A new case study, ‘Beckn Protocol: Orchestrating Our Digital Future’ co-authored by Ms Chaitrali Bhoi, Project Lead for Open Networks for Carbon Markets (ONCM) and Research Associate at CDPG, and Prof. Srinivasan R, Chairperson of CDPG and faculty in the Strategy area at IIM Bangalore, has been published by Harvard Business School’s Impact Education initiative.
The case examines how the Beckn Protocol, developed by Networks for Humanity, is enabling a fundamental shift from platform-centric digital ecosystems to open networks where diverse participants can seamlessly discover, transact, and collaborate. It unpacks the protocol’s architecture, its growing ecosystem of adopters, and the principles underpinning its expansion as a digital public good. The case also explores the opportunities and challenges of scaling open networks, offering insights for governments, startups, and enterprises seeking to build more accessible and inclusive digital systems.
For the CDPG team, the journey to this publication was as significant as the outcome. The deep engagement with protocol thinking, open networks, and interoperable systems directly informed the architecture of the Open Network for Carbon Markets (ONCM), demonstrating how foundational research at CDPG translates into real-world design. The case is now part of Harvard’s teaching curriculum, contributing to classroom conversations on open digital ecosystems and protocol-led innovation worldwide.