How to shop through ONDC Network and place your first order

Finally, the buzz about the ONDC Network has reached you. Want to explore the latest and revolutionary set-up? Don’t know how to shop through ONDC Network and place your first order?

Curious to find out how the open network can simplify your shopping experience?

Let’s dive in!

 If you are also accustomed to app-hopping for shopping different categories of goods and services, placing your first ONDC Network order will be a game-changer.

When you buy on ONDC  Network, instead of buying different stuff on different apps, you can shop for almost anything on one single network. 

Yes, you can shop anything and everything- from grocery to furniture to cab hailing- by logging into one of the many ONDC Network Buyer Apps. 

Find it hard to believe that such a large-scale setup is possible.

Let’s make it believable with some data-driven insights.

ONDC Network: The Journey So Far In Numbers

The open network has brought together sellers from all over India in one place making it easy for Indian buyers to shop online and buy diverse things. 

And buyers are making the most of this opportunity.

Here are some numbers that give you a better understanding:

• 500X jump in orders from January to May 2024 
• 2.87- 3 lakh orders per day
• 12+ product categories available on the open network
• ~600 cities covered for order fulfilment via ONDC Network
• 5.25 Lakh+ sellers/service providers on the ONDC Network
• ~3,000-4,000 sellers are added to the open network every week
• 97 Network Participants have joined the ONDC Network

Source: Business Today, ONDC. ORG , Inc 42

Well, the numbers tell an impressive story!

By giving a level playing field to SMEs, artisans, FPOs, D2C brands, Enterprises and businesses of every kind, the ONDC Network has democratized online selling and buying in India. 

And for us, the buyers this simply translates into greater variety, competitive pricing and enhanced buying experience when we shop through ONDC Network.

ONDC Network Buyer Journey Explained: How to Easily Place Your First Order 

Eager to place your first order on ONDC Network but still need some questions answered. Here is everything you ever wanted to know about the ONDC Network before placing your first order and many more afterwards:

1. What is the ONDC Network?

We know that the ONDC Network is an open network where sellers can register and sell online using the tech solutions offered by various seller NPs. The buyers on the other hand can use one of the many buyer apps to buy from these sellers registered on the open network.

In a nutshell, the ONDC network connects every seller registered on the open network with every buyer planning to shop through the ONDC Network. This opens up immense growth possibilities for the sellers and naturally gives buyers a vast and diversified range of products at one place.

To understand the set-up better, imagine this, you want to buy a dress from your favourite apparel brand, gift a mobile phone to your dad and also want some groceries delivered. In the current Indiaecommerce landscape, likely you will open three different apps to do so, right?

Not so if you buy on ONDC Network!

The ONDC Network mandates that all products listed by all the sellers on the open network will be visible on every buyer app for ONDC Network. So, you as a buyer, get all the freedom to explore and shop the vast product offerings the way you like.

2. How does the ONDC Network work?

The ONDC Network works as the connector and moderator between various apps used to facilitate buying and selling on the open network. Following are the key components of the ONDC Network and  how they work in tandem to fulfill orders:

Sellers Apps: Seller Apps are the seller-facing interfaces that provide ONDC Network compliant online selling solutions to businesses. A business can choose from any one of the ONDC Network Seller Apps to showcase, sell and fulfill orders.

Buyer Apps: Buyer Apps are buyer-facing interfaces used by buyers to shop from sellers registered on the open network.

You can shop through ONDC Network using any buyer app of your choice. The ordering process is as simple as ordering from any other ecommerce app. 

3. Why should I buy from ONDC Network when there are marketplaces like Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart etc.?

Here is how shopping on the ONDC Network is different from shopping on marketplaces like Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart etc.

A. Vast Seller Network- Popular marketplaces like Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart etc. each have their unique seller pool. To make an informed purchase decision you need to hop from one app to the other, search for the desired product multiple times and then compare the prices on each platform separately. 

Come ONDC Network and your pains are taken care of. Unlike these siloed marketplace platforms, the ONDC Network brings all sellers on a common network. Irrespective of whichever Seller App the seller chooses to sell through, the buyers will get a complete list of sellers selling a given product on the open network.

B. Reduced Shopping Fatigue- By consolidating sellers on a single network, the ONDC Network simplifies the shopping experience and reduces decision-making fatigue for the buyers. Online shoppers from anywhere in India can find a wide range of sellers and compare prices more efficiently, saving time and effort.

C. Government-Backed Initiative- ONDC Network is a government-backed initiative in India, providing an alternative to popular marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart etc. The government's involvement brings additional oversight and regulations to ensure fair practices and protect consumer interests.

D. Support for SMEs and Socially Marginalised Sellers-  The government-backed ONDC Network aims to provide a level playing field to small-scale and socially amrginalised sector sellers that have never sold online on any of the popular marketplaces. By bringing artisans, weavers and small sellers across diverse industries, the open network not only opens up the ecommerce market for these socially amrginalised sellers but also gives buyers a plethora of options to choose from. Many of the handcraft and handloom items sold by these sellers are not available on any of the popular marketplaces.

E. Hyperlocal-First Search- The ONDC Network for Digital Commerce is built on the concept of promoting the hyperlocal businesses. All searches show the hyperlocal sellers first thus helping the local sellers sell better and customer get streamlined and faster deliveries.This creates opportunities for local businesses to participate and thrive in the digital commerce space.

F. Competitive Pricing- With a diverse range of sellers on the ONDC Network, there is potential for increased competition, which in turnleads to competitive pricing and better deals for consumers.

With so many unique advantages, ONDC Network is definitely worth exploring for online buyers in India.

4. Is there any price difference if I place an ONDC Network order and if I buy same product from other platforms?

Usually the sellers selling on multiple marketplaces and the ONDC Network keep the same price for their products. However, since the sellers have to pay a fraction of commission as compared to what they pay on the other platforms, the sellers pass the savings in commission on the open network as discounts. Thus, when you shop through ONDC Network you end up buying products at a lesser price than on any other popular marketplaces.

Also, the ONDC Network often runs promotions and deals which further bring down the overall cost of your cart. Whether you buy your first order on the open network or keep ordering frequently, in the long run you end up paying less due to the offers and deals given by individual sellers, ONDC Network or sometimes even the Buyer Apps.  

5. Which is the best Buyer App to shop through ONDC Network?

The best thing about the open network and its buyer apps is that you can use any of them and see all the sellers for any given product. While some ONDC Network Buyer Apps cater to a specific industry like grocery, FNB delivery, fashion etc. Some apps work across industries and show the complete list of open network sellers. 

Here is a list of the top ONDC Network buyer apps you can use to place your ONDC Network order:

1. Mystore Buyer App- One of the first buyer apps for the open network Mystore enables buyers to shop across all the available industry segments like grocery, fashion, health and wellness, beauty and personal care, agriculture etc. on the ONDC Network. Mystore offers a buyer-friendly interface with features like multiseller cart, frictionless payment, easy order tracking, multilingual app to enable placing ONDC Network order in Hindi, English, and Kannada. 
2. Paytm - Open Network for Digital Commerce’s Paytm buyer app enables buyers to buy from various categories like grocery, food and beverage and home and decor and more.
3. Otipy- Otipy is a popular ONDC buyer app primarily for fruit and vegetables, groceries, dairy and bakery items, home and personal care products, plants and flowers, etc. 
4. No Brokerhood- This is a unique buyer appto shop through ONDC Network and helps society residents find daily essentials like food and grocery items ( fresh fruits, rice, pulses, vegetables, oil, dairy products, packaged foods, frozen foods and more) from a single app. 
5. NStore- It is an ONDC Network buyer-facing app that connects households with local stores and help customers buy things from the local sellers thus boosting the local economy.
6. Magicpin- This is the app for the foodies planning to make the most of the ONDC Network. Magicpin is a hyperlocal-first app that enables you to order food and beverages from local restaurants and food joints. You can also order groceries, beauty and personal care items and health and wellness products using Magicpin.
7. Tata Neu- This ONDC Network Buyer App from Tata collaborates with restaurants and on-network logistics partners to provide seamless order delivery. Tata Neu connects with small restaurants and dhabas that are not on Zomato and Swiggy and brings the best of local food to your doorsteps.
8. Ola- Ola has joined the open network as a food delivery buyer app and helps buyers explore food options in their hyperlocal market.
9. Namma Yatri- This Bengaluru-based auto-hailing buyer app for the Open Network for Digital commerce offers services across Karnataka, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Delhi and plans further expansion soon. Namma Yatri is a leading mobility app and you can book your first ONDC Network order differently by booking a cab.
10. Yaary: Another ONDC Network mobility app, Yaari enables drivers to offer their services and pay lesser commissions thus offering cheaper rides to their customers.

You can choose to buy on the ONDC Network by choosing your preferred buyer app. 

6. Can I  place a multi-category ONDC Network order using a single ONDC Network  Buyer App?

Yes, definitely. You can use the Mystore Buyer App which comes with the multi-seller cart to buy products from multiple sellers ( across categories) in a single checkout. Additionally, you get the benefit of choosing your preferred language i.e.; you can search and buy products in English, Hindi and Kannada while using Mystore’s multiseller cart to place your ONDC Network order.

7. How do I place my first order on ONDC Network using Mystore?

Ordering from Mystore is easy. Here is the stepwise process to place the first ONDC Network order with Mystore:

• Download the Mystore Buyer App or visit Mystore’s website
• Sign up using your mobile number
• Create your profile by filling in the required details 
• Search your desired products across categories on Mystore
• Explore the various sellers available, their prices, shipping costs
• Apply filters including categories, pricing, discounts, etc to narrow down your results
• Check description, pricing, and other information like shipping charges, delivery time, etc
• Add your desired product(s) to your cart
• Review the order summary and proceed to checkout
• Place your order using your preferred payment method
• Track your order using the built-in order tracking feature

That’s it. The process is as simple as that. Track your order in your Mystore admin panel until the order is delivered.

8. Who will deliver orders placed on the ONDC Network?

ONDC Network orders can be delivered using one of the 20+ on-network logistics providers. These logistics providers work as per ONDC Network’s guidelines and ensure the safe delivery of orders.

In some cases, your seller can choose either one of the on-network shipping partners or go for their own off-network delivery partners. Some hyperlocal sellers may even use their own fleet of delivery boys already working for them.  For example, your neighborhood grocery store registered on the ONDC Network can send orders using their own delivery boys. 

9. How do I track my ONDC Network order?

After placing a successful order through Mystore, you will receive order confirmation notifications on your registered mobile number or email (if your email address is updated). Mystore will also keep you updated with shipping and tracking details of your order through SMS, WhatsApp, or email while it is in transit. Upon delivery, you will receive a final confirmation of order delivery via SMS, WhatsApp, or email. 

Additionally, you can always track the order status by logging into your Mystore account at https://www.mystore.in/en/account/orders.

10. Is there support to help me if I have any issues with my ONDC Network orders?

Mystore has a comprehensive grievance management and ticketing system integrated with the ONDC Network IGM framework. If you have any issues with your order placed through Mystore Buyer App you can dial the toll-free number 8010412412 between 10 AM and 7 PM for assistance. Alternatively, you can raise a support ticket directly from your Mystore account for any given order that might be having an issue. 

Conclusion

Ready to experience the new era of ecommerce? You can do so by placing your first ONDC Network order. And yes the process is as simple as ordering from any other ecommerce website. The added advantage is you have a far bigger number of sellers and buyer apps to choose from. And you can always rest assured about security as the open network has stringent guidelines and all buyer apps are built in compliance with these security standards.

Take the first step towards a seamless, secure, and enriched shopping experience by placing your first ONDC Network order with Mystore. Start buying now.