Due to the COVID crisis, restaurants and cafeterias had to take many hygiene and prevention measures. For example, menus went from their traditional paper version to digital documents that appear on our smartphones through QR codes. It was a necessary step to make people prevent contact with objects touched by many others. Indeed, we talk about a very representative example of digitisation, the process by which a resource changes its format from analog to digital, but without changing its essence or usefulness. A concept that many people may confuse with digital transformation, when in fact they have very different meanings. And it is to such idea of transformation that the Spanish government’s “Digital Toolkit Program” is directed.
Digital transformation goes far beyond having digital resources or adapting in times of pandemic. This process means reshaping brands towards a more advanced business or organisational model, as the purpose is to develop ultimate workflows and take advantage of the opportunities in the digital market/ecosystem. In the restaurant and cafeteria sector itself, digital transformation is manifested in the rise of new ways of doing or adding business, such as those apps that offer automated and personalised home delivery. Or those that help food and beverage establishments to sell the useful surplus that otherwise would end up in the trash, such as Too Good To Go.
Digital Toolkit: including small organisations in digital transformation
In an increasingly cloud-based economy, digital transformation is already an essential goal for companies to grow and remain competitive. And not only in terms of productivity, but also in terms of sustainability, transparency and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
For example, Too Good To Go’s service does not only help food and beverage establishments to recoup some of the money from their surpluses, but also to avoid food waste and to benefit people with low purchasing power. On the other hand, reviews and ratings on e-platforms such as TheFork provide evidence to other users about the real level of quality and engagement of a gastronomic service, rewarding good ratings with strategic positioning on and off the platform.
In this transformation process, digital marketing takes on a fundamental role, as it provides the presence, distinction and communication that the company needs on the web, social networks and other cloud-based interaction points with the user, such as email, SMS, apps, the APIs that connect them or intelligent assistants such as Alexa. A level of digital branding to which Supermedia Studio elevates its clients thanks to its consultancy and marketing services in Marbella.
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Despite its current relevance, there are still many companies in Spain that do not have the necessary digital skills and/or marketing resources. Or simply they do not have sufficient funds for their digital transition. In particular, small companies in Spain (those that have between 10 and 49 employees), micro-enterprises (less than 10 employees) and many self-employed or entrepreneurs are those who suffer most from this situation. We are talking about a group of organisations and projects that make up 98.9% of all companies in Spain, according to the latest data from the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism. Because they are the basis of the country’s economy, the Spanish government has been granting subsidies since 2021 to improve their digital inclusion and maturity, under the name of the Digital Toolkit Program.
According to data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), in the first quarter of 2023, less than 30% of companies in the country with less than ten employees had basic digitalisation, which means Internet access and their own website. Also less than 30% had social media such as TikTok or LinkedIn, and only up to 5% used artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as OpenAI. Also commited to digital inclusion, Supermedia Studio has become a strategic partner in Marbella to help any company or freelancer manage its Digital Toolkit and achieve the digital success of its brand.
What does the grant include? How does the management service of the Digital Toolkit work in Supermedia Studio?
Thanks to the Digital Toolkit Program, the digitally undeveloped self-employed, companies and small organisations with up to 49 employees can acquire market solutions at a discount financed by the government. This “digital voucher” grants between 2,000 and 12,000 euros depending on the size of the company and the type of solution required. To qualify for the subsidy, the tools and solutions can only be acquired from the so-called Digital Adhering Agents, which are those companies or self-employed persons who meet the requirements to be professionally “tech-qualified” by the government.
Although only the services of the Digital Adhering Agents can be acquired, the digital solutions that the program accepts are manifold. These range from systems for digitising the management of invoices to complete digital marketing services such as those provided by Supermedia Studio. Among them, the social media community management, the creation of ecommerce platforms, the design of corporate websites or the search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies can be subsidised.
At Supermedia Studio we offer a management and support service Digital Toolkit, based in the following steps:
- First, we evaluate with the company its digital demands and needs.
- With the provided insights, we prepare a customised proposal of marketing services and digital solutions that best optimise the company’s transformation, checking that they are included in the Digital Adhering Agents offer.
- After the company decide which solution to integrate, we look for the most suitable digital agent in Marbella that masters the chosen solution.
- Finally, we help and advise on the management of all the bureaucratic procedures with public authorities.
MarbellaLand: a reshaped brand in Marbella thanks to Supermedia Studio
Among all the companies we have helped in the management of their Digital Toolkit, MarbellaLand represents the true spirit of this government initiative. After 25 years of experience in the real estate sector, Carolina Mena founded this small agency to guarantee a local, familiar and close service in a market as “standardised” as Marbella. Thanks to the assistance of Supermedia Studio, MarbellaLand has been able to successfully process its Digital Toolkit and consolidate its website with trusted digital agents in Marbella. From its new web presence, MarbellaLand has also deployed a social media and lead generation strategy thanks to the marketing services of Supermedia Studio.
If your company is tax domiciled in Spain, you can unlock the full potential of your Digital Toolkit with Supermedia Studio until 31st December, 2024. Contact us or visit us at our headquarters in Marbella to identify your business needs and make the most out of your digital transformation.
