Free digital service is helping businesses regain confidence
Welsh businesses turned to digital during lockdown to find new ways of creating sales and maximising resources, according to The Digital Maturity Survey for Wales 2020, produced by Cardiff Business School.
The report also uncovered an urgent need to provide them with support and confidence to help them work through the pandemic and fully recover.
Howard Thompson, Project Manager for Superfast Business Wales (SFBW), said, “We are working with SMES to develop their confidence and tailor roadmaps to help them survive COVID. What we are hearing on the ground is firms want our Business Advisers to show them how to use digital to make money, increase resource and save time.
“The current crisis has shown that the future for many businesses is digital.
“Anyone that needs help understanding just how we can help them sell to more customers, be a spare pair of hands, and do the heavy lifting can sign up for free at superfast@businesswales.org.uk or call 03332 408329.”
“We wanted to generate more money and saw online sales skyrocket by 500%.”
As a supplier of luxury handwash to high-end restaurants and bars, SFBW client, The Goodwash Company saw its main source of income disappear when lockdown was announced.
Having started the year gearing up to be in John Lewis and Harrods, the pandemic forced the company to look for new ways to sell. Leaning on public sentiment, it orchestrated a #Washyourhands campaign, which drove an unexpected spike in online trade – 500% in fact.
The Vale-based skincare brand quickly installed payment plugins such as Paypal and modified the customer journey
Co-founder Mandy Powell explains: “At the time of lockdown, online only made up one quarter of our income. To ensure we survived as a business, we had to do something different.”
The website changes helped the company manage the surge in orders but also ensured online sales remain an integral part of its business model. “This crisis has shown that the future is digital,” they said.
For free digital help for your business search online Superfast Business Wales.