Digitalisation and SMEs

Description

Bristol is the biggest digital hub outside of London, attracting industries in high-tech, clean-tech, digital, and creative industries. The city is seen as a “testbed” for the Internet of Things and is the world’s first open and programmable city region. Its award-winning approach is based on learning from the best examples, sharing experiences, and constantly looking for innovative ways to operate.

Local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) acknowledge that digital technologies could reduce operational costs and improve the accessibility to information and communication between employees, firms, firm networks, and suppliers. With digital technologies, SMEs reduce the costs relating to transportation and operations, thus, integrating into the global market. Digitalisation makes local SMEs more resilient and able to deal with disruption as well as increase sustainability performance.

However, adopting and implementing digital technologies requires specific resources, structures and skills that SMEs do not always possess, and there is scarce knowledge on that issue. SMEs may have skills gaps that prevent the correct analysis of consumer and market requirements. Thus, there is a strong call for a collaborative approach between local SMEs and universities to ensure the success of implementing digital technologies in SMEs.

The event aims to build a strong collaboration between the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE) and local SMEs. We will offer SMEs support in the form of digital skills. It is also an opportunity to better understand the needs of SMEs in adopting digital technologies.