners
• Get your payments into your account regularly ( after the order delivery return days cycle + 2 more days)

How will ONDC network assist Hyperlocal Sellers Across India

The ONDC network, with its power to offer equal opportunities to all participants, is bound to amplify the e-commerce market and e-commerce consumer simultaneously. Currently, India's e-retail market is relatively low compared to countries like the UK, South Korea, and China. The limitation is not just because of the dominance of players like Amazon or Flipkart but also the limited reach of digital commerce to rural areas and small cities.

The ONDC network registered sellers can be visible to pan-India buyers from distinct buyer apps. Thus, buyers and sellers don't have to be registered on the same platform to be discoverable to each other. This solves a significant problem that sellers have traditionally had with eCommerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart, which use self-referencing tactics to show their own products on top.

With access to wider audiences, The ONDC network will enable small retailers, Kirana shops, Social sector sellers, D2Cs, artisans, craftsmen, etc to leverage eCommerce. 

Hyperlocal sellers with minimal resources can sell on ONDC network to a vast consumer base of over 250 Mn buyers spread across hundreds of pan-India locations.

Traditionally, many sellers have been away from eCommerce. Some are yet to discover the platform, and some find the terms unfavorable. The ONDC network aims to change the eCommerce ecosystem to accommodate more retailers and sellers with an open-network model that promotes equal business opportunities.

Remember how digital payments grew abundantly after the launch of UPI, connecting all significant players on a unified portal? ONDC network is expected to gain the same momentum of connecting sellers of all calibers; thus increasing India’s eCommerce penetration significantly in the next five years.

As a seller, here’s how you can leverage the ONDC network to benefit your brand by registering as a certified e-seller on the network:

How to Start Selling on the ONDC Network?

To start selling on the ONDC network, all you need to have an advanced ONDC network-connected seller app. A seller app is software that provides a comprehensive range of solutions that sellers can use to seamlessly upload, market, and ultimately sell their catalogs to millions of buyers across the digital network.

For instance, the Mystore Seller app is an advanced ONDC network-connected seller app that enables you to showcase your products to your target audience in just a few clicks. For zero upfront costs, you can become an ONDC network-registered seller and leverage its vast visibility to scale your business digitally. All scales of D2Cs, SMEs, and local entrepreneurs can visit the Mystore seller registration page. All you need is a valid business and a GSTIN number, and you’re good to go.

Can enterprise brands with pan-India presence join the ONDC Network

Yes, businesses of every size and scale can join the ONDC network. The GOI-backed ONDC network is designed to provide an open and discrimination-free environment to benefit businesses of every size from small and micro sellers to enterprise brands with Pan-India presence. The Open Network for Digital Commerce protocol provides equal opportunities for sellers of every size and scale, including large enterprises to grow their business. 

The revolutionary open network enables enterprise brands to connect with customer base across urban and rural areas. They can seamlessly onboard their dealers and distributors across the country to the ONDC network. 

To access the ONDC network, enterprise D2C brands and large B2B businesses need an advanced and feature-rich ONDC network seller app.

Advanced seller apps like Mystore provide these brands with user-friendly admin panels, order and product management,  optimized inventory management, logistic integrations, multilingual admin panels, etc to ensure seamless integration into the ONDC network.

Built on the latest MEAN STACK technology and MACH (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, Headless) architecture, Mystore enables enterprise companies to onboard the entire distributor network and ensures a streamlined supply chain by routing the orders through the distributor nearest to the buyer.

Mystore provides scalable, mobile-ready, and user-friendly digital solutions to enterprise businesses planning to leverage the ONDC Network.

How Does Mystore Seller App Work?

India’s leading marketplace connected to ONDC network, Mystore is a frontrunner ONDC network participant. The Mystore has already introduced its best-in-breed buyer and seller applications. The biggest selling point of the Mystore Seller app is its extremely user-friendly admin dashboard. Sellers don’t need any technical or coding skills to effortlessly upload their catalogues to a wider customer base. Mystore is packed with user-intuitive features and built-in tools to help you easily scale orders and manage your business.

Built on the latest tech stack (MACH architecture, MEAN stack, etc.), The Mystore Seller app lets you create a dedicated e-store that can serve as an extension of your physical storefront or a separate entity entirely. The easy-to-use admin panel lets you view full order details in one place, while in-built marketing tools help attract more eyes to your brand.

Some Benefits of the Mystore Seller App are as follows:

• Optimised Inventory management
• Multilingual admin panel 
• Flexible admin panel with Built-in marketing tools, etc.
• Individual seller pages with unique QR codes
• Access to critical customer data.
• Mobile-first architecture makes doing business on the go easy
• Upload an entire catalog of products in minutes.
• Multi-level cloud security

The step-wise process to sell on ONDC network using the Mystore seller app:

• Download the Mystore Seller app on your Android or iPhone or visit the Mystore Seller registration page https://seller.mystore.in/en/seller/register 
• Complete the registration process by providing the details like Mobile number, Business name, email ID, and GSTIN number
• Sign up and start listing your product catalogs 
• Provide high-quality images and detailed product descriptions, vendor details, etc
• Receive order request
• Select your logistic partners for order fulfillment 
• Receive your payment in your bank account

Conclusion

With the ONDC network, small sellers operating in remote locations finally have an alternative to compete with eCommerce giants, if they wish to sell online. With the Mystore Seller app, Indian SMEs, startups, hyperlocal sellers, social sector sellers, retailers, etc can look forward to creating a unique brand identity that they can share with nationwide buyers. 

Rural sellers who lack technical expertise can build a professional eCommerce enterprise through Mystore, that too for zero subscription fees.

Ready to be a part of the ONDC network revolution? Become an ONDC network registered seller and start selling right away with India’s most powerful and dynamic seller app - Mystore.