In a significant stride towards promoting hyperlocal e-commerce and empowering small retailers, the popular startup magicpin has teamed up with the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India (NCCF) to offer tomatoes at a reasonable rate of Rs. 70 per kilogram. This collaboration is facilitated through the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India (NCCF)
The NCCF was founded on 16th October 1965 with the aim of functioning as the apex body of consumer cooperatives in India. It strives to promote the consumer cooperative movement in the country, facilitating the voluntary formation and democratic functioning of cooperatives based on self-reliance and mutual aid for overall economic betterment and financial autonomy. Registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, NCCF operates under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, Government of India.
Headquarters and Structure of NCCF
The headquarters of NCCF is located in New Delhi. The management of NCCF is vested in the Board of Directors, while the ultimate authority lies with the General Body. The Board of Directors exercises all powers of NCCF except those reserved for the General Body. As of now, the sanctioned strength of the Board of Directors is 21.
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
ONDC is an open-source network established to facilitate seamless transactions between buyers and sellers, irrespective of the e-commerce platform on which they are registered. It empowers local commerce across various segments such as mobility, grocery, food ordering and delivery, hotel booking, and travel, among others. The initiative is part of the DPIIT’s efforts to promote inclusive digital commerce and is designed to allow any network-enabled application to discover and engage with local businesses.
Components and Benefits of ONDC
ONDC comprises buyer-side apps for consumers to place orders, seller-side apps that onboard merchants and display their listings, and logistics platforms that handle deliveries. This comprehensive approach aims to bring multiple stakeholders together to streamline the e-commerce process.
The initiative offers several benefits, especially for small retailers and local businesses. By using ONDC, merchants gain the opportunity to showcase their goods and services to buyers across the entire country through an efficient e-commerce system. Additionally, the network enables these merchants to save data and build a credit history, expanding their reach and customer base. By digitizing the entire value chain, ONDC promotes supplier inclusion, enhances logistical efficiencies, and ultimately benefits consumers with a seamless shopping experience. Standardized operations, such as cataloguing, inventory management, order management, and fulfillment, ensure a smooth functioning e-commerce ecosystem.