Meta has announced a strategic partnership with India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to enhance digital commerce capabilities for small businesses through WhatsApp. The collaboration focuses on developing conversational commerce experiences via business solution providers.
In this two-year initiative, Meta plans to digitally train 500,000 MSMEs through its Small Business Academy program, contributing to their larger goal of upskilling 10 million small businesses across India. The academy offers certification in digital marketing skills specifically for Meta’s platforms.
The partnership will also enhance ONDC’s WhatsApp chatbot, Sahayak, to improve seller and customer communication services. This builds upon Meta’s existing “WhatsApp Se Wyapaar” program, which aims to train 10 million traders across India in 11 languages.
According to Meta, the WhatsApp Business app currently serves over 200 million users globally, with more than 60% of Indian WhatsApp users engaging with business accounts.
T Koshy, ONDC’s CEO, emphasized their commitment to democratizing the digital landscape, while Meta India VP Sandhya Devanathan highlighted the importance of ecosystem partnerships in advancing digital inclusion for MSMEs.
