To thrive and survive in an environment of uncertainty, all companies, large or small, need to go digital. The Ministry of Economic Affairs created the "Digital Kit" program with 3,000 million euro. It aims to encourage the digital transformation of Spain's business sector by using European funds. Only 14% of SMEs have a digital transformation plan, according to the National Technology Observatory.
What amount of money are we talking?
12,000 euros. A sum that companies can use to promote a transformational plan that will allow them to grow (99% Spanish companies are SMEs). The program provides many solutions, including a website that allows the company to have an international presence, sell internationally, and manage customer relationships online.
Who is responsible to install all these solutions?
These are the so-called "digitizing agents", which are companies who are focused on this type of function. They have been through a series filters set by the ministry in order to act as mediators between the digital bonuses and the companies that request them.
Red.es explains that there are currently more than 7,300 digital agents who have already been in touch with the Digital Kit beneficiaries to offer them digitization solutions.
Who can sign up for the service?
Companies with between 10 to 49 employees can apply for their bonus in the first call, which was launched March 14. It has a budget totaling 500 million euros. According to Red.es, the 12,000 euro aid started arriving a month ago and has been distributed to approximately 8,000 companies. However, there are many others who have asked for it. This Digital Kit has been requested by approximately 60% of Spanish SMEs that have between 10 and 49 employees.
Soria is the province with the highest percentage of SMEs having filled out the application. This is where 70% of all SMEs this size have applied for the bonus. Palencia and Teruel stand out as well, with all four requesting the bonus at 55%. Red.es' general director Alberto Martinez Lacambra stated this week at an informative breakfast that it was "a unique opportunity for SMEs" and stressed the "zero-paper" philosophy of the program to encourage companies to request AIDS.
What about the rest of them?
All small businesses will be eligible for the aid, but the amount will vary depending on their size. The bonus for companies with three to nine employees will be 6,000 Euros, while those with fewer than three will receive 2,000.
Pedro Andueza is the director of the Technical Office of the ATA Digital Kit. He says that it will be more difficult to reach the self-employed because they cannot lose two days of work in order to present the documentation. The association will help facilitate the request.
These dates are still being finalized. Although the second section of assistance for companies with between 3 and 9 employees was expected to be released in June, it could be delayed to July. It is safe to say that the bonus for companies with fewer than three workers will arrive in October. Andueza reminds us that these are calls that will be out again next year. They can also be requested for digitization services that have not been completed. He says, "Our goal is to reach a quarter of SMEs."
Lorenzo Amor is the president of ATA. He points out that one in four workers who are self-employed "has no idea" what the Digital Kit is, despite the fact that it is a program that aims to reach a million people. Amor warns that "it is an important program to digitize our business fabric" and urges us to work hard. According to the ATA survey, only 20% of self-employed plan on asking for this assistance. 55% are not aware of it and 25% do not know about it.
