Switch on and take off… Aussie businesses seizing the digital opportunity

Can getting online really boost your business bottom line? Turns out that digitally engaged small businesses are more than 50 per cent more likely to be growing, according to a new study released today.

The 2017 Deloitte Connected Small Business report found Australian businesses are becoming increasingly tech savvy, with more adopting digital tools to help their business thrive.

And they’re seeing great results - SMBs with advanced levels of digital engagement are 8 times more likely to be creating jobs. They’re also 7 times more likely to be exporting, which is good news for those businesses and the Australian economy.

Small businesses make a big contribution, accounting for more than two-thirds of private sector employment in Australia. This means the opportunities are huge.

Wine retailer Vinomofo is a great example of a business using the web to grow. They now employ more than 100 staff and supply over 540,000 wine lovers across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, and they're looking at expanding to other export destinations.

While digital engagement has increased, there is still huge untapped potential with the report finding 87 per cent of SMBs are not taking full advantage of digital tools. Small business operators identified a number of barriers to engagement, including a lack of digital skills. In fact, more than 60 per cent of businesses listed skills among the top 3 barriers to digital engagement.

We want all businesses to have the chance to succeed online, that’s why we created The Digital Garage, a free online digital skills training platform. You can also join one of our Digital Garage workshops - keep an eye out for events in your area (next stop Darwin)!

The online opportunity for small businesses is huge. Get the skills you need and help your business take off!