ONDC Monthly Support Schemes: A Game-Changer for Retail, Logistics, Grocery, F&B, and D2C Businesses

In the digital age, e-commerce is no longer just about big players like Amazon and Flipkart. Small retailers, grocery shop owners, logistics providers, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands are also joining the online revolution. To make this shift smoother and more inclusive, the Government of India launched ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce).

Now, ONDC has taken another big step by rolling out monthly support schemes for different sectors like logistics, retail, grocery, food & beverages (F&B), and D2C businesses. These schemes aim to reduce costs, improve digital adoption, and give smaller businesses the confidence to compete with giants.

This blog will explain in simple terms what ONDC is, why these support schemes are important, how they work, and what benefits they bring for entrepreneurs and consumers.

What is ONDC?

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is a government-backed initiative designed to democratize online business in India.

• It works like UPI for e-commerce – just as UPI allows different banks to connect for payments, ONDC allows buyers and sellers to connect across platforms.
• Instead of being stuck with one big marketplace, businesses can list their products/services once and become discoverable to customers across multiple apps and networks.
• It ensures fair competition, lower costs, and equal opportunities for both small businesses and large enterprises.

In short, ONDC breaks the monopoly of big e-commerce platforms and empowers kirana stores, small retailers, startups, and service providers.

Why Monthly Support Schemes Are Important

Shifting to digital commerce can be challenging for small businesses. They face:

1. High setup costs – Technology, apps, online catalogs, digital ads.
2. Lack of logistics support – Delivering products on time and at affordable rates.
3. Limited customer reach – Competing against well-funded big brands.
4. Low margins – Rising operational costs often eat into profits.

The ONDC monthly support schemes are designed to bridge this gap by:

• Offering discounts and incentives to sellers.
• Reducing the logistics burden.
• Supporting digital adoption (catalog creation, onboarding).
• Making businesses more visible to online buyers.

Sectors Covered Under ONDC Monthly Support

1. Logistics

• Logistics is the backbone of e-commerce.
• ONDC is offering schemes to make deliveries cheaper and faster.
• This helps small shops deliver orders without depending on expensive third-party platforms.

2. Retail

• Traditional retail stores can digitally list their products and reach new customers.
• Monthly schemes include reduced seller fees, visibility boosts, and catalog-building support.
• Retailers can now grow sales without heavy investments in their own apps.

3. Grocery

• Kirana shops are the heart of Indian commerce.
• ONDC support schemes help grocery stores manage:
  • Inventory digitization
  • Online orders & delivery
  • Customer loyalty programs
• Customers also benefit with better deals, discounts, and faster deliveries.

4. Food & Beverages (F&B)

• Restaurants, cloud kitchens, and food outlets often pay high commissions (20–30%) to delivery apps.
• ONDC schemes reduce commission costs and increase direct visibility.
• This helps F&B outlets earn more while offering cheaper prices to customers.

5. D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) Brands

• India’s D2C market is booming – from fashion labels to organic products.
• ONDC support schemes provide:
  • Marketing incentives
  • Logistics discounts
  • Customer acquisition support
• This levels the playing field for emerging brands competing with big names.

Key Benefits of ONDC Monthly Support Schemes

1. Lower Costs for Sellers – Reduced logistics and commission fees.
2. Wider Reach – Access to customers across multiple buyer apps.
3. Better Margins – Small businesses keep more profit.
4. Fair Competition – Even kirana shops can compete with large chains.
5. Customer Benefits – More product choices, competitive pricing, and faster deliveries.
6. Boost to Digital India – Supports the government’s goal of making India a digital-first economy.

How Small Businesses Can Use These Schemes

• Register on ONDC via a seller partner app.
• Create an online catalog of products/services.
• Use the support schemes for logistics discounts, marketing boosts, and service fee waivers.
• Engage with customers digitally (offers, promotions, loyalty points).
• Expand gradually – start with local customers, then target regional and national reach.

Real-Life Example

Imagine a small grocery store in Lucknow.

• Earlier, the shop owner depended only on walk-in customers.
• After joining ONDC, the shop:
  • Digitized its inventory.
  • Started receiving online orders through buyer apps.
  • Used the logistics support scheme to deliver within the city at low cost.
• Result: Sales grew by 40% in 3 months, with no heavy investment.

This shows how ONDC support schemes are practical and result-oriented.

Future of ONDC and Business Growth

The ONDC network is expected to:

• Bring 1 crore+ sellers online by 2030.
• Reduce dependency on large monopolistic platforms.
• Generate new employment opportunities in logistics, digital services, and local commerce.
• Encourage innovation in D2C and retail sectors.

With these monthly support schemes, ONDC is signaling its commitment to long-term digital growth for India’s businesses.

Conclusion

The launch of ONDC monthly support schemes is a big win for small businesses, retailers, kirana stores, and startups. By providing financial relief, digital visibility, and logistics support, ONDC is reshaping India’s digital economy.

If you are a retailer, grocery shop owner, restaurant, logistics provider, or D2C entrepreneur, this is the right time to join ONDC and take advantage of these schemes.

ONDC is not just a platform – it’s a movement towards democratizing digital commerce in India.

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