The main flaws of ONDC is limited to D2C businesses like food delivery and product delivery. Mainly because non existent customer support and lack of customer choice in selecting logistics aggregator. Currently, atleast in my experience, the store had booked a delivery partner of their choice for delivering my product. I as customer has no say in this, and even don't get any support from the delivery service in case of any issues since I didn't book their service, the restaurant did.
I feel the easiest way to solve the delivery problem is to let the customer choose their delivery service. If the customer is given option, there will be some good aggregators like let's say Rapido, Zepto, Uber, maybe even services like Porter, DTDC, DHL. Customer can choose service based on customer ratings and feedback or price, upto them. Connecting with Delivery Agent in case of issue will also be much more streamlined in this case. These aggregators will also be in pressure to give good service to retain customers if competition is high
Now since, we talked of flaws, there is one area where ONDC is adopted to decent success. Media has hyped ONDC as Amazon killer, Flipkart killer etc etc that people are thinking it is just a platform to host stores and all. But many people forget ONDC is not just a digital bazar, it actually hosts all kind of business. One such business is Transport sector.
First Example, In West Bengal we have a govt backed app called Yatri Sathi, kind of a future super app for travel related activities. This app currently provide cabs, bike taxis, rentals services as well as online ticket booking for popular tourist places like Alipore Zoo, Eco Park, Victoria etc. In future with this app, govt bus ticket booking also will be possible. This app uses the ONDC network to function. Personally have used this app, great experience, ditched Uber which I use to use before. Prices are lower and driver satisfaction is also quite high as comission charged are very less.
Second Example, There is another app called RedBus, which is now providing Online Metro tickets for Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai Bangalore etc. This app also uses the ONDC network for this. Again, very convenient, kind of a super future app for all metro services in the country.
As more players come to the field, I can say ONDC will be successful in Transport Sector atleast.
Now, since we are talking of UPI, ONDC, there was a third initiative launched which was OCEN, something which was supposed to make credit market transparent and seemless. Anybody knows what happened to it?
m.economictimes.com
