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Your small business can seize the future with a new digital strategy and a tech voucher worth €5,000

A digital audit and a €5,000 Grow Digital Voucher could make all the difference for your small business. Signing up is simple.

THERE ARE CHALLENGES that come with bringing your business into the future, but one of the wisest things you can do is rely on the expertise of experts who can figure out exactly what you need.

Matching your small business up with a digital consultant is one of the core components of the Digital For Business audit offered by LEO (Local Enterprise Office). The programme provides tailor-made solutions for your business in key areas such as meeting regulatory requirements, improving customer experiences, and reducing time spent on administrative tasks — allowing you to maximise the time you spend focusing on the business you’ve built. 

There is no restriction on the kind of business that can apply for the audit, so you can avail of the programme no matter what sector you’re in.

“The process is very simple. If you are a business in any sector with up to 50 employees and have been trading for over 6 months you can apply for Digital for Business,” says John Magee, the Chair of Network of Local Enterprise Offices.

“You contact your Local Enterprise Office and they will complete a quick form with you.  They will then assign a digital consultant who will come in and look at your business to assess where you can make switches in the business and they will give you a full plan of next steps.”

You won’t be left on your own once the plan is made either, as LEO works with clients to ensure every angle is covered and the consultants make the integration of the new technologies as easy as possible.

By signing up for the Digital For Business programme, you are also entitled to a Grow Digital voucher worth €5,000. Depending on what your business needs, this voucher can be used to cover any cost “from online payments and stock control systems to cyber security and booking systems”. 

leo-showcase Tony Hoynes' Palm Free Irish Soap Ltd was one company to benefit from the LEO's Digital for Business programme

Businesses that have already taken part in the scheme have thrived as a result, and Magee says “all of our Digital for Business clients report improvements in the business operations”.

“We work with clients to ensure every angle is covered and the consultants we deploy make the integration of the new technologies as easy as possible. Businesses have seen increases in website traffic, they have improved their customer experience, reduced staff costs and have significantly reduced paperwork.”

LEO have outlined many of the specific changes that businesses have made to their operations after taking expert advice and putting the €5,000 voucher to good use.

“One of the most popular would be the eradication of paper-based systems,” says Magee. 

“We see so many businesses still working with clients, taking notes and orders on paper and trying to then translate that onto a computer to keep track when one system can do it all for them. 

“For others it can be keeping control of their stock, creating a way where they know their exact stock levels at any given time helping them to plan orders and restocking.”

As Magee points out, the early stages of a business are all about getting off the ground and making a name for yourself. There isn’t always necessarily time to focus on the nitty-gritty of what can be improved, particularly in the ever-evolving digital space.

“The changes to a small business can be significant and sometimes business owners don’t realise they need something until they see it mapped out for them and the impact it can have for them,” says Magee. 

To find out if your business is eligible for the Digital For Business programme, what it can do for you, and how easy it is to sign up, make sure to visit the Local Enterprise Office website.

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