E-commerce policy likely to help small retailers in using technology

The proposed e-commerce policy that will soon be released by the industry department is expected to spell out measures to support small retailers, farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in adopting digital technology, people aware of the matter said.

Under the proposed policy, the Centre will also have to focus on promoting the government-backed e-commerce network Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). ONDC aims to reduce the cost of doing business. It will benefit small and traditional retailers, while curbing digital monopolies.

Under the proposed policy, the Centre will also have to focus on promoting the government-backed e-commerce network Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). ONDC aims to reduce the cost of doing business. It will benefit small and traditional retailers, while curbing digital monopolies.

Currently, the industry department is spreading the ONDC initiative and is gearing up towards a small-scale implementation of the open network. It will be initially done across two cities to see how the technology-enabled infrastructure works.

On Monday, Business Standard had reported that the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) is holding inter-ministerial consultations for the policy that will spell out the responsibilities of marketplaces and sellers.

Simply put, the government is trying to regulate India’s growing e-commerce space. It plans to make marketplaces more accountable and provide a level-playing field to traditional offline traders who are not able to catch up with the digital revolution in retail trade.

Through the policy, the government will direct e-commerce companies to come up with a mechanism that will ensure that counterfeit and pirated products are not sold by etailers. This is a move that is expected to bring relief to consumers who often get duped.

Etailers will not only have to quickly address such complaints raised by consumers, but will also have to delist sellers involved in selling fake items, officials said.

To boost exports through e-commerce, the government plans to bring e-commerce exports on par with non-e-commerce exports through policies enabling the idea.

There will also be an attempt to digitally integrate government bodies such as the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Department of Posts (DoP), Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN). This will facilitate e-commerce exports.