Powering Business Potential

CCIQ partners help small business with Digital Readiness

Many Sunshine Coast businesses are in a state of ‘digital paralysis’ and lacking the skills and resources to take advantage of new technology, according to new research. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland’s third annual Digital Readiness Survey reveals some concerning statistics for small business, including that many are less digitally ready in 2015 than they were in 2013. Our study found that almost half of the businesses surveyed don’t have a mobile-friendly site – with mobile browsing, searching and purchasing continuing to grow rapidly, being easily accessible to mobile users is essential. If customers cannot find you and then buy from you, any business will struggle for revenue and relevance and potentially for survival. We have also seen that Queensland businesses are missing out on sales with almost two thirds of businesses generating less than 10 per cent of their revenue from online sales. One of CCIQ’s corporate partners, Anypoint Business Software, a Sunshine Coast Web Developer with

over 20 years’ industry experience specialising in creating custom computer applications for clients, in a range of industries, is well aware of the state of digital paralysis with small business and recently came to the rescue of a local company. Palmwoods based Gourmet Garden, which markets its squeezable herbs and spices throughout Australia, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, realised it had a problem knowing exactly how much stock was on supermarket shelves, whether the products were out of date, or being promoted properly. Anypoint owner Greg Seale came up with a merchandiser mobile phone app which enabled Gourmet Garden to have instant access to that information from every Coles and Woolworths store in the country. “Gourmet Garden knew they were not using digital technology as well as they could. They came to us for a solution and we were able to help. It gave them instant feedback and has now been rolled out across four countries,” Mr Searle said.

Kimberley Lynch is the Regional Manager for the Sunshine Coast & Wide Bay Area for CCIQ, the peak industry body for businesses in Queensland. We exist to provide a powerful voice for small business and to power our members’ potential through providing access to essential tools, services, information and advice. Not a member? Join now. ca klynch@cciq.com.au // www.cciq.com.au