Hero MotoCorp claimed it is the first automobile company in the country to join ONDC
At the outset, Hero Motocorp will offer two-wheeler parts, accessories and merchandise on the open network via buyer apps such as Paytm and Mystore
ONDC is aggressively expanding its offerings and onboarding new players onto the network to grow its reach
Automobile giant Hero MotoCorp has joined the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) in a bid to further bolster its reach and enhance customer convenience.
The company announced the tie-up with the state-backed network in a statement on Monday (May 13). With this, the two-wheeler manufacturer claims to have become the country’s first auto company to join the platform.
At the outset, Hero Motocorp will offer two-wheeler parts, accessories and merchandise on the open network. The products will be available for purchase via buyer-side apps such as Paytm, Mystore, among others.
The company said that joining ONDC will enable it to offer “easily accessible digital mode” to customers. It added that the integration will speed up order processing by enabling hyperlocal deliveries and leveraging the company’s physical distribution network.
“… Now with ONDC Network, we have pioneered the automotive taxonomy for the auto industry, making it easier for customers to find vehicle parts and accessories to begin with. With this initiative, Hero MotoCorp is furthering the government’s Digital India mission and we will continue to bring in more innovation in this space,” said Hero MotoCorp CEO Niranjan Gupta.
Commenting on the partnership, ONDC CEO and managing director T Koshy said, “Hero MotoCorp joining the ONDC network is a significant step forward for the two-wheeler industry. When brands like Hero MotoCorp embrace the Open Network, it reaffirms our vision of driving digital transformation in the country by creating a fair and efficient ecosystem for all kinds of businesses to thrive. We are confident that this will pave the way for others to follow”.
The development comes at a time when ONDC is aggressively expanding its offerings and onboarding new players onto the network. Last month, it was reported that the Centre directed ecommerce giants Flipkart and Amazon to set up storefronts on ONDC to help the state-backed platform scale up operations and facilitate deliveries.
Digital payments app Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) is also said to be all set to join the ONDC bandwagon with an eye on increasing its shares in the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transactions. Not just this, it was also recently reported that ONDC was in talks with news media platforms to join the platform.
Launched in 2021 under the aegis of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), ONDC is a network based on open protocol that will enable local commerce across multiple segments including grocery, mobility, among others.
The platform had more than 2.3 Lakh sellers and service providers at the end of 2023.
