Zoho Corporation has disclosed a Rs 70 crore investment in Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to bolster sovereign technology and enhance India’s digital public infrastructure. The global technology firm based in Chennai aims to make technology more accessible and inclusive for businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Sivaramakrishnan Iswaran, Zoho’s CEO of Payment Technologies and Global Head of Finance and Operations BU, highlighted the challenges faced by MSMEs and emphasized ONDC’s role in empowering them to broaden customer reach and achieve sustainable growth.
The company shared that ONDC facilitated 218 million transactions in FY2025-26, expanding its reach across various sectors like retail, logistics, mobility, and financial services. Zoho’s finance and commerce applications such as Vikra, Zoho ERP, Zoho Books, Zoho Inventory, and Zoho Commerce have been instrumental in aiding MSMEs in digitalizing operations and accessing broader markets through the ONDC Network. This fresh investment is expected to enhance ONDC’s ecosystem and expedite digital commerce adoption among businesses nationwide.
ONDC is constructing open digital commerce rails to promote interoperability, inclusivity, and efficiency across sectors while addressing challenges like fragmented systems, high entry barriers, and trust deficits in digital commerce. Notably, ONDC’s DigiDukaan onboarded over 10,000 kirana stores shortly after its launch, witnessing a significant 11-fold growth in order volumes for farmers, artisans, and rural sellers during FY2025-26 through ONDC-enabled commerce models. In the logistics domain, ONDC’s FIFO fleet allocation model expanded 50 times in six months, enhancing utilization and income opportunities for gig workers.
