Digital boost for businesses

Small businesses can now benefit from the Digital Boost skills training and support initiative.

It’s the first initiative to be launched from the programme, which is a partnership between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the private sector.

The aim is to support thousands of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in realising the benefits of using digital tools and technologies.

“We have started delivering on the government’s vision for small businesses to be the most digitally enabled in the world,” says AJ Millward, pictured, of MBIE. 

“2021 will be the year of digital transformation for thousands of Kiwi small businesses.”

To deliver training and support, MBIE is partnering with The Mind Lab and Indigo, which have experience in helping business owners to develop capabilities needed to take advantage of the rapidly changing digital environment.

Millward adds: “Industry leaders, business owners and MBIE have designed Digital Boost to meet the needs of SMEs as we adapt to the digital age, and take the opportunity to come out of Covid-19 more resilient and future-focused.”

Management consultancy McKinsey estimates that, in an eight-week period, coronavirus accelerated the business adoption of digital tools and services by the equivalent of five years. 

Strong research and evidence show SMEs that leverage digital tools have a competitive advantage in the internet age.