ONDC Project Development Plan

Introduction:

Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is a market-led initiative aimed at enabling interoperability in Digital Commerce.

Based on the principles of Openness, it aims to enable unbundling Digital Commerce, democratising Digital Commerce and unlock value for all parts of Digital Commerce, as well as enable innovation to unlock the next chapter of Digital Commerce. — ONDC LinkedIn

ONDC uses async APIs, which buyer apps and seller apps have to integrate to use the network.The APIs starting with on_ are callback APIs/webhooks.

Example. The buyer app will call search API to search an offering. Once this call is sent, the buyer app will get a unique id in response. Now the on_search hook of the buyer app will be called by the network to provide the result of the search from the sellers.

How does it work?:

ONDC is not a website or an app but it's a network. An open network built on top of Beckn protocol that makes it possible for any buyer/seller/logistics partner/credit provider, etc. to communicate with each other in a standardized language.Which in turn makes the ecosystem open for anyone to participate.So any buyer can use a buyer app to search for any products/services and sellers can list their offerings and serve orders.

Benefits of ONDC?

Here are the points about the benefits of ONDC:

• Increased access to customers: By connecting to the ONDC platform, businesses can reach a wider audience and expand their customer base beyond their local market.
• Lower transaction costs: ONDC aims to reduce the costs associated with online transactions by creating a shared infrastructure that businesses can leverage instead of building their own.
• Improved efficiency: The platform is designed to simplify and streamline e-commerce activities, which could help businesses save time and money on administrative tasks.
• Enhanced transparency: ONDC aims to provide greater transparency in e-commerce transactions, which could help build trust between buyers and sellers.
• Promotes innovation: By providing a common infrastructure, ONDC could encourage innovation and collaboration between businesses, which could lead to the development of new products and services.

Overall, ONDC has the potential to offer several benefits to businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. The shared infrastructure could simplify and streamline e-commerce activities, allowing businesses to save time and money on administrative tasks. Greater transparency in e-commerce transactions facilitated by ONDC could help to build trust between buyers and sellers, while the common infrastructure could encourage collaboration and innovation among businesses, leading to the development of new products and services. While ONDC is still in its early stages of development, it has the potential to boost the e-commerce sector in India and drive economic growth.

Who is the seller app?

SellerApp is playing a key role in helping top-tier sellers launch their businesses online through its partnership with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). As a leading provider of e-commerce solutions, we are actively assisting retailers, consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) sellers to join the ONDC platform. By leveraging our expertise and technology, these businesses can unlock the full potential of ONDC and take advantage of its shared digital infrastructure, which includes order management, inventory management, payment processing, and other essential services. We are proud to be at the forefront of the ONDC initiative, enabling businesses to expand their reach, lower costs, and enhance efficiency, ultimately driving growth in the e-commerce sector in India.

Who is the buyer app?

The buyer app on ONDC is a mobile application designed for buyers to easily purchase products and services from sellers registered on the ONDC network. The app provides a user-friendly interface and features such as product search, order tracking, and payment processing.

Use Cases:

Use Case for Search:

Ramesh wants to buy 100ml of Milk using the Buyer App, He searches the product using the product name, Using Search API to discover the product based on Ramesh's specific location from the large network of seller available in the ONDC

Use Case for Select:

Ramesh uses the search API response to select products and adds them to his cart. Later on, he can modify the list of products in his cart by adding or removing items as needed. It is important to note that ONDC will not be involved in any interactions between the buyer and seller after the search API. ONDC only facilitates the initial handshake between the buyer and seller during the search API process.

Use Case for Init:

In order to place the order on the buyer app, Ramesh needs to proceed with payment. However, before doing so, he must provide his billing and shipping address. This is necessary to ensure that the products can be delivered to the correct location. Ramesh must accept the delivery charges and any additional charges that may apply before completing his order.

Use Case for Confirm:

Once Ramesh has selected the products and provided his billing and shipping address, he can proceed to order the products with a single click. After he has made the payment successfully, the order will be placed successfully. This means that the seller will receive the order details and can begin processing it. It is important for Ramesh to ensure that he has reviewed his order carefully before completing the purchase, as any errors or issues may result in delays or additional charges. However, assuming that everything is in order, Ramesh can expect to receive his products within the specified delivery timeframe.

Flow diagram:

Search:

Select:

Init:

Confirm:

Get Started:

To successfully onboard on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), there are several key steps that need to be taken. These steps involve registering as a seller, integrating your existing systems with ONDC's APIs, listing your products on the platform, setting up your payment gateway, and managing your orders.

Firstly, to get started with ONDC, you need to register as a seller. This process involves providing some basic information about your business, including your company name, address, and tax ID. Once you are registered, you can move on to integrating your systems with ONDC's APIs.

Integration is a critical step in the onboarding process, as it enables seamless communication between your systems and the ONDC platform. This integration will allow you to send and receive data related to product listings, orders, payments, and other important information.

Once your systems are integrated with ONDC, you can start listing your products on the platform. This involves providing detailed product descriptions, images, pricing information, and other relevant details. It is important to ensure that your product listings are accurate and up-to-date to attract potential buyers

In addition to product listings, you will also need to set up your payment gateway to enable buyers to make payments for their purchases. This involves integrating your payment gateway with ONDC's APIs and configuring your payment settings to ensure a smooth and secure payment process for your buyers.

Finally, once your products are listed on ONDC, you will start receiving orders from buyers. Managing these orders involves processing them, updating their status, and communicating with buyers as needed. It is important to ensure that you are managing your orders efficiently to maintain good relationships with your buyers.

Overall, onboarding on ONDC requires a combination of technical integration, product listing, and order management skills. It is important to take all the necessary steps to ensure a smooth and successful onboarding experience.