Open Commerce in a Blox
Coach Name
Jordi Bosch Garcia
EU Organization
Startin’blox
Members
- Benoit Alessandroni
- Mélanie Fotseu Tantchou
- Jean-Baptiste Pasquier
- Sylvain Le Bon
CA Organization
Open Food Network Canada
Members
- David Thomas
Project Overview
OCB (Open Commerce Bridge) addresses a key limitation of today’s digital economy: centralized platforms dominate online transactions, limiting interoperability, transparency, and fair value distribution—especially for SMEs and local producers.
To overcome this, the project adapted the Beckn protocol into Beckn-LD, aligning it with Semantic Web and European Data Space standards (RDF, JSON-LD, Verifiable Credentials). This enables decentralized, peer-to-peer digital transactions that are interoperable across ecosystems while preserving data sovereignty.
The solution was validated through two real-world use cases:
- Local agriculture in North America, enabling farmers and cooperatives to sell directly to consumers without intermediaries
- 3D media asset exchange in Europe (TEMS data space), demonstrating cross-sector applicability
By enabling multi-provider marketplaces without central control, OCB shows how decentralized commerce can foster fairer, more resilient digital ecosystems.
Methods and approaches
Adaptation of Beckn Protocol to Semantic Web Standards (Beckn-LD)
The project developed a technical specification (Beckn-LD) that maps the Beckn protocol to W3C standards, including RDF, JSON-LD, ActivityPub, and Verifiable Credentials.
This approach ensures:
- Interoperability with European Data Spaces
- Compatibility with decentralized identity and data exchange frameworks
- Alignment with open standards for trust, traceability, and governance
The result is a standardized transaction protocol that can operate across domains and regions.
Open-Source Prototyping & Cross-Domain Validation
OCB implemented a functional prototype and open-source ecosystem, including:
- A Django-based backend package (djangoldp-becknld)
- Front-end components for decentralized transactions
- Integration into real environments (Open Food Network & TEMS)
Through user testing and stakeholder interviews, the project validated key requirements such as traceability, invoicing, and collaborative workflows—especially for B2B contexts.
This iterative approach ensured both technical robustness and real-world applicability across multiple sectors.
Key Achievements
Delivery of the Beckn-LD specification, aligning decentralized transactions with Semantic Web standards.
Development of a functional prototype covering agriculture and media use cases within a single interface.
Release of open-source software components (backend and frontend) under MIT license.
Creation of comprehensive technical documentation enabling reproducibility and adoption.
Execution of integration and unit testing, validating transaction flows and interoperability.
Impact & Results
Scientific Impact
OCB advances the state of the art by bridging two previously separate ecosystems: the Beckn protocol and the Semantic Web. Through Beckn-LD, the project demonstrates how decentralized transaction protocols can interoperate with W3C standards, contributing to ongoing work in data spaces, interoperability frameworks, and decentralized architectures.
Societal Impact
The project shows how decentralized marketplaces can empower small-scale producers, cooperatives, and independent actors by reducing reliance on dominant digital platforms. In use cases such as local agriculture, this translates into fairer revenue distribution, improved traceability, and stronger community-based economies.
Economic Impact
OCB demonstrates the potential to reduce transaction costs and increase revenues for SMEs by enabling peer-to-peer commerce without intermediaries. It also opens new opportunities for data space integration across sectors, including agriculture and media, supporting more efficient and interoperable digital markets.
Publications and Open-Source Contributions
- Beckn-LD Specification & Wiki (public documentation aligning Beckn with Semantic Web standards)
- djangoldp-becknld package (open-source backend implementation)
- Front-end components for decentralized transaction flows
- Integration into TEMS data space components
- Public repositories and communication materials supporting dissemination
Future directions