How do 'gateways' enable search in ONDC?

Read everything about ONDC at The Thoughtful Tangle | Garvit Sahdev | Substack

Let's break down the concept of a Gateway in the context of the Beckn Protocol and the ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) in simple terms.

In the world of digital commerce, a Gateway is like a matchmaker that helps buyers find sellers easily. Imagine you're in a big market, and you're looking for a specific item. The Gateway is like a friend who knows everyone in the market and can quickly tell you where to find what you're looking for.

Now, the Beckn Protocol, which powers ONDC, is like the magic behind this friend. It makes sure that your search request, like saying "I want to buy a mobile phone," is shared with all the sellers in the market who might have what you need. This sharing of your request is called multicasting. It's like your friend shouting in the market, "Hey, someone is looking for a mobile phone!"

But this shouting isn't random. The ONDC make sure that the search request is sent only to sellers who match certain criteria, like being close to your location, having the item in stock, or meeting other preferences you might have. So, it's not just any seller who hears the shout, but the right ones who are most likely to have what you want.

Initially, ONDC plans to provide this Gateway through their technology partners. It's like they're introducing this helpful friend to kick-start the whole process. This friend will be there to make sure buyers and sellers can easily connect and trade.

However, as things progress, the idea is that more and more friends (Gateways) will join in. These could be different companies or services offering their own unique ways of helping buyers and sellers connect. It's like more friends joining the group, each with their own special skills.

Now, let's look at a real-life example to simplify this further. Imagine you're in a small town in India, and you want to buy a traditional handcrafted item. You use ONDC to search for it.

The Gateway, like your helpful friend, takes your request and shares it with all the local sellers who specialize in traditional handcrafted items. It doesn't bother sellers who are far away or don't have what you're looking for.

Initially, this friend might be provided by ONDC, ensuring that buyers and sellers in this town can easily connect. But as more people in different towns hear about this helpful friend, more Gateways pop up. These could be new companies or services offering the same matchmaking help but with their own unique features.

So, in the end, you have a network of friends (Gateways) all over, making it super easy for buyers and sellers to find each other based on their preferences. It's like creating a digital marketplace that connects people seamlessly, just like how friends help you find what you need in a bustling?market.