No Quarantine on the Internet
About this good practice
“No Quarantine on the Internet” is delivered on behalf of Enterprise Lithuania. The programme’s primary purpose is to encourage SMEs to replace physical stores by developing new e-shops that could help to survive the crisis and succeed by using a different business model.
The business support initiative “No quarantine on the Internet” consists of three main parts: Development of the Lithuanian e-shops’ database as a virtual shopping center, business digitization assistance by providing consultations, business mentoring, organizing e-learning and support for businesses by providing special discounts or free services.
One of the reasons that the “No quarantine on the Internet” Programme has worked so well is that every SME was able to get a free advice from the business or technology advisor, that enabled a smooth and easy transition to the virtual world. Entrepreneurs who have been already using virtual space for their businesses have been encouraged to register their online stores and Enterprise Lithuania will seek to share information about them with as many people in the country as it is possible.
There have been 120 business mentors who, as specialists in various fields of e-commerce, provide free advice to less experienced entrepreneurs, leading them towards a digital and successful business.
Expert opinion
This is a good example of COVID-19 response measure. One of the main business support organizations in the country, Enterprise Lithuania, reacted quickly to the crisis and saw that one of the ways to help local companies survive the crisis was to help them set up online stores. As this was a new territory for many companies it was especially important that companies were provided free advice by mentors. This has helped to speed up a smooth transition to the digital world.
With or without COVID-19 restrictions, digitalization is nowadays important in every sector to remain competitive. The crisis has just speed up the process. It is therefore good to see that this initiative has been able to create new e-stores and hopefully encourages further digitalization of local businesses.
This practice has high replication value across the EU as the impact of the crisis on SMEs has been similar and the need to digitalize will only become more pressing in the coming years.
Resources needed
- a team of 5 members;
- communication agency assistance;
- 10 000 euros.
Evidence of success
Since its inception in March 2020, “No Quarantine on the Internet” has gathered more than 1200 Lithuanian online shops under one domain, 10 percent of them were totally new e-shops.
It brought together 120 professionals who have become mentors for businesses that are looking to digitize their activities and 25 partners who have offered support to make it as easy as possible for the businesses to move into a virtual space.
Also 10 open-access webinars about e-commerce were organized.
Potential for learning or transfer
• Methodology how to support companies on creation of a website;
• Knowledge of the e-mentoring program;
• How to design a value proposition for e-shops;
• How to connect and unite various stakeholders from local community that could support each other on a difficult times.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Enterprise Lithuania