Google to launch accelerator programme for ONDC

Technology giant Google will soon launch an accelerator programme for the government backed marketplace the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

Will Grannis, the chief technology officer of Google Cloud told ET, “We will be offering ONDC core and infrastructure application programming interfaces (APIs) as open source solutions. This will help them (network participants) join the network faster. We will also be starting a grant programme — the ONDC startup credits programme — for $25,000. We are still determining the size. The number of applicants etc., will be determined at a later date. But we will start this programme right away considering its importance.”

Grannis was speaking on the sidelines of the Google I/O Connect, a first such developers conference in Bengaluru by the company.

Separately, ONDC chief executive Thampy Koshy told ET, “Network participants need to implement core and infrastructure APIs in order to join ONDC. This open source solution (by Google) is a ready solution. Retail search and generative AI experiences will improve network experiences with multilingual catalogues, voice search etc. This is all available on Google Cloud.”

On how retail search and generative artificial intelligence will enhance buyer and seller experiences on the network, Grannis told ET, “generative AI can be useful when you’re taking a product description or product category and translating it into another language.”

“There are many local dialects here. That (translation) could save a lot of time. Second, with consumer and buyer preferences changing rapidly, you can see how a product looks in a different colour, and how that would create inbound demand. For artisanal goods or handmade goods which are a large part of businesses that tap into a network like this (ONDC), now you can build it and sell it. You can get demand signals beforehand and build what people actually want,” Grannis said.

This new offer is targeted at developers and those interested in building and getting plugged into the network, he clarified.