ONDC | Breaking barriers and revolutionising commerce

He said, “What this stimulus did was trigger a bunch of transactions which cut through all that intellectual block that people had. So, it's a demonstration of the fact that it works, and also a demonstration of how the transition can be driven.”

“ONDC will never be in the business of giving discounts or promoting in this fashion, but this was just a stimulus to demonstrate that there is a network that works, there is a new way of doing commerce that works and there is a way to stimulate demand,” he added.

Joshi further emphasised that ONDC is not just a single entity but a comprehensive network comprising numerous participants. He highlighted the power and influence each participant possesses within the network. The collaborative nature of ONDC encourages various stakeholders to actively contribute and shape the future of digital commerce in India.

“People must remember that we are not a single business organisation controlling all the parts and executing it as a single plan. We are a network where many participants have their independent businesses with their priorities and are all progressing. So, the outcome of this network is a collection of effort from multiple parties,” he said.

One of the key objectives of ONDC is to expand its reach and provide more delivery opportunities. Joshi expressed optimism about the network's ability to grow and evolve, enabling participants to tap into new markets and establish a stronger presence. While larger cities are better positioned to benefit from the network's expansion initially, ONDC aims to extend its benefits to smaller cities and towns in due course. By doing so, the network strives to bridge the digital divide and create equal opportunities for all participants.