Digita Global Marketing Limited (DGM) will be assisting more than 150 Jamaican small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop their businesses with digital solutions.

DGM is one of the selected approved business development organisations (BDO) under the Development Bank of Jamaica’s (DBJ) Serve Jamaica grant programme.

The programme was initiated to help boost the economy through the driving force of digital transformation and technical support of Jamaican SMEs post the COVID-19 pandemic.

PANDEMIC FORCES SMEs TO PIVOT

Kemal Brown, president and CEO of Digita Global Marketing, shared that “the pandemic has forced SMEs to pivot towards digital solutions for business continuity and growth”.

Brown added: “Being found online, reaching customers online, and facilitating payments online through e-commerce capabilities are now a must-have for businesses that hope to thrive in the foreseeable future.

“I have spent a lot of time encouraging business owners that digital transformation is not only reserved for large companies but for every business with the desire to add value to its customers, whether one employee or 100, digital is the present and future of commerce.”

Brown also revealed that his company has assisted more than 150 SMEs through the Serve Jamaica grant programme in partnership with the DBJ.

“The uptake of the Serve Jamaica grant programme by many of our local entrepreneurs is a testament to the level of resilience found in the Jamaican spirit during a period where innovation is necessary for survival,” he added.

“Small-medium businesses are the engines of growth of economies globally. When small businesses scale up, they contribute more to national development through employment, innovation and taxation,” said Brown.

“Research shows that when small businesses grow into medium-sized and large businesses, societies unlock increased funding for education. Additionally, there are certain social amenities that are improved on the basis of charitable donations, technical assistance and capacity building throughout communities where businesses are domiciled. So facilitating business growth, in essence, grows the country,” he further clarified.

IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS TO JOB CREATION

The World Bank cites that SMEs play a vital role in most economies, especially in developing countries.

Furthermore, SMEs make up more than 50 per cent of businesses worldwide and are important contributors to job creation, as well as economic development by contributing up to 40 per cent of national income in emerging economies. However, access to finance is a hindrance to growth in the business of SMEs.

Under the Serve Jamaica grant programme, SMEs can apply for vouchers redeemable at BDOs such as Digita Global to cover the cost of digital transformation solutions including the development or improvement of websites, integration of software tools to improve productivity, payment, and accounting solutions, as well as web-based marketing including, social media content creation, digital marketing, web and app development.

WEBSITE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR BUSINESS

In sharing her experience with Digita Global, via the Serve Jamaica grant, Joni-Gaye Cawley, owner of HR consultants Joni-Gaye Cawley & Associates, stated: “My original website was created using WIX. I did it myself, but then I wanted it to look more modern, with more features and Digita Global did that for me. I am now comfortable with the way it looks.”

She added: “When I started my business, I thought I could just advertise on Facebook, Instagram, probably put an article on LinkedIn, and that would be it. But it was explained to me by my mentor that I needed a website. I didn’t see the value of it, but now it is absolutely necessary. It’s good to have a website because, once someone hears your business name, the first thing they are going to do is jump on Google and try to find you. Since the revamp of the website, I started running ads online and I am now seeing an increase in website traffic.”

Cawley is an HR practitioner with more than 17 years of experience in the field. Her company provides HR consulting services to public sector organisations.