Restaurants Aim to Regain Digital Ownership with ONDC

In a bold move to counteract the growing influence of food delivery giants Zomato and Swiggy, restaurants are turning to the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This initiative seeks to empower restaurants by allowing them to reclaim their digital presence and access crucial customer data, marking a significant shift in the competitive landscape of food delivery services.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

While the transition to ONDC promises long-term benefits, including reduced costs and the freedom to choose logistics partners, restaurants anticipate initial hurdles. The move is seen as a necessary step to counterbalance the private label ventures of Zomato and Swiggy, which have been leveraging customer data to curate their own food offerings, thereby encroaching on the traditional restaurant business model.

Industry Leaders Weigh In

Anurag Katriar of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) emphasized the importance of this shift, stating that it would enable restaurants to regain control over their digital territories. Despite the challenges, the adoption of ONDC is viewed as a pivotal strategy to ensure the sustainability and growth of the restaurant industry in the face of evolving digital commerce dynamics.