Google partners with Zoho, Instamojo, and many others to help SMBs go digital.
The current economic situation caused due to the outburst of COVID-19 has brought heavy losses for many new and small businesses. Though the global economy is suffering, the SMBs are facing the hardest of challenges. They can neither repair the damage eventually like big companies nor then can shut it down. So, Google has decided to help support these SMBs to build their business, have a strong digital presence, and combat the economic sinister.
Yesterday, Google announced that it has partnered with Zoho, Instamojo, and many other companies to provide a better and a digital presence for the SMBs. Since the lockdown, every operation as far as possible has been conducted virtually. So, this might be the right time to take your business online as a part of “the new normal”. This new initiative will help consumers discover such small businesses in Google Maps and Search. These new features will be available on Grow with Google Small Business hub in India.
Google partnered with a few companies
Apart from collaborating with Zoho and Instamojo, Google has also partnered with Dunzo and Swiggy. These companies will provide their platforms to the businesses which will help the business operate in many ways. Zoho is providing its inventory to these businesses that will be able to create a website for their service and also sell their product online through Zoho Commerce. Also, Zoho is providing these services for free till 31st March 2021. Though we are amidst a pandemic and tough financial mayhem, the SMBs are getting much support through this initiative.
Instamojo is also offering a six-month free subscription to its ‘Premium Online Store Solution’ for the SMBs. To ensure a fast and efficient onboarding process and hassle-free online orders, Google partnered with Dunzo and Swiggy. Dunzo will provide 24X7 merchant supports to these businesses for free. Moreover, Dunzo is also not charging anything for singing up and instant registration. The SMBs can also use Swiggy’s seven days ‘Fast track Onboarding’.
Apart from partnering with these companies, Google will soon launch a new show in partnership with Doordarshan called Namaste Digital. This will be a learning show for SMBs on how to grow their business in a digital world.
Google-Kantar small business tracker research
In July, Google has conducted Google-Kantar small business tracker research. And, this new initiative is solely taken based on the feedback from the SMBs and the challenges they are facing. The report showed that 92% of small businesses face customer-related challenges which are the biggest problem of such businesses. Apart from this, revenue loss due to low demand also caused the downfall or dormancy of such businesses. They eventually understood that it will be profitable for their businesses to go digital and hence the numbers are increasing eventually. This is a very strong contribution towards digital India as the unprivileged needs more attention than those who have resources.
What are experts saying?
Shalini Girish, Customer Solutions Director at Google India, in response to this new initiative said that there are millions of small businesses established in a diversified field in India. And, in this time of economic crisis, we need to do everything in our power to support and transform these businesses digitally. Google has also launched a nationwide campaign called ‘Make Small Strong’ to help grow consumer demand for local small businesses. Customers can buy from a local vendor, leave ratings, and thus help the local businesses grow.
Anand Nergunam Sr, VP of Revenue Management, and Growth at Zoho said that the company owes its very existence to SMBs. From the very beginning, Zoho has always focused on supporting and helping small businesses grow and with this collaboration with Google, they will ensure that the small local business community comes out of this economic crisis stronger. Each local business needs to have a digital presence and due to the pandemic, the customer preference towards e-commerce has increased rapidly.
Akash Gehani, the co-founder of Instamojo, said that the SMBs are the backbone of the Indian company and a big contributor to India’s GDP. Currently, Instamojo helps around 1.3 million MSMEs to start and establish their business online. Moreover, in this current situation, it is necessary to unleash the full potential of businesses from startups to SMBs in terms of digital growth.
Annasha Dey is an NIT student, who apart from studying engineering is also a content writer. She has a great interest in photography, writing, reading novels, and travelling as well. She is a foodie who loves socializing and hanging out with her friends. She is also a trained Kathak dancer and a big fashion enthusiast. Dey also loves watching TV series, which includes F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and Big Bang Theory. To be a better writer she prefers to read more