Empowering Small Businesses with Protean Open Commerce: The Complete Solution

In a world where digital transformation is reshaping how businesses operate, small sellers, like local Kirana stores, often find themselves at a crossroads. These businesses are essential to the fabric of communities but struggle to compete with larger, digitally-savvy players. There comes Protean Open Commerce—an all-encompassing platform designed to level the playing field, offering small sellers the tools they need to thrive in a digital-first marketplace.

Protean Open Commerce is not just another e-commerce platform; it’s a comprehensive ecosystem built to support every aspect of a small seller's journey. From onboarding to order processing, and from payment reconciliation to growth management, Protean Open Commerce ensures that small sellers can seamlessly transition into the digital world while continuing to serve their loyal customers.

Challenges Faced by Small Sellers

Local Kirana stores and small sellers face numerous challenges in today’s marketplace:

1. Lack of Digital Presence: Many small sellers still operate offline, limiting their ability to reach new customers.
2. Resource Constraints: Small businesses often lack the technical expertise and resources needed to establish an online presence.
3. Complex Regulatory Environment: Navigating the complexities of compliance with ONDC protocols, such as KYC verification and tax regulations, can be overwhelming.
4. Fierce Competition: Competing with large e-commerce platforms requires significant investment in technology, marketing, and logistics.

Protean Open Commerce: A One-Stop Solution

Protean Open Commerce is designed to address these challenges, providing small sellers with a full suite of tools and services to help them succeed in the digital marketplace. Here’s how:

1. Core Offerings

At the core of Protean Open Commerce is the ONDC Infrastructure Layer, which provides the foundational technology that powers the entire ecosystem. This layer includes the Gateway, Registry, and ONDC Adapters, ensuring seamless connectivity between buyers, sellers, and service providers.

• Gateway: Enables secure and efficient transactions between buyers and sellers.
• Registry: A centralised repository that manages the identity and credentials of all network participants.
• ONDC Adapters: Facilitate integration with various systems, allowing small sellers to connect to the ONDC network without requiring extensive technical expertise.

By leveraging the ONDC Infrastructure Layer, small sellers can quickly and easily connect to a nationwide network of buyers and service providers. 

2. Solution Applications

The ONDC Application Layer provides small sellers with the tools they need to establish and manage their online presence. This layer includes both B2C and B2B applications for buyers and sellers, allowing small businesses to cater to both individual consumers and other businesses.

• B2C Buyer Application: A user-friendly platform that allows customers to browse and purchase products from small sellers, with integrated payment and delivery options.
• B2C Seller Application: Enables small sellers to list their products, manage inventory, and process orders with ease.
• B2B Buyer Application: Designed for businesses looking to purchase goods in bulk, this application streamlines the procurement process for both buyers and sellers.
• B2B Seller Application: Allows small sellers to tap into the B2B market, offering their products to other businesses through a dedicated platform.

These applications are designed to be intuitive and easy to use, enabling small sellers to quickly set up and manage their online stores without the need for extensive technical knowledge.

3. Marketplace Operations

One of the biggest challenges for small sellers is managing the day-to-day operations of their online business. Protean Open Commerce’s Marketplace Operations module provides a comprehensive set of tools to simplify these tasks:

• Merchant Onboarding: It offers a streamlined process that helps small sellers get started quickly, with minimal paperwork and hassle.
• Seller on Record: The platform ensures that small sellers comply with all necessary regulations and standards, providing them with the legal and financial protections they need.
• KYC Verification: Protean Open Commerce simplifies the process of verification of identities of customers, reducing the risk of fraud and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Catalogue Digitalisation: It converts physical product catalogues into digital formats, making it easy for small sellers to list and manage their products online.
• Catalog QC (Quality Control): The platform ensures that all product listings meet the necessary quality standards, helping small sellers maintain a professional and trustworthy online presence.
• Assisted Order Processing: It provides support for managing orders, from processing payments to arranging deliveries, ensuring a seamless customer experience.

With these tools, small sellers can focus on what they do best—serving their customers—while Protean Open Commerce handles the complexities of running an online business.

4. Value-Added Services

Protean Open Commerce goes beyond the basics, offering a range of Value-Added Services (VAS) designed to help small sellers grow their business and improve efficiency:

• Digital Business Card: A simple and effective way is available for small sellers to share their contact information and promote their business online.
• Merchant Success: It provides ongoing support and guidance to help small sellers succeed, from marketing tips to business strategy advice.
• Growth Management: A suite of tools and services are present on the platform that have been designed to help small sellers expand their business, from data analytics to targeted marketing campaigns.
• Integrated Grievance Management: A system for handling customer complaints and issues is available, ensuring that small sellers can maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Catalogue as a Service: The platform offers professional catalogue creation and management services, helping small sellers present their products in the best possible light.

These value-added services are designed to help small sellers not only survive but thrive in the competitive world of e-commerce.

5. Reconciliation and Settlement Framework

Managing payments and ensuring timely settlements is a critical aspect of running an online business. Protean Open Commerce’s Reconciliation and Settlement Framework provides a secure and efficient solution for handling financial transactions.

• Reconciliation: It ensures that all transactions are accurately recorded and reconciled, reducing the risk of errors and discrepancies.
• Settlement: It facilitates the timely and secure settlement of payments, ensuring that small sellers receive their funds promptly.

This framework provides small sellers with the financial security and peace of mind they need to focus on growing their business.

A Local Kirana Store’s Transformation

Let’s consider a practical example of how a local Kirana store can benefit from Protean Open Commerce.

The Challenge: A Kirana store in a small town has been serving the local community for years. However, with the rise of online shopping and larger retail chains, the store is losing customers and struggling to compete. The store owner is eager to expand but lacks the resources and knowledge to establish an online presence.

The Solution: By adopting Protean Open Commerce, the Kirana store can overcome these challenges and take its business to the next level:

• Core Offerings: The store can quickly connect to the ONDC network, expanding its reach to customers across the country.
• Solution Applications: The store can easily set up an online shop using the B2C Seller Application.
• Marketplace Operations: The store can use Protean Open Commerce’s tools to manage day-to-day operations, from KYC verification to catalogue digitalisation.
• Value-Added Services: The store might leverage growth management tools to increase sales, using data analytics to understand customer preferences and targeted marketing to reach new customers.
• Reconciliation and Settlement Framework: The store can handle payments securely, with timely settlements ensuring that funds are available when needed.

The Result: Within months, the Kirana store sees a significant increase in sales, both online and offline. The store owner can now compete with larger retailers and offer customers the convenience of online shopping while maintaining the personal touch that has made the store a community favourite.

The Future of Small Sellers with Protean Open Commerce

The future is bright for small sellers who embrace digital transformation. Protean Open Commerce is committed to supporting these businesses, providing them with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed in a rapidly changing market.

As more small sellers adopt Protean Open Commerce, we can expect to see a shift in how local businesses operate. By leveraging the power of digital commerce, small sellers can expand their reach, improve their operations, and compete on a level playing field with larger players.

Conclusion

Protean Open Commerce offers a comprehensive solution that empowers small businesses to establish and grow their online presence and drive growth. From seamless ONDC integration to secure payment processing and value-added services, Protean Open Commerce provides everything small sellers need to succeed in the digital marketplace.

- Story by Kakoli Laha