Growth & Jobs | JBDC targets 500 businesses in digital transformation push

THE JAMAICA Business Development Corporation (JBDC) has set its sights on digitally transforming at least one internal business process for 500 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) under the training component of the three-year Digital Jamaica Project.

Launched in 2023, the European Union (EU)-funded project, managed by the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, will see businesses adopting digital solutions in areas such as ePayments, payroll, human resources, customer relationship management (CRM) software, E-commerce, contracts, invoicing, and vendor management.

Chantol Dormer, manager of JBDC’s Project Management & Research Department, explained that while training remains a core target, this year’s focus is on moving businesses into action. The project is aiming to train 2,700 MSMEs in digitisation, digitalisation and digital transformation by 2026.

“This year, we are targeting 500 MSMEs who will be assisted to digitally transform one of their internal processes. That can be anything, from as simple as us helping them with their social media to something more complex like implementing a CRM system or ERP,” Dormer said, noting that CRM refers to customer relationship management and ERP to enterprise resource planning.

Year one (2024-2025) of the Digital Jamaica training saw JBDC training approximately 1,200 MSMEs islandwide, surpassing the period’s target of 700 MSMEs trained.

JBDC’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Harold Davis, underscored that the project is designed to ensure that entrepreneurs not only understand digital transformation but also gain proficiency in operating within a digital environment.

“One of the critical areas for them to master is being able to operate in a digital environment. That means using digital solutions to transform the value of their business, to communicate with suppliers and their marketplace, to trade effectively, and to conduct financial transactions. The world has already moved there, and we need to get there too,” Davis stated.

He pointed to findings from a survey conducted at the start of the project.

“We saw that only 32 per cent of our MSMEs were comfortable using digital solutions, and most of that was limited to social media. With the support of the EU, we embarked on the Digital Jamaica Project to move that needle, because it is essential if our MSMEs are to compete internationally and grow sustainably,” Davis added.

Dormer emphasised that the project is not a one-size-fits-all approach but is tailored to meet the unique needs of each business.

“Every business is different. For some, it may be implementing ePayments or online invoicing, while for others, payroll or vendor management is the priority. Our role is to guide them through the process so that the technology chosen truly addresses their pain points and delivers measurable impact,” she explained.

Selection for the transformation support is guided by specific criteria. Businesses must have completed training sessions up to the digital transformation stage, and factors such as business registration are considered before shortlisting.

“Once we’ve done that, there is a digital assessment that tells us where the gaps are in their business. It helps us identify whether it would be best to prioritise marketing, finance, HR, or another process. The assessment gives us a full landscape of where they are, and when we implement the tool, we are bridging at least one of those gaps,” Dormer said.

She also noted that support continues beyond implementation.

“We’re not leaving them in the waters to drown. We include post-implementation support and track their progress after the tool is implemented,” Dormer emphasised.

Importantly, she highlighted that the programme comes at no cost to MSMEs.

“Everything under the Digital Jamaica Project is free. Because we are utilising funds from the Government of Jamaica and the European Union, we want to ensure that businesses selected are registered and viable. We’re investing in them without requiring any contribution from the MSMEs themselves.”

Digital transformation may involve modifying existing business processes, products, and operations or creating entirely new ones to meet changing market demands. The JBDC emphasises that the outcome should be increased efficiency, enhanced customer engagement, and long-term competitiveness.

For more information on the Digital Jamaica Project, visit www.jbdc.net/digitaljamaica.