Zoho To Integrate With ONDC, Will Help Sellers Launch Online Store In An Hour

SaaS unicorn Zoho said its unified platform for ecommerce — Zoho Commerce will be integrating with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). 

The SaaS unicorn will join the ONDC network as a technology service provider to help businesses adopt and leverage the platform to reach a wider audience. 

In the coming few months, Zoho will also integrate its product offerings Zoho Books and Zoho Inventory, onto the ONDC network.

“We are glad to be working in tandem with technology service providers like Zoho to accelerate and improve the end-to-end ecosystem experience and make digital commerce accessible to a wider audience of buyers and sellers across India,” said T Koshy, chief executive officer of ONDC.

Zoho said that it will help sellers to set up their online stores (on ONDC) in an hour by offering bespoke website-building templates. It also permits sellers to utilise its product offerings–Zoho Books, Zoho Inventory and Zoho SalesIQ, to name a few. 

The startup further added that it will integrate with third-party apps such as Google Analytics, Google Shopping, and Mailchimp, among others. It will also support retailers in onboarding the ONDC network and integrate their inventory with buyer-side apps on the ONDC network. Besides, it will additionally educate sellers about the open (ONDC) network too.  

“We believe that ONDC will create a level playing field for small businesses and other sellers. With a robust platform like Zoho Commerce, retailers can quickly create online stores and establish their presence on ONDC,” said Anand Nergunam, vice president of revenue growth at Zoho Corp.

The development has come a day after ONDC’s CEO T Koshy proclaimed that the open network would bring Uttar Pradesh’s One District One Product (UP-ODOP) products to Bengaluru city in the next week. 

In a social media post, Koshy also announced that D2C logistics unicorn Shiprocket has boarded the ONDC network.

Currently, ONDC is in the process of onboarding Flipkart’s logistics subsidiary Ekart Logistics to offer intercity deliveries across the country.

Further, this month, National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) acquired a 5.6% stake in ONDC for INR 10 Cr. 

Meanwhile in September, the ONDC began piloting in Bengaluru city and recorded merely 161 orders on the first day. It is currently looking to begin pilot operations in Mumbai and New Delhi.