ONDC Launches Saarthi App to Enhance Multilingual E-Commerce
The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) introduced Saarthi, a new reference application aimed at helping businesses create customized multilingual buyer apps. Developed in collaboration with Bhashini, an AI-powered language translation tool, Saarthi is designed to enhance digital commerce accessibility by offering advanced multilingual capabilities.
Initially, Saarthi will support five languages: Hindi, English, Marathi, Bangla, and Tamil. Future updates will expand this to all 22 languages supported by Bhashini, ensuring businesses can cater to a diverse customer base across India. This feature is intended to provide a more inclusive shopping experience, breaking down language barriers and improving accessibility for users.
T Koshy, MD and CEO of ONDC, emphasized the significance of Saarthi in advancing digital commerce. “The launch of Saarthi marks a crucial step towards a more inclusive digital commerce landscape. By enabling businesses to develop multilingual buyer apps, we are eliminating language barriers and unlocking new opportunities for engagement and growth”, Koshy stated.
The app’s multilingual capabilities include real-time translation, transliteration, and voice recognition, which are expected to help businesses reach new markets and boost customer acquisition. Saarthi’s features also aim to improve customer engagement and loyalty by providing a personalized user experience.
Amitabh Nag, CEO of Bhashini, highlighted the impact of the collaboration. “Working with ONDC on Saarthi underscores Bhashini’s commitment to overcoming language barriers in digital commerce”, Nag said.
Overall, Saarthi is expected to drive higher conversion rates, reduce support costs, and streamline operations, particularly benefiting underserved regions where language barriers have traditionally limited e-commerce growth.
