In a bid to further increase the transactions on the platform during the upcoming festive season, the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has launched the ‘ONDC Network Gift Card’ for corporate gifting and employee engagement.
The gift card allows card holders to shop using any ONDC-enabled buyer application. In a statement, ONDC said the move is aimed at helping sellers on ONDC boost customer engagement.
The gift card is powered by RuPay Network and can be loaded with a maximum amount of INR 10,000. ONDC said Yes Bank and OmniCard have gone live as the first two issuers of the card, while several other banks and fintech platforms with RBI-assigned pre-paid licences are also preparing to offer the card.
Commenting on the development, ONDC MD and CEO T Koshy said, “The ONDC Network Gift Card aligns perfectly with our vision of democratising digital commerce for Bharat. This festive season, we aim to provide consumers across India with access to an unparalleled shopping experience that celebrates our cultural heritage while supporting homegrown brands and small sellers.”
Launched in 2021 by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), ONDC is an open source platform that aims to democratise ecommerce in India and bring small businesses online.
ONDC has been gradually adding new categories to the platform and expanding its services across the country.
Recently, it announced a partnership with Google Cloud to increase the adoption of ecommerce in India using generative AI. As part of the partnership, ONDC will launch a ‘Build for Bharat’ hackathon to foster an open ecosystem of developers, students, and startups to drive innovation within the ONDC framework.
The platform has been gaining acceptance and a number of big players like F&B giant Pepsico, Reliance-backed Dunzo, and PhonePe’s Pincode have joined the network.
Earlier this week, it was reported ONDC is now planning a full launch of its cab-hailing services in Kolkata following the success of the pilot, launched in partnership with the West Bengal government’s Yatri Sathi app.
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