Commerce Ministry Highlights Measures To Protect MSMEs In AI-Powered Agentic Shopping Era

New Delhi, Dec 9 (KNN) Amid growing use of AI-powered agentic shopping, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday highlighted measures to prevent the digital exclusion of small businesses, local traders, and MSMEs.

Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada noted that agentic shopping is increasingly shaping consumer behavior and digital commerce.

Agentic commerce is a new form of online shopping in which an AI agent completes tasks such as searching for items, comparing them and making a purchase with minimal or no manual inputs from users.

While this innovation enhances convenience for consumers, it poses challenges for retailers, particularly those not integrated with major e-commerce platforms, risking reduced visibility and market access.

Support Through India AI Mission

To address these challenges, the Minister said, India AI Mission provides startups, MSMEs, and innovators with access to AI tools, computing resources, and data platforms.

The mission focuses on capacity building, development of indigenous AI models, and responsible AI deployment in commerce, enabling smaller enterprises to compete in a technology-driven environment.

Promoting Inclusive Market Access via ONDC

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative aims to create an open, platform-neutral ecosystem, ensuring all sellers—including small and local businesses—can reach consumers across multiple digital marketplaces.

ONDC enhances transparency and fairness by making all sellers equally visible, clarifying listing and ranking mechanisms, and adopting open standards to prevent biased practices.

(KNN Bureau)