Flipkart Users will be Able to Order Food Using the ONDC Service Backed By The Government

Flipkart, the e-commerce giant owned by Walmart, is set to venture into the food and beverage (F&B) sector via the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). An ET report reveals that soon, Flipkart users will have the option to order from a diverse selection of restaurants directly through the Flipkart app. The report indicates that discussions between Flipkart and ONDC are progressing well, with executives from both sides meeting to finalize the partnership.

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Flipkart will be utilizing the customer-facing features of the ONDC platform, enabling users to place food orders while shopping for other products such as clothing and home accessories. This integration eliminates the need for Flipkart to maintain its own fleet of food delivery staff or establish direct partnerships with restaurants. Instead, food and beverage sellers on the ONDC platform will be accessible to Flipkart’s user base.

Flipkart’s entry into the Food & Beverage sector through ONDC has the potential to provide substantial advantages to users, such as competitive pricing. According to reports, the advanced integration stages were finalized in February 2024, but Flipkart has not yet launched its food-ordering service. This new service is expected to optimize Flipkart’s F&B operations, leading to cost savings by minimizing the requirement for extra delivery infrastructure.

ONDC has experienced consistent growth since it began, achieving 8.9 million transactions in May. The network has expanded its retail business, with categories such as grocery, fashion, home, and kitchen gaining prominence. In May, food orders represented approximately 20% of total retail transactions, a significant decrease from 76% the previous year when food was the sole category offered. Prominent companies like Amazon, Ola, PhonePe, Reliance Industries, and the Adani Group are also investigating ways to integrate their services with ONDC.

Flipkart, the e-commerce giant owned by Walmart, is set to venture into the food and beverage (F&B) sector by leveraging the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform. This integration will allow Flipkart users to order from a variety of restaurants directly through the Flipkart app, without the need for Flipkart to maintain its own delivery infrastructure. While the advanced integration stages were finalized in February 2024, Flipkart has not yet launched its food-ordering service. ONDC has experienced consistent growth, with expanding retail categories, though food orders have decreased as a percentage of total transactions. Other prominent companies are also exploring ways to integrate their services with ONDC.