ONDC for restaurants — the Open Network for Digital Commerce — is a government-backed initiative to make online ordering an open network rather than a few closed apps. For owners tired of high aggregator commissions, it is worth understanding, without the hype.
How ONDC is different
On a traditional aggregator, one app controls discovery, ordering and delivery end to end. ONDC unbundles these: a buyer app, a seller app and logistics providers interoperate over a shared network. In theory that means more places a hungry customer can find your restaurant, and more competition on the fees you pay.
The potential upside
- Lower take rates: an open, competitive network can pressure the commission you pay per order.
- Wider discovery: your menu can surface across multiple buyer apps, not just one.
- More control: you are less dependent on a single platform’s ranking and rules.
It is early, and experiences vary by city and category, so treat ONDC as an additional channel to test rather than a replacement for what already works.
What you need to get on
You join through a seller-side app or provider that connects you to the network, then publish a clean, structured menu with accurate items, prices, taxes and availability. The same menu hygiene that helps on aggregators — good names, correct GST, real stock status — matters here too.
Keep it on one order board
The moment ONDC becomes another screen your staff juggle, its cost advantage evaporates in missed and mis-keyed orders. Route ONDC into the same live order stream as dine-in, QR and your other aggregators, sharing one menu and stock. Restro Sarthi already lists ONDC among its unified channels, so testing it does not add operational load.
