Tag: ONDC

  • Visa and ONDC Join Forces to Revolutionize Tourism Discovery in India

    Visa and ONDC Join Forces to Revolutionize Tourism Discovery in India

    Visa and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) have announced plans to explore a collaboration aimed at enhancing tourism discovery and digital commerce in India. The announcement was made at the Global Fintech Festival 2026.

    The proposed partnership seeks to help travelers find destinations, tourism experiences, itineraries, and local businesses through digital channels. Visa and ONDC will assess how Visa’s digital commerce and discovery capabilities can integrate with ONDC’s open network infrastructure.

    Digital Tourism Discovery Network

    The initiative will focus on leveraging open network technology, trusted digital commerce, and digital tools to improve how travelers search for tourism services. The envisioned system could allow users to discover cities, attractions, travel plans, and businesses through connected digital services.

    Suresh Sethi, Visa Group Country Manager for India and South Asia, noted that open networks have become a vital part of India’s digital development. He emphasized that travelers increasingly expect digital tools to help plan journeys and find relevant experiences. “Tourism can be a very important asset where ONDC can serve as the digital infrastructure for tourism in the country,” Sethi said at the Global Fintech Festival 2026.

    Sethi also highlighted the growing use of digital agents to build travel plans and help users discover services. He suggested that a tourism network could bring together information about cities, travel itineraries, experiences, and small businesses in a connected digital system. “Everything related to tourism, whether discovering experiences, cities or travel itineraries, as well as small and medium businesses of the ecosystem can potentially be housed in one place,” he added.

    Connecting Travelers with Local Businesses

    ONDC views tourism as part of its broader mission to create digital markets for sellers while offering buyers more choices. The network already operates across sectors such as retail, financial services, and logistics.

    Hrushikesh Mehta, Chief Business Officer for Financial Services at ONDC, revealed that the network has processed over 500 million lifetime transactions. He explained that ONDC now sees tourism as another area where its open commerce model can connect buyers with service providers. “At ONDC, our North Star is creating markets for sellers and choice for buyers, whether it is in retail, financial services, logistics or tourism,” Mehta said.

    Mehta also noted that ONDC has received support from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for its tourism track. However, he stressed the need for stronger participation from the demand side. “We are very keen to work with Visa to see what we can do together to make that happen and help connect travellers with the diverse experiences that India has to offer,” he stated.

    Expanding Access to India’s Tourism Services

    Under the proposed collaboration, Visa and ONDC will explore ways to connect travelers with tourism providers across different destinations and regions. They will also assess how digital discovery tools can make local tourism businesses more accessible.

    The approach could cover travel experiences, destination information, itineraries, and services offered by small and medium enterprises. It may also provide an additional digital channel for tourism operators participating in ONDC’s open network.

    Visa would contribute its digital commerce and discovery capabilities, while ONDC would provide its open network infrastructure. No launch date or detailed rollout plan has been announced yet. For now, the initiative remains in the exploration phase, with both organizations evaluating potential models for tourism discovery and digital commerce to serve domestic and international travelers across India.

  • Flipkart Gears Up to Challenge Zomato and Swiggy with Low-Cost Food Delivery

    Flipkart Gears Up to Challenge Zomato and Swiggy with Low-Cost Food Delivery

    Flipkart, the Walmart-owned e-commerce giant, is preparing to enter India’s competitive food delivery market with a disruptive low-commission model. The company is set to launch its service in Bengaluru around August 15, with initial reports indicating that restaurants across the city are already being onboarded onto the platform.

    One of the most striking aspects of Flipkart’s entry is its proposed 10% commission rate for restaurant partners, significantly lower than the 16% to 30% typically charged by established players like Zomato and Swiggy. This aggressive pricing strategy could attract restaurants looking to reduce operational costs and pass on savings to customers.

    Flipkart’s foray into food delivery is expected to shake up a market that has long been dominated by Zomato and Swiggy. Reports suggest that Flipkart is taking a different approach than its competitors, exploring the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) as part of its long-term strategy to scale its food delivery business. This move aligns with the Indian government’s push for open, interoperable e-commerce.

    Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy has confirmed that the rollout will be phased. The company will first test the service with a limited set of users, gather feedback, refine the offering, and then scale it up. This cautious approach indicates Flipkart aims to deliver a polished experience from the outset.

    Flipkart brings several advantages to the table, including a vast existing customer base, one of the country’s largest delivery networks, and the financial backing of Walmart. These strengths could help the company gain significant traction soon after its launch.

    However, food delivery is a challenging business. Low commissions alone will not guarantee success. Fast and reliable delivery partners, efficient logistics, and excellent customer service are equally crucial. Zomato and Swiggy have spent years building these capabilities. If Flipkart wants to be a serious contender, it must match their operational excellence.

    Flipkart’s entry could inject much-needed competition into India’s food delivery market. If it can deliver both great service and lower costs, it could become a strong alternative for both restaurants and consumers. The coming months will reveal whether this new player can carve out a significant share of the market.