BW Explains: Move Aside Swiggy & Zomato, ONDC Is Here
The stage is set and ready for your order. We’re excited to announce that @RockWithboAt products are now available on ONDC. Boat is expanding its market reach with zero CAC while accessing customers through network-shopping on apps like @Paytm, @SpiceMoneyIndia, @mystoreforindia,… pic.twitter.com/mlaqWMXOBz
— ONDC India (@ONDC_Official) May 5, 2023
The internet is buzzing all around with just one word - ONDC. Content creators, influencers, general public … they are all talking about ONDC and how it is ready to take on Food delivery apps like Swiggy and Zomato and save big bucks for the consumers. So what is the hype around ONDC? While the platform has been around for quite some time, it has recently gained popularity and has the internet go wild on it. Let’s explore more on BW Explains.
What is ONDC ?
The Open Network Digital Commerce, or ONDC as it is popularly known, is an initiative by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It has been around since 2021 and as per the ministry’s official information on the ONDC website, it is not an ‘application, platform, intermediary, or software,’ but a ‘set of specifications designed to foster open, unbundled, and interoperable open networks, thereby eliminating the dependency on a single platform.’
Where Is It Operational?
While ONDC will have over 200 cities in its ambit, currently it is being tested in Bengaluru. As per official data, ONDC has crossed the 10,000-daily order mark and that is why it is being promoted extensively now. As of September 2022, it was being beta tested at 16 locations across Bengaluru. Alpha testing was extended to more than 80 cities in September last year.
What All Does It Feature ?
Food is just one section of the platform. ONDC is an aggregator of all products and services that allows customers to order food, buy clothes, purchase movie tickets, order groceries, and electronics with just one click.
In ONDC, when a customer orders food, the delivery is made directly by the restaurant, without the need to involve a third-party (here it will be Zomato or Swiggy).
How Can One Use ONDC?
Unlike Swiggy or Zomato, ONDC is not an app that can be downloaded or installed on your phone. Users need to navigate to ondc.org to use it. Alternatively, it works as UPI and can be added to existing apps such as Paytm, PhonePe, Meesho etc. Users so far have majorly used
What Internet Says
The Internet is going wild over ONDC. Popular fintech influencers and writers are already doing price comparisons with Swiggy and Zomato and talking about it.
Aditya D Shah calls it the UPI of E-Commerce, while Sejal Sud did a price comparison of items like Mc Aloo Tikki Burger (Rs 140 at Zomato and Rs 89 at ONDC), Murgh Afghani Biryani from Behrouz Biryani (Rs 398 on Zomato and Rs 342 Through ONDC).
ONDC itself is quite active on social media and has been tweeting regularly about what it is and how users can use it. While it talks about several brands in different categories, it is majorly gaining popularity for giving a tough time to food aggregators Swiggy and Zomato.
What Industry Says
While the food and restaurant owners are still avoiding going on record about ONDC versus Zomato and Swiggy, there is a mixed reaction to the platform. Some feel that it will certainly help in “knocking off” the monopoly of Swiggy and Zomato who used to charge a hefty commission for deliveries, others feel that it will put the “burden of delivery on the outlet” which will need to employ specific people for the same.
