ONDC and Meta forge alliance to digitally upskill 500,000 small businesses

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ONDC and Meta forge alliance to digitally upskill 500,000 small businesses

ONDC and Meta forge alliance to digitally upskill 500,000 small businesses

Industry News
Dec 20,23

The Meta Small Business Academy provides entrepreneurs and marketers with a certification in digital marketing skills, specifically tailored to enhance their presence on Meta's applications.

ONDC and Meta forge alliance to digitally upskill 500,000 small businesses

Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) announced a strategic alliance with technology giant Meta to support small businesses.

Over the next two years, the Meta Small Business Academy aims to digitally empower 500,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), aligning with Meta's broader commitment to upskill 10 million small businesses nationwide.

The Meta Small Business Academy provides entrepreneurs and marketers with a certification in digital marketing skills, specifically tailored to enhance their presence on Meta's applications.

T Koshy, ONDC's MD and CEO, expressed confidence that the collaboration with Meta would not only enhance the digital capabilities of these businesses but also facilitate broader connections with a diverse customer base. He stated, "We are confident that our collaborative efforts will pave the way for millions of small businesses by providing them with the right impetus for growth."

Meta plans to educate MSMEs on creating seamless conversational experiences between buyers and sellers on WhatsApp through its network of business and technical solution providers. Simultaneously, ONDC, as a government-backed open e-commerce network, will assist these business solution providers in becoming seller apps, integrating the businesses they serve into the ONDC platform.

Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President at Meta in India, emphasised Meta's commitment to digital inclusion for MSMEs and its alignment with the government's vision for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). She stated, "Our partnership with ONDC builds on supporting the government’s vision for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and furthering our on-going commitment to skilling small businesses and aiding this rapid digital transformation and growth story in the country."

As part of the collaboration, Meta will also contribute to enhancing Sahayak, ONDC’s WhatsApp chatbot, which serves as the primary point of communication for sellers and customers on the ONDC platform.

Earlier this year, Meta initiated the 'WhatsApp Se Vyapaar' program, aiming to upskill 10 million traders in 29 states across India using the WhatsApp Business app. With over 200 million users of the WhatsApp Business app globally and more than 60% of WhatsApp users in India engaging with business accounts, the impact of this partnership is poised to contribute significantly to the digital transformation of small businesses in the country.

Source: Business Standard