Google will soon launch a mobile app to help small and medium-size business get online. This will be part of the company’s “Digitising India” mission to help SMBs establish an Internet presence and connect with potential customers online, according to K Suryanarayana, Head of SMB sales, Google India.
Most of the SMBs have ignored the potential of the Internet to grow.
Quoting a survey, Suryanarayana said that out of the 48 million SMBs, only 5-6 per cent businesses have a website. But nearly 40 per cent of the SMB owners have a smartphone, which can be used to develop online presence, he told newspersons.
The app will be made available next month, he said without giving any further details.
The US-based technology company is on a road show to help SMBs succeed online.
According to a latest research conducted by Zinnov on behalf of Google, only 8-10 per cent of the total SMBs can immediately gain from adopting Internet technologies and grow their businesses by advertising online.
The challenge has been lack of awareness on the benefits of Internet and the know-how required to succeed online.
Google along with Confederation of India Industry has launched Google SME Heroes, which will showcase and celebrate local SMBs that have embraced the Internet to growth their business, he said.