‘Grow with Google’ extends new lifeline to small firms amid the pandemic

As the pandemic made the existing digital tools inefficient for small businesses, Google has initiated a new program to support business owners to build an online presence, find more customers or work remotely.

The “Grow with Google” initiative includes support tools that extend from two-minute tutorial videos to live workshops covering topics from a beginner to advanced levels of training so that every business can find content on things they need to improve.

This program was initiated after a report pointed out “how a digital safety net” can become a strong backbone for small businesses and helps to navigate the current time.

As per the report by non-profit membership organization Connect Commerce Council and Google, the US-based small businesses were highly distorted by the pandemic with lack of customer demand, hours of operation and employees.

Eighty-five percent of small businesses responded that they were planning to switch to digital tools due to pandemic.

Whereas the business that used digital tools including digital ads, digital payments, data analytics and customer insight tools felt they were sorted.

The digitally prepared businesses are getting better outcomes, expecting only a quarter of reduction in their revenue when compared to the digitally unprepared businesses.

The study shows that the pandemic has made three out of four small businesses to increase their use of digital tools, especially in video-conferencing over these months.

“On the Google for Small Business website, business, owners can find personalized Google products recommendations for their business, as well as helpful tips and practical guides to help small businesses get the most of these tools.”

The Grow with Google program currently provides online workshops in 53 countries and 27 languages by partnering with the international and regional public as well as private sector businesses.

In the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, the initiative aims at women and young people to improve their skills in digital tools and to grow business.