ONDC Pilots 'Pop-up Kits' for Artisans
The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is piloting “Pop-up Kits” for artisans, which include subsidized booths and digital onboarding support. The initiative was discussed on the *Startup India Pulse* podcast. The program aims to lower the barrier to entry for small vendors participating in local events.
- The ONDC network has rapidly scaled to include 5.5 lakh merchants, with approximately 85% classified as small and micro-enterprises, including artisans and taxi drivers. This growth is significant, up from just 500 merchants in January 2023, with transactions happening in about 1,000 cities. - A key figure leading this expansion is T. Koshy, the MD and CEO of ONDC, who has overseen the network's growth to 9 million transactions in May 2024, up from 1,000 transactions just 15 months prior. The initiative is a core project of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce. - The network shows strong traction beyond major metros, with about 65% of its day-to-day transactions originating from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, indicating its potential for national-level scaling for small vendors. - To facilitate artisan onboarding, ONDC has formed partnerships with fintech companies like Easy Pay and non-profits like the Grameen Foundation for Social Impact (GFSI) to bring weavers and other skilled craftspeople onto the platform. - Government bodies are actively integrating with the network; the Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India (CCIC), a public sector unit under the Ministry of Textiles, has joined ONDC to expand the market for authentic Indian handloom and handicraft products. - The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises complements these efforts through schemes like the Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) scheme, which offers financial aid for onboarding, cataloguing, and logistics for small enterprises joining ONDC. - Success stories on the platform include women-led initiatives like SHWET, which represents over 1,000 artisans and has used the network to optimize production and connect with new craftspeople nationwide. - Startups are building solutions on top of the open network to simplify access for sellers. For example, Sabhyasha Retail Tech's "Artisans' Wizard" app uses AI to help artisans with content creation and image enhancement for their product listings.
