Ola integrates a meal delivery plugin with ONDC.

Major ride-hailing company Ola has joined the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an online marketplace established by the Indian government to link consumers and businesses.The Bengaluru-based business has been working with ONDC on a test program since August, when it introduced a new "ONDC Food" option to the Ola app. Currently in its pilot stage, the feature is available to a limited number of Ola customers as well as Ola workers. Up until Friday night, it was exclusively accessible to staff members. After that, a select set of users began using it. On Friday afternoon, ET was the first to report on the development.Ola benefits greatly from this ONDC connection since it eliminates the headache of figuring out how to integrate customers and restaurant partners.

The next move would be to start delivering food to customers other than staff, an individual with intimate knowledge of the situation told ET.Interestingly, online markets for food delivery, online commerce, and online mobility see ONDC as a rival. Restaurants and food chains on ONDC can provide more competitive prices for food delivery since, depending on the buyer-seller agreements, fees are either reduced or eliminated.