Meta and ONDC announced a collaboration on Tuesday, December 19, through which both platforms aim to empower MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises). The focus of the collaboration would be on enabling seamless buyer-seller conversations on WhatsApp, leveraging Meta's business and technical solutions. Simultaneously, ONDC aims to elevate these businesses by integrating them into the ONDC network and driving commerce.
To kickstart this partnership, Meta said the Meta Small Business Academy will digitally upskill over five lakh MSMEs in the next two years. The academy, launched in June 2023, is said to offer free certification programmes designed to equip entrepreneurs and marketers with essential digital marketing skills tailored for Meta apps.
T. Koshy, Managing Director and CEO of ONDC, highlighted the commitment to democratise the digital landscape and accelerate MSMEs' growth. "Our partnership with Meta will not only digitally upskill these businesses but will also enable them to connect with a customer base far and wide," Koshy said. "We are confident that our collaborative efforts will pave the way for millions of small businesses by providing them with the right impetus for growth."
Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President of Meta in India, underscored the significance of partnerships and ecosystems in fostering India's digital growth. "Our partnership with ONDC builds on supporting the government’s vision for digital public infrastructure (DPI) and furthering our ongoing commitment to skilling small businesses," said Devanathan. She also spoke on Meta's role as a frontrunner in advancing digital inclusion, particularly for MSMEs across India.
As part of the partnership, Meta will extend support to Sahayak, ONDC’s WhatsApp chatbot, enhancing its capabilities as a centralised point for seller and customer communication on the ONDC platform. Meta added that this aligns with its 'WhatsApp Se Wyapaar' programme, launched earlier this year, which aims to upskill 10 million traders across 29 states in 11 Indian languages using the WhatsApp Business app.
The strategic partnership comes at a crucial juncture, with over 200 million users of the WhatsApp Business app globally and more than 60% of Indian WhatsApp users engaging with business accounts.
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
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