Zoho Corporation Commits Rs 70 Crore To ONDC To Boost MSME Digital Access

New Delhi, May 15 (KNN) Global technology company Zoho Corporation has announced an investment of Rs 70 crore in the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), reaffirming its commitment to building sovereign technology and expanding digital access for businesses across India.

Backing MSMEs Through Open Commerce

Sivaramakrishnan Iswaran, CEO and Global Head of Finance and Operations BU, Zoho Payment Technologies, said, "India's economy depends heavily on MSMEs, yet they face challenges on all fronts—from limited market access to structural constraints imposed by conventional digital platforms that rarely align with their unique needs. ONDC, which is an excellent initiative, gives power back to MSMEs, enabling them to expand their customer reach and achieve sustainable growth,"

He noted that Zoho's investment is rooted in a shared philosophy with ONDC — that technology must be accessible, flexible, and inclusive for enterprises of every size. 

Iswaran framed the investment as part of a broader responsibility of the private sector in national development, stating, “In alignment with this vision, Zoho is proud to contribute to this ambitious initiative, strengthening the country's Digital Public Infrastructure and paving the way for broader, more equitable participation in the digital economy."

Zoho already supports MSME digitisation through a suite of applications integrated with the ONDC network, including Vikra, its seller app, alongside Zoho ERP, Zoho Books, Zoho Inventory, and Zoho Commerce. The fresh investment is aimed at accelerating ecosystem expansion and driving broader network adoption.

ONDC's Growing Footprint

ONDC, which builds open digital rails to democratise commerce through interoperability and inclusivity, enabled 218 million transactions in FY2025–26. Its impact spans retail, logistics, mobility, and financial services. 

The network's DigiDukaan initiative has onboarded over 10,000 kirana stores since launch, while order volumes for farmers, artisans, and rural sellers grew eleven times during the year through ONDC-enabled commerce models.

On the logistics side, ONDC helped scale a first-in-first-out fleet allocation model by 50 times within six months, improving earnings for gig workers. Metro ticketing powered by ONDC is now live across nine metro systems and accessible through more than 25 applications, reflecting adoption well beyond traditional e-commerce.

(KNN Bureau)