Launched in January 2019, “Start Digital” is a new initiative by Infocomm Media Development Agency (IMDA) and Enterprise Singapore to encourage Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to adopt digitalization in basic business functions. It is also part of the SMEs Go Digital program that aims to encourage digitalization for SMEs.
In this initiative, five categories of core business functions are made available via a Start Digital Pack: accounting, human resource management system and payroll, digital marketing, digital transactions, and cybersecurity. These functions are offered by Start Digital Partners like DBS, Maybank, OCBC, Singtel, StarHub and UOB in a competitively-priced digital package.
SMEs can choose two of these solutions and have their costs waived for a minimum of six months. The contract period is required to be at least 18 months and SMEs have to bear the cost of the remaining period.
This scheme is useful for newly incorporated SMEs who are looking to implement basic digital solutions at the inception of their business. Alternatively, SMEs looking to upgrade their existing manual processes with digitalization could tap on this initiative.
