ONDC Turns 3! Seven Lakh Sellers Including Ola, 150 Million Transactions, and Counting

The government-run e-commerce platform Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) completed its three years on December 31, 2024. Marking the milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded the initiative and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal shared data displaying its impact. The initiative is being celebrated as it provides an opportunity to small businesses and enterprises to enter the e-marketplace with no commission and interference from any middlemen.

The ONDC has onboarded over seven lakh sellers and service providers in the past three years, said Goyal while sharing an infographic related to the same on X (formerly Twitter). The data shows that ONDC has onboarded sellers from over 600 towns and cities, completed 150 million plus transactions and saw participation from around 200 networks.

Also Read | Magicpin Records 15-Times Growth on ONDC, Receives 1.5 lakh Orders Per Day

Piyush Goyal wrote that this initiative is building a robust and inclusive digital marketplace in India and is revolutionizing the nation’s e-commerce landscape. “Over the past 3 years, it has not only achieved numerous milestones but also empowered businesses, especially small enterprises, by creating a level playing field for them on the network," he said.

Responding to his post, PM Modi said, “ONDC has contributed to empowering small businesses and revolutionising e-commerce, thus playing a vital role in furthering growth and prosperity.”

Ola Joins, IRCTC Rejects ONDC

Several food delivery, product delivery and cab hailing platforms have already onboarded on ONDC. Ola joined the platform recently to provide pan India food and beverage delivery services.

However, some platforms like BookMyShow (an event and movie ticketing platform) and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) have yet not joined ONDC enjoying exclusive distribution in their space. As per an ONDC official, efforts are on to convince players like these to join the network.

Also Read | Mobility Not a Separate Category, but Key Segment for Growth, Says ONDC CEO T. Koshy

How Does ONDC Operate?

ONDC is a non-profit initiative by the Indian government to make e-commerce more inclusive and accessible. It is a network of interconnected e-marketplaces through which sellers and service providers can list and sell their products or services directly to customers without any interference by any middlemen.

ONDC operates on the basis of an open network where it will not be a single platform similar to Amazon or Flipkart but rather a gateway where buyers and sellers across multiple platforms will be able to connect. It is a one stop platform for multiple platforms providing various services like food or grocery delivery, cab services, product delivery and more.