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Digitalisation support service for SMEs
Published on 21 February 2021
Finland
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
PROBLEM ADDRESSED: ApuaDigiin is a digital transformation tool proposed as an open web-service. It has been developed to address especially traditional SMEs needs.
HOW RESULTS ARE REACHED: ApuaDigiin combines a digital maturity analysis tool with a digital transformation tool, with a roadmap connecting the two (see image above). Thanks to this structured and comprehensive approach it tailors digital transformation to SMEs business and production processes, so that digitalisation becomes a natural part of the SME's business; i.e. it makes digital transformation
more accessible to SMEs.
HOW RESULTS ARE REACHED: ApuaDigiin combines a digital maturity analysis tool with a digital transformation tool, with a roadmap connecting the two (see image above). Thanks to this structured and comprehensive approach it tailors digital transformation to SMEs business and production processes, so that digitalisation becomes a natural part of the SME's business; i.e. it makes digital transformation
more accessible to SMEs.
Expert opinion
ApuaDigiin is an open web-platform to support SMEs and publicly funded organisations—research institutes, universities, regional public authorities—in their digital transformation. The web-platform offers a tailored digital maturity assessment tool and a digital transformation roadmap to SMEs’ digital needs. The tool was jointly developed by VTT and the University of Oulu. This initiative provides a free digital assessment tool to promote digital transformation. It provides an example of a flexible, open, and free tool that could complement digital transformation initiatives for regions that aim to promote digital upgrading of regional SMEs and publicly funded organisations.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
The tool was developed jointly by VTT and the University of Oulu.
The web service is available for non-commercial use. SMEs and publicly funded organisations (research institutes, universities, regional public authorities, may use it directly and freely for their own digital transformation needs.
The web service is available for non-commercial use. SMEs and publicly funded organisations (research institutes, universities, regional public authorities, may use it directly and freely for their own digital transformation needs.
Evidence of success
ApuaDigiin has been used by 40 digital status analysis and 15 digital transformation cases.
The University of Oulu and Lapland University of Applied Sciences use the tool for teaching.
Success stories are available at:
https://www.vttresearch.com/fi/uutiset-ja-tarinat/vttn-digitalisaatioprojekti-auttoi-pikku-riikan-alustatalouden-aarelle (in Finnish)
https://www.vttresearch.com/en/news-and-ideas/pipelife-finland-digitalising-business-traditional-hvac-industry
The University of Oulu and Lapland University of Applied Sciences use the tool for teaching.
Success stories are available at:
https://www.vttresearch.com/fi/uutiset-ja-tarinat/vttn-digitalisaatioprojekti-auttoi-pikku-riikan-alustatalouden-aarelle (in Finnish)
https://www.vttresearch.com/en/news-and-ideas/pipelife-finland-digitalising-business-traditional-hvac-industry
Potential for learning or transfer
ApuaDigiin webservice is free to use non-commercially (terms of use defined). Therefore, any organisation may use it to support SMEs digitalisation according to terms. SMEs may utilise the service for self-assessment and improving their digitalisation. The service is now in Finnish but it can be translated to e.g. English in the future.
Contact: [email protected]
Contact: [email protected]
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland ltd.
Finland
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi
Contact
Senior project manager