Ministry of MSME’s TEAM Initiative Brings End-to-End Digital Commerce Support to 5 Lakh Micro and Small Enterprises via ONDC
TEAM Scheme to Empower Women and Rural Entrepreneurs Through E-Commerce
End-to-End Digital Commerce Support for Micro Enterprises Bridges Digital Divide for India’s Smallest Businesses
ONDC-Powered TEAM Scheme to Drive Inclusive Digital Growth for MSMEs
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is accelerating the digital transformation of India’s smallest businesses through the Trade Enablement and Access to Market (TEAM) Initiative, a transformative sub-scheme under the World Bank-supported Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance Programme (RAMP). Implemented by the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), the initiative aims to provide end-to-end e-commerce support to 5 lakh Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
Speaking on the initiative, Ms. Ankita Pandey, Director, Ministry of MSME, Government of India, described TEAM as a major step towards bridging the digital divide for India’s grassroots entrepreneurs by providing complete handholding support throughout their e-commerce journey.
Addressing the Digital Gap in India’s MSME Sector
India’s MSME sector contributes nearly 30% to the country’s GDP, yet a large number of micro and small enterprises continue to remain outside the digital economy due to limited awareness, technological barriers, and operational challenges associated with online commerce.
To address these gaps, the Ministry launched the TEAM Initiative on 27 June 2024 under the RAMP Programme, which was launched on 30 July 2022. The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹277.35 crore for a three-year period from FY 2024–25 to FY 2026–27.
The initiative seeks to empower artisans, home-based entrepreneurs, local manufacturers, and small retailers by enabling them to participate in digital commerce ecosystems with structured institutional support.
The TEAM Initiative
TEAM — Trade Enablement and Access to Market — is designed to onboard MSEs onto the ONDC Network while supporting them across every stage of e-commerce participation.
Under the initiative, beneficiary enterprises receive assistance for:
- Onboarding onto the ONDC Network
- Digital product catalogue creation
- Account management and customer communication
- Order generation and business scaling
- Packaging support and delivery logistics
Describing the initiative, Ms. Pandey said:
“This is not merely a scheme — it is a transformative initiative.”
ONDC: Democratising Digital Commerce
The Open Network for Digital Commerce, backed by DPIIT and the Ministry of Commerce, is an open digital commerce network designed to make e-commerce accessible, interoperable, and affordable for businesses of all sizes.
Unlike conventional e-commerce platforms, ONDC functions through a network-based architecture comprising:
- Seller Network Participants (SNPs): Platforms that onboard and support sellers
- Buyer Network Participants (BNPs): Consumer-facing platforms that generate demand
- Logistics Service Providers (LSPs): Partners handling packaging and delivery
Sharing her insights with Press Information Bureau, Ms. Pandey compared the impact of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) on commerce to the transformational role played by UPI in digital payments, highlighting that ONDC significantly reduces entry barriers and lowers commission costs for small businesses operating on thin margins.
Three-Phase Support Model
A key feature of the TEAM Initiative is its structured three-phase support framework through Seller Network Participants.
Phase 1 — Initial Onboarding
The MSE is onboarded onto ONDC, product catalogues are created, and the enterprise is supported in securing its first orders, with a minimum of two initial orders targeted.
Phase 2 — Sustenance
The SNP assists the enterprise in steadily increasing order volumes and improving digital business operations.
Phase 3 — Scaling Up
The enterprise is supported in expanding market reach, increasing its customer base, and achieving commercial maturity on the ONDC Network.
The performance-linked incentive structure for SNPs ensures sustained engagement and accountability throughout the onboarding and scaling process.
Financial Assistance and Beneficiary Coverage
The TEAM Initiative provides financial support through empanelled SNPs for:
- ONDC-compliant onboarding
- Catalogue creation
- Account management support
- Packaging and logistics assistance
The scheme is also accessible to beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme across 18 recognised traditional craft categories, subject to Udyam Registration.
Registration Process
Eligible enterprises can register through the following steps:
- Complete Udyam Registration (if not already registered)
- Register on the TEAM portal through the MSME website or directly via the TEAM platform
After registration, the TEAM support system guides enterprises through the onboarding and operational process.
Focus on Women and Marginalised Entrepreneurs
The initiative places strong emphasis on inclusive growth and equitable digital participation.
- Out of the targeted 5 lakh beneficiary enterprises, 50% are earmarked for women-owned businesses.
- Special outreach efforts are being undertaken in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as well as MSME clusters.
- SC/ST-led enterprises are among the priority beneficiary groups.
- Regional language support is being integrated to improve accessibility for entrepreneurs in non-metro regions.
Towards Inclusive Digital Commerce
The TEAM Initiative marks a major step in democratising digital commerce for India’s micro and small enterprises by providing structured, end-to-end support from onboarding to business scale-up.
With a target of supporting 5 lakh enterprises, a dedicated focus on women entrepreneurs, and a robust support architecture backed by ₹277.35 crore, the initiative is poised to become a key driver in India’s MSME digital transformation journey.
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Sunil Kumar Tiwari
(Release ID :288720)