India’s digital commerce growth got a significant boost when Zoho Corporation announced a ₹70 crore investment in the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This decision goes beyond just money. It shows a commitment to creating an open and inclusive digital space for small businesses in India.

For years, millions of MSMEs and kirana stores in India have struggled with limited online presence, high platform fees, and difficulty reaching customers. Even as digital commerce expanded rapidly, many small businesses became reliant on a few dominant platforms. ONDC was established to change this situation.

As an interoperable network, ONDC lets businesses of all sizes connect with customers without being restricted to one marketplace. The initiative works to make online business more accessible, affordable, and fair by lowering entry barriers and establishing open commerce routes.

Understanding this potential, Zoho made a ₹70 crore investment to help grow the network. The Chennai-based company has focused on empowering businesses with affordable technology, particularly for MSMEs.

Sivaramakrishnan Iswaran, CEO of Zoho Payment Technologies and Global Head of Finance and Operations at Zoho, highlighted that India’s economy relies heavily on MSMEs, yet many face ongoing challenges in the digital marketplace. He mentioned that ONDC helps small businesses regain power by giving them direct access to customers and allowing them to grow sustainably.

He added that Zoho and ONDC share a common goal of building independent technology that supports accessibility and inclusion for all businesses. Zoho believes the private sector plays a crucial role in nation-building.

ONDC has already gained momentum in areas like retail, logistics, mobility, and financial services. In FY 2025-26, the network facilitated over 218 million transactions, showing increased adoption across the country. Programs like DigiDukaan have successfully onboarded more than 10,000 kirana stores in just a few months, while rural sellers, farmers, and artisans have also seen higher order volumes.

Zoho has been actively supporting the digitization of MSMEs through products like Zoho Books, Zoho Inventory, Zoho Commerce, and Vikra, a seller app connected to the ONDC network. With this new investment, the company aims to accelerate India’s progress toward a more open, inclusive, and digitally empowered economy.