The digitisation of SMEs is not merely a fad, but is related to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises to succeed in the digital age. Applied to an SME, the term digitisation relates to the application of new technologies in a way that allows it to exponentially multiply interactions with customers and optimise internal processes. Its implementation ranges from website creation, to advertising the company, to a presence on social networks, to the establishment of sales channels or even the automation of internal processes.

Through the Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (Igape), the Xunta de Galicia is actively involved in the digitisation of SMEs, employing different forms of aid to support them in this process.

ReAcciona programme

The Reacciona programme (https://reacciona.igape.es) is a joint initiative of Igape, Amtega and Gain, comprising a scheme of services to improve business competitiveness, designed to enable SMEs to face the new market challenges, providing them with added value that allows them to accelerate their improvement processes and incorporate new knowledge into their structures. It consists of modular services developed by consultancy firms selected through a process of open contracting.

The programme has a total of 15 services based on four axes of competitiveness: strategy, professionalisation, digitisation and innovation, which are co-financed, resulting in a grant of between 70% and 80% of the value of the service.

In particular, within the axis of digitisation, the following services are provided:  

1. Definition of a digital strategy for the company, with the aim of determining its level of digitisation and setting out the path towards its implementation.
2. Definition and implementation of a cybersecurity strategy for the SME, with the aim of knowing the level of exposure to cyber risks, taking urgent protection measures and defining a personalised cybersecurity strategy in the medium and long term.
3. Support for the adoption of mobile business management solutions, with the objective of designing the operational plan to implement the innovative digital solutions identified as priorities for mobile business management.
4. The design of a content marketing strategy for the SME, with the aim of attracting and capturing traffic and sales to the website; converting and getting to know your visitors; selling and optimising conversion rates and building customer loyalty, converting your customers into subscribers.

In 2022, a total of 103 SMEs benefited from this aid, amounting to more than 471,000 euros.

There is also a form of aid for the digitisation of Industry 4.0, which aims to promote the digital transformation of companies by implementing information technologies: artificial intelligence, interconnection and process management. This is organised by means of grants to support investment in technology and the necessary advice to implement it.

There are two types of projects: collective or individual projects. In the case of collective projects, a group of companies (optionally coordinated by a cooperating intermediate body) undertakes one of the following types of project:

1st) They propose the use and implementation of a certain system in their digital interactions.

2nd) They propose the implementation of a digitisation, process or integrated management system, specifically designed or developed for their field of activity.

For individual projects, the SME can tackle up to three different ones. The development of a digital interface for its business interactions, or the adoption/implementation of an existing solution for interaction with its customers or suppliers. The implementation of artificial intelligence systems, automatic learning and autonomous decision-making, interconnection of physical and virtual elements, processing of captured data (business intelligence, bigdata and similar) and cybersecurity. Or the implementation of systems aimed at the digitisation of specific processes or integrated management (ERP, CRM and similar).

Since its launch in 2012, it has supported more than 2,900 projects with a mobilisation of €15.5 million.