Meta, ONDC Join Hands To Help Small Businesses, Digitally Upskill 5 Lakh MSMEs

As part of the collaboration, Meta will extend support to Sahayak, ONDC's WhatsApp chatbot, enhancing its services as the primary point of communication for both sellers and customers.

Facebook-Parent Meta and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) have teamed up to empower small businesses to unlock the potential of digital commerce. The initiative aims to educate and enable small businesses to create seamless conversational experiences for both buyers and sellers on WhatsApp, utilising a network of business and technical solution providers curated by Meta. This strategic partnership involves ONDC facilitating these solution providers in becoming seller apps, integrating the businesses they serve into the ONDC Network to drive digital commerce.

To kickstart this collaboration, the Meta Small Business Academy will digitally upskill 500,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) over the next two years. The academy, a manifestation of Meta's commitment to upskilling 10 million small businesses nationwide, offers certification programs to empower entrepreneurs and marketers with essential digital marketing skills for growth on Meta apps.

Speaking about the collaboration, T Koshy, the Managing Director and CEO of ONDC, expressed the organisation's dedication to democratising the digital landscape and fostering MSME empowerment. The partnership, he emphasised, aims to not only enhance the digital capabilities of these businesses but also to broaden their reach and connect with a diverse customer base.

Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President of Meta in India, highlighted Meta's role as a frontrunner in supporting India's digital transformation. Devanathan emphasised the importance of ecosystem and partnership in enabling millions of small businesses to establish and strengthen their digital presence. The collaboration aligns with the government's vision for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Meta's commitment to skilling small businesses, contributing to the rapid digital transformation and growth in the country.

As part of the collaboration, Meta will extend support to Sahayak, ONDC's WhatsApp chatbot, enhancing its services as the primary point of communication for both sellers and customers. Earlier this year, Meta launched the 'WhatsApp Se Wyapaar' program, aiming to upskill 10 million traders across India in 11 languages on the WhatsApp Business app. With over 200 million users of the WhatsApp Business app globally, and more than 60% of Indian WhatsApp users engaging with business accounts, the collaborative efforts between ONDC and Meta are poised to catalyze a transformative journey for millions of small businesses in the digital realm.