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E-Commerce Vouchers
Published on 15 February 2019
Netherlands
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Not only business to consumer e-commerce is common nowadays, also B2B e-commerce offers many export opportunity's. Many SME's in Overijssel do not have the knowlegde and skills to explore these opportunity's.
To support SME's with realising their export potential through e-commerce, they will be assisted in the 3 following steps.
1. B2B focused SME's can gain more knowlegde of e-commerce through a quick scan.
2. Based on this quickscan the SME's are assisted in implementing the necessary measures en create an e-commerce businessplan.
3. If needed, they will be assisted with implementing this e-commerce businessplan.
By following these steps, SME's in Overijssel will create more export revenue through digital channels.
The SME's are assisted by carefully selected consultants with a proven track record regarding e-commerce. The SME can cash their voucher with one of these consultants for a quickscan and to assist them with their e-commerce businessplan.
Furthermore, we set up a cooperation with the lectorate e-commerce at the Windesheim University of Applies Sciences.
Goals was to deliver 60 vouchers in three years, create or sustain employment in Overijssel and make SME's aware of their e-commerce opportunities.
To support SME's with realising their export potential through e-commerce, they will be assisted in the 3 following steps.
1. B2B focused SME's can gain more knowlegde of e-commerce through a quick scan.
2. Based on this quickscan the SME's are assisted in implementing the necessary measures en create an e-commerce businessplan.
3. If needed, they will be assisted with implementing this e-commerce businessplan.
By following these steps, SME's in Overijssel will create more export revenue through digital channels.
The SME's are assisted by carefully selected consultants with a proven track record regarding e-commerce. The SME can cash their voucher with one of these consultants for a quickscan and to assist them with their e-commerce businessplan.
Furthermore, we set up a cooperation with the lectorate e-commerce at the Windesheim University of Applies Sciences.
Goals was to deliver 60 vouchers in three years, create or sustain employment in Overijssel and make SME's aware of their e-commerce opportunities.
Expert opinion
The e-commerce voucher scheme presented provides a successful example how to stimulate B2B e-commerce activities with a low-barrier support scheme. The voucher scheme enables to reach out to a large amount of companies. It the case of this specific scheme, the high rate of SMEs actually starting e-commerce projects following the initial check-up of their situation and potential speaks for a well-thought programme, both in the planning and the implementation, with good replication potential.
See also the Trading Online Voucher Scheme
https://www.interregeurope.eu/policylearning/good-practices/item/2146/trading-online-voucher-scheme/
For more information on voucher schemes in general, see also our article
https://www.interregeurope.eu/policylearning/news/7858/voucher-schemes-a-great-career-since-end-of-the-1990s/?no_cache=1&cHash=123b2214c04a673d491b5afeb02eb8bc
See also the Trading Online Voucher Scheme
https://www.interregeurope.eu/policylearning/good-practices/item/2146/trading-online-voucher-scheme/
For more information on voucher schemes in general, see also our article
https://www.interregeurope.eu/policylearning/news/7858/voucher-schemes-a-great-career-since-end-of-the-1990s/?no_cache=1&cHash=123b2214c04a673d491b5afeb02eb8bc
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
Money for the quickscan (850 per voucher) and the e-commerce businessplan (2000 per voucher). Selected quality consultants and an executive organisation that distributes the vouchers and handles all applications. A stakeholder in our GO4EXPORT program is given this task.
Evidence of success
The program consisted of 20 vouchers a year. In the first year we observed that many SME's, after doing the quick scan started implementing their e-commerce businessplan themselves, not needing the voucher. That is why we allocated funds for the e-commerce businessplan voucher to the quickscan voucher. In this way, over a three year period more than 100 SME's did a quick scan voucher. A quick sample learned us that more than 80% of SME's who did a quick scan started with e-commerce activities.
Potential for learning or transfer
The first step to implement this is to conduct a market research if SME's actually need this voucher and if there is a potential for e-commerce in your region. If there is, the voucher can be introduced. We learned from a survey that 50 procent of exporting SME's started through a digital channel and that many other SME's are not aware of this.
We also learned that outsourcing the executive tasks around the voucher to a local partner can lead to more SME's from their network making use of the voucher opposed to others. This needs to be considered and watched closely.
We also learned that outsourcing the executive tasks around the voucher to a local partner can lead to more SME's from their network making use of the voucher opposed to others. This needs to be considered and watched closely.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Province of Overijssel
Netherlands
Overijssel
Contact
Policy Developer