How ONDC Network is Going to Transform Selling For Indian Amazon Sellers

The powers at Amazon know they are the undisputed industry giant and don’t shy away from leveraging that status to their advantage. Hundreds of Amazon sellers in India are leaving the marketplace as they feel the scales are heavily tipped against small players.

The platform’s algorithms somehow always put a handful of vendors on the top of product searches. And with constantly changing regulations, hefty commission fees, and a severe lack of transparency, it’s no wonder that many sellers can’t even generate a net positive ROI. The worst part, they don’t really have a viable alternative to sell on. Or so they think.

ONDC network to the rescue of Amazon Sellers

In a bid to curb the dominance of eCommerce giants and help the small, local sellers, the Indian government launched ONDC network in April 2022. The idea is to allow all scales of merchants to register on a democratic platform and make their products discoverable to pan-India buyers.

For every success story on Amazon, there are hundreds of Indian sellers who find the platform challenging and incapable of improving their profitability. Amazon, and to a smaller extent, Flipkart, control India’s entire eCommerce landscape. Also, these platforms are notorious for giving preferential treatment to their hand-picked merchants while the rest operate on razor-thin margins.

ONDC network wants to break the monolithic platform-centric approach and bring sellers, buyers, and logistics partners together on a level playing field. Amazon sellers on ONDC network will get access to a nationwide customer base without paying exorbitant commission fees.

Buyers can make a product inquiry via a compatible buyer app and match with sellers from all platforms based on parameters like price, location, delivery time, ratings, etc. All in all, the Open Network is a revolutionary concept that promises to elevate the eCommerce experience for buyers and sellers alike. By 2027, the open network aims to onboard 900 Mn buyers and 1.2 Mn vendors.

Amazon-based merchants can become a part of this journey by participating in this novel initiative via a feature-rich platform like Mystore. Still not convinced why ONDC network is a game changer for struggling Amazon sellers in India? Let’s look at just some of the perks of integrating your existing eCommerce business with the democratic platform through Mystore:

5 Perks of Joining ONDC Network via Mystore for Amazon Vendors

ONDC network offers Amazon vendors a host of business benefits. Join now and get access to a seamless dashboard, hands-on support, integrated marketing tools, and more. Here’s what Amazon vendors can look forward to when joining the open network:

1. Better market penetration and brand visibility

Is your Amazon listing suffering from poor visibility? Well, thousands of fellow merchants have endured the same fate. One major drawback of Amazon’s incredibly vast reach is that it harbours excessive competition, thus keeping local sellers from gaining any sort of meaningful traffic. Vendors have to jump through hoops just to reach the top of Amazon search results, let alone stay there for any tangible sales opportunity.

Having the right product to be a successful Amazon merchant is not enough. You need a flawless marketing strategy and best SEO practices to reach the pinnacle of Amazon search results. Naturally, MSMEs and local shopkeepers don’t have the finances or technical expertise.

However, ONDC network negates these flaws by offering a decentralised, all-inclusive platform where all sellers are accessible to all buyers across the country. Amazon vendors on ONDC network can upload their entire product catalogue in minutes through Mystore and cater to millions of potential customers. The not-for-profit platform encourages small players to build a robust online presence without barriers or predatory practices designed explicitly to restrict their growth.

2. No predatory policies or hefty commissions

With intense competition comes intense price wars. Newbie sellers, in their naivety,  think that selling their products for a less-than-market price will alone attract customers. But all that does is disrupt the market, as everyone will be forced to operate on a razor-thin profit margin. Plus, marketplaces like Amazon charge a hefty commission fee (ranging from 15-38% of total cart value), thus leaving little breathing room for a positive cash influx.

Amazon vendors on ONDC network breathe a sigh of relief and don’t have to worry about losing money on a sale. Compared to Amazon, ONDC network-affiliated sellers don’t have to pay any transaction fee. The typical commission rate sellers are charged for selling on the open network ranges between 5-8% of the cart value. Through the Mystore seller app, vendors can kickstart their selling journey for zero subscription fees, thus leaving them with better profit margins.

3. Comprehensive order & logistics management solutions

A few years ago, Amazon announced its commitment to invest in an improved logistics network. The supply-chain side was supposed to become faster, more efficient, more secure, and seller friendly. However, long-time sellers are less than impressed. Consumers have become accustomed to lightning-fast delivery (even same-day delivery), pushing merchants to the absolute limit. Without getting the help of a proven logistics partner, the entire supply chain could come crashing down.

On the other hand, migrating to an open network is a surefire way to improve your logistics capabilities. Mystore seller app offers a wide range of logistics and orders fulfilment solutions that can help you streamline your daily operations. Register on the open network and connect with ONDC network-approved logistics providers. From there, you can choose a fulfilment partner who perfectly aligns with your business goals.

4. Take complete control of your eCommerce business

If Amazon can dictate what products can and can’t be sold on their platform, sellers are bound to ask themselves, “Am I really the owner of my e-business?” Amazon has started to double down on its already strict community guidelines and removing seller accounts left and right for minor policy breaches. If you happen to be a small, local seller, your business is always at risk of inexplicably vanishing.

While having well-defined guidelines is good for the Amazon community, small players usually get the short end of the stick. ONDC network, meanwhile, lets you have complete control over your business. Amazon channel migration through Mystore enables sellers to formulate policies around pricing, discounts, terms of service, etc., that suit them and not the platform they sell on. Setting up a profitable eCommerce model through the Mystore seller app helps Indian sellers serve their customers better.

5. Create an omnichannel business strategy

“Omnichannel” is a term used extensively in eCommerce without many people knowing its significance. An “omnichannel strategy” helps provide a fully-optimized shopping experience across all sales channels. Amazon sellers in India don’t have the luxury of fine-tuning their sales and marketing approach for an enhanced shopping experience. More prominent players typically deploy these solutions. Hence, SMBs selling on Amazon lack an omnichannel strategy.

However, ONDC network, being a neutral, democratic platform, you can make your store a seamless part of your fulfilment strategy. While you sell on ONDC network you can use the built-in capabilities of advanced buyer apps like Mystore to build an omnichannel presence.

Conclusion

The journey to becoming a successful eCommerce entrepreneur is a challenging one. But having a platform designed to favour the sellers and not the platform itself is a massive advantage. That’s what ONDC network essentially boils down to - A seller-friendly, open-source platform that promotes inclusiveness, transparency, and interoperability.

Start selling on India’s fastest-growing ONDC network-connected marketplace in just a few clicks. Mystore sellers app is packed with a wide range of features to manage your business. An easy-to-use dashboard lets you add value to your store. Use Mystore’s advanced Integrated marketing tools to bracket your target audience.

Import your entire product catalogue from your Amazon account and leverage ONDC network’s ever-increasing penetration for unparalleled growth. Register now, experience the change, and tap into markets that were once beyond your reach With Mystore.