Google Cloud has announced the launch of an accelerator program for the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a government-backed initiative in India. The announcement was made by Ambarish Kenghe, Vice President of Google Pay, during a developer conference in Bengaluru.
The accelerator program aims to provide businesses with access to Google Cloud’s technology and expert guidance, facilitating their integration into the ONDC network and enabling the creation of seamless digital commerce experiences.
“We are launching an accelerator program for ONDC to support the growth of India’s robust network of digital sellers,” stated Kenghe, highlighting Google’s commitment to nurturing India’s digital ecosystem through technological innovation and capabilities.
As part of the program, Google Cloud will offer its core infrastructure application programming interfaces (APIs) to ONDC participants as an open-source solution. Additionally, the tech giant will provide retail search and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance the buyer and seller experiences on the network.
Furthermore, Google Cloud will introduce an ONDC startup credits program, allowing participants to apply for grants of up to $25,000.
The integration of address descriptors on Google Maps will also improve the serviceability of ONDC orders, ensuring a more seamless delivery experience.
T Koshy, Managing Director and CEO at ONDC, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the addition of Google Cloud’s accelerator program, emphasizing that it reinforces ONDC’s mission to revolutionize the ecommerce landscape by ushering in a new era of efficiency, agility, and customer-centricity.
ONDC, a private non-profit company backed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), aims to democratize ecommerce and increase its penetration in India. The platform was soft-launched in five cities, including Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Shillong, and Coimbatore, in April of last year. It was later opened to the public in Bengaluru and has gradually onboarded several key players to scale the network.
The integration of various services with ONDC, including Marico’s Saffola Store, Paytm, PhonePe, Delhivery, Shiprocket, Dunzo, and Snapdeal, has further solidified its position in the market.
Despite initial speculations that ONDC might pose a long-term risk to industry leaders like Zomato and Swiggy, industry analysts have commented that the current form of ONDC does not pose a significant threat. However, the potential for scaling the network could have implications in the future.
ONDC recently announced a remarkable 500X increase in daily transactions, with orders skyrocketing from 50 in January to an impressive 25,000 orders in the first week of May, underscoring the platform’s growing influence in India’s digital commerce landscape.
