How to Take Your WooCommerce Website to ONDC Network

ONDC Network For WooCommerce Merchants

WooCommerce is a polarising eCommerce platform amongst Indian merchants. On the one hand, you have a popular, open-source eCommerce software that powers millions of eCommerce sites. On the other hand, the platform has several issues that hamper a small merchant’s ability to sell more effectively and profitably.

It’s also worth mentioning that while some big players may outsource technical staff and address some of WooCommerce’s shortcomings, small Indian retailers don’t have the same luxury. Thankfully for them, ONDC network promises to be a transformative GOI-led initiative.

Here we discover how the groundbreaking initiative shapes India’s digital market sphere. Also, we learn how sellers can take their business from WooCommerce to ONDC network in minutes using a cutting-edge solution like Mystore.

ONDC Network- Changing India’s eCommerce Landscape Forever

India’s central government launched the revolutionary open network project to put an end to the increasing dominance of giant eCommerce platforms. ONDC networkwill provide a level playing field for all customers and suppliers, big or small. Businesses of any size can increase their discoverability, interoperability, and inclusion to encourage participation in the retail, food, and mobility sectors.

The democratic, not-for-profit initiative will empower all parties by breaking the hold of large corporations like Amazon, Flipkart, eBay, etc. Thanks to the Indian government's platform-agnostic approach, lakhs of small B2B/D2C businesses and mom-and-pop stores can have a fair share of the profit pie.

What do WooCommerce sellers on ONDC network Get

While the novel initiative focuses on making eCommerce more inclusive and rewarding for newbie merchants, existing WooCommerce sellers can leverage the open network to supercharge their store performance. How so? Let’s look at the benefits of joining the decentralised open network from a seller’s perspective:

1) Become instantly discoverable

Gain instant store visibility in 75% of PIN codes in India, reaching 19-25 crore buyers. WooCommerce to ONDC network migration will open your doors to a wider customer base.

2) No upfront or monthly subscription costs

Anyone can register as a seller on the open network for zero fixed costs. Simply visit the Mystore seller registration page and begin your selling journey today (free of cost).

3) Adding a new digital sales channel

A multi-channel sales approach is critical in reaching more customers and boosting sales numbers. With Mystore WooCommerce Connect, there’s no need to be dependent on traditional marketplaces for adding a new digital sales channel. Hence, forget relying on a single e-store as your sole source of revenue.

4) Logistics support

WooCommerce sellers on ONDC can choose from a vast spectrum of on-network logistics providers. Mystore vendors can review prospective distributors and choose based on the prices and shipping capabilities. Through improved logistics, sellers can easily diversify their target markets and make their mark in multiple pin codes.

5) Quick Catalogue/Order management

With ONDC network-complaint software like Mystore, you can quickly and seamlessly migrate your product catalogue from WooCommerce to ONDC network in a jiffy. Mystore offers a feature-rich dashboard packed with tech-driven features that help the not-so-tech-savvy merchants manage their entire storefront by themselves.

6) Reputation Management

The best part about joining the open network is that all your previous reviews and ratings remain intact here. Thus, vendors don’t have to worry about creating a brand identity from scratch on different digital platforms. Also, through Mystore, you can make the most of your customers’ positive experiences.

Still not convinced? Well, let’s look at the various pan-points haunting the Indian merchants and how Mystore’s WooCommerce to ONDC network migration helps solve them:

Common WooCommerce issues solved by Mystore

From a lack of customizations to store complexities, WooCommerce can sometimes be a hassle, especially for non-tech-savvy Indian sellers. Below are some of the biggest pain points that merchants face and how joining Mystore can help counteract them:

1) It requires some level of technical expertise

WooCommerce is a self-hosted platform, which in many cases, is a good thing as store owners have the freedom to set up their own themes, SKUs, etc. However, many local Indian shopkeepers lack the in-depth technical knowledge to -

• add high-quality images,
• add crisp descriptions,
• set pricing/discounts,
• track orders,
• make/receive payments,
• match stock, etc.

…by themselves!

On the other hand, you don’t need to be tech-savvy in order to operate your Mystore seller account. A super-easy admin dashboard will help you effectively set up and manage your eCommerce business. Also, the registration process is a breeze. All it takes is an active bank account and a GSTIN. Through Mystore, WooCommerce to ONDC network onboarding becomes a simple and fruitful experience.

2) Costs snowball despite low entry fees

While WooCommerce doesn’t charge a transaction fee per order, merchants must still pay card fees, payment processing fees, etc., which cuts into their profit margins. Small, local Indian businesses with limited capital and sales volume may not be able to afford these expenses.

Meanwhile, WooCommerce sellers on ONDC network don’t have to pay nearly the same in order to have an active business. No upfront fees or monthly subscriptions are paid to sell on the open network through Mystore. Plus, you can leverage a plethora of handy features on Mystore to grow your business in exchange for a nominal transaction fee.

3) Lack of in-built SEO 

By now, everyone knows that an effective SEO strategy is indispensable to their online business’s success. However, WooCommerce doesn’t have too many SEO-friendly features to help sellers optimize their storefronts for search engine result pages (SERPs). 

On the other hand, Mystore offers in-built SEO features to boost your brand reach - both in terms of quantity and quality of customers it attracts. Mystore helps optimize your store’s SEO-friendliness (through product description, meta title, keywords, etc.) to help it rank favourably in the SERPs.

4) Lack of in-built store features

WooCommerce’s basic monthly plan offers little in the way of store management or optimization. Thus, many SMBs find it challenging to customize their entire e-store based on their desired specifications. Sellers may very well have to download multiple plugins just to add basic functionality to their e-store (like WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway, WooCommerce Checkout Manager, WooCommerce Quaderno – Tax Automation, WooCommerce Multilingual etc.).

Mystore WooCommerce Connect offers incredible built-in features which eliminate the need for complex customizations. Also, handy catalogue management features make selling easy. Everything from uploading catalogue and managing stock to accessing key customer data can be achieved in a few clicks. And guess what? You don’t have to pay an extra dime for these added features!

5) No logistics support

In fairness, sellers have the option to connect their WooCommerce shop to Amazon's Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service and deliver orders to their customers. But this approach has several downsides, not least because merchants who are not grossing enough orders stand to gain minimal profit from it. Marketplace logistics is costly and complicated.

Why bother when you can choose your own logistics solution that fits your budget and shipping requirements? Yes, that’s right. WooCommerce sellers on ONDC network have access to on-network logistics partners. Mystore-registered vendors can choose their preferred fulfilment partners, and instantly improve their customer experience.

WooCommerce to ONDC network using Mystore Channel Integration

You can integrate multiple WooCommerce shops into a single Mystore seller account via APIs. Using a powerful and user-intuitive dashboard, sellers don’t need technical skills to manage orders, update catalogues, match listings with stock levels, etc.

Manage your product catalogue easily using “channel integration” to sync your entire catalogue to Mystore. In just a few simple steps, you can have a brand new sales channel in Mystore ready to go in minutes! Enjoy a smoother customer experience with optimised order management when you choose the Mystore seller app.

Mystore brings a comprehensive guide to help sellers add the WooCommerce channel to their existing seller account. For more information on how to seamlessly integrate your WooCommerce channel with ONDC network, read our step-by-step guide.

Conclusion

There's no need to be overwhelmed about running a WooCommerce store alone. We understand the challenges of customising your store, managing inventory, and other eCommerce pain points - so we've made it easier! As Indian sellers look to become digitally active, Mystore WooCommerce Connect provides feature-rich options to become successful. So go ahead and say goodbye to the hassles of running a store – let Mystore make this experience easy and enjoyable.

Join us and experience a rewarding WooCommerce to ONDC network experience with Mystore!