Small businesses are being encouraged to take their business online with the launch of Driving Business Online. Driving Business Online is an initiative of PayPal Australia in partnership with Australia Post, Optus, Norton by Symantec, MYOB, Powerfront, eBay and the Australia Retailers Association and is an educational road show that gives rural and regional small businesses knowledge and tools to achieve success online. The Driving Business Online campaign bus will tour regional NSW and will ac
act as a business meeting hub for SMBs to meet with e-commerce experts.
The first phase of the tour will see the Driving Business Online bus visit 15 towns. After the launch in Canberra, the first stop is Armidale on June 15. In each town SMBs are invited to attend Driving Business Online town hall session to learn more about the digital economy.
SMBs will also be able to book one on one consultations onboard the Driving Business Online bus to meet with eCommerce experts.
The Australian Government has a stated vision for the country to become a global digital leader by 2020. But this is dependent on business recognising the growth opportunities available online.
ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said that to stay on track with changing global market trends, savvy retailers must bring their business online to increase productivity and expand across multiple markets.
“Implementing an online option provides both small and large businesses with a tremendous opportunity to supplement their current business with a significant additional sales channel that opens their business to new markets and customers,” Zimmerman said.
Frerk-Malte Feller, MD of PayPal Australia, said operating online is no longer an option for Australian retailers and service providers, but an absolute necessity to gain the momentum they need to stay competitive in today’s changing consumer landscape.
“Over 8 million Australian consumers now use the internet to make purchases and this, coupled with global consumers, makes the online market place a very exciting space to operate in,” said Feller.
Phase one of the tour will see the bus continue its journey across rural and regional NSW, making stops in Bathurst, Mudgee, Dubbo, Muswellbrook, Kiama, Merimbula, Albury, Wagga Wagga, and Orange. The Driving Business Online bus will also make a stop in Sydney to attend the COSBOA National Small Business Summit at the end of July.
A Driving Business Online website www.drivingbusinessonline.com.au will provide SMBs with further tools to help small regional businesses compete online, including advice about all the key elements of building a successful business online such as payments, logistics, technology, marketing and online security. The website also provides case studies of small businesses already succeeding online.
