An interoperable QR code was unveiled by the government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) on Tuesday. This development is expected to revolutionize the e-commerce industry and provide power to all sellers, from neighborhood merchants to local artists.
Platform restrictions have made it difficult for sellers to advertise their goods to a larger audience.
Currently in alpha testing, the interoperable QR code enables sellers to create a distinct QR code that buyers may scan with an ONDC-registered buyer app. Initially tested on magicpin and Paytm, the code will soon be available throughout the entire network.
The obstacles preventing small businesses from growing are removed by the interoperable QR code provided by ONDC. These days, all sellers, like the biggest names in e-commerce, have the ability to connect with clients online. T Koshy, MD and CEO of ONDC, said, “It’s a huge step towards an open, inclusive, and democratized digital marketplace.”
According to the open network established by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), retailers can use this to show their QR codes anywhere – on storefronts, products, marketing materials, or social media — instantaneously interacting with customers both offline and online.
To strengthen micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), the government last month announced plans to onboard five lakh MSMEs to the ONDC.
“Think of the local shopkeeper, the street vendor, the artisan — they can now be discovered and patronised by anyone, anywhere,” said Koshy.
This is a driver for digital inclusiveness and economic progress, not merely a new feature. Millions of enterprises will launch online, opening up new doors and advancing India’s digital economy, he continued.
