The government has introduced a series of new measures to help retailers, craftsmen and small businesses develop their digitalization and online activities. The aim is to enable them to maintain as much of their business as possible, despite the restrictive measures linked to Covid-19. Focus on the new Clique mon commerce platform.
Training and support for digitization
To help retailers, and small businesses in general, develop an online business, the government has set up a free support scheme.
Initially, between now and December, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCIs) and the Chambers of Trade and Crafts (CMAs) will contact 60,000 businesses to raise awareness of the importance of digitization and inform them about the new scheme. The CCIs and CMAs will carry out 10,000 in-depth diagnostics and set up free training courses between late 2020 and early 2021. From January 15, 2021, entrepreneurs will also be able to follow a MOOC called "numériser ma TPE" ("digitizing my VSE").
A practical guide is also available free of charge for shopkeepers, craftsmen and all small businesses: it gives advice on how to improve your visibility on the Internet, and directs you to the various people you need to contact for support.
In addition, France Num, a government initiative to support the digital transition of VSEs and SMEs, provides information on recent digital initiatives for businesses.
Clique mon commerce, a platform dedicated to digital solutions for retailers
The government has launched a platform, Clique mon commerce, bringing together various free digital solutions to support the digitization of small businesses.
All these solutions are government-approved and meet different needs:
- Online payment with services such as Payzen or Lyra Collect
- Online customer communication with Dolmen or Google My Business
- Presence and listing on a marketplace, in particular local marketplaces such as Aucoindemarue or Achatville
- Delivery services such as Deliver.ee or Cocolis
All these digital solutions are offered free of charge on a temporary basis, only during the confinement period, and sometimes with a commission on sales. By entering their type of business (retailer, craftsman or restaurant owner) and location, businesses can access the various digital solutions with a single click.
Financial assistance for digitization
Finally, the government has introduced two types of financial aid: one for small businesses, and another for local authorities.
Help for companies
The aid for small businesses takes the form of a digital cheque worth 500 euros, designed to finance the implementation of remote sales solutions. This assistance is reserved for companies that are administratively closed for the duration of the lockdown.
It will be paid from January 2021, and can be used for :
- Create a website
- Financing training or support
- Join a sales platform
- Buy software to keep your business online
The government has earmarked a budget of 60 million euros for this aid, and estimates that it could benefit 120,000 businesses closed due to containment.
Sales generated by click and collect during the containment period will not be taken into account when calculating aid under the solidarity fund.
Help for local authorities
A second form of assistance has also been introduced. This is reserved for municipalities wishing to set up a marketplace reserved for local businesses. The amount of this aid is 20,000 euros per commune, for a total budget of 60 million euros.
Technical support is also offered, and a grant of 40,000 euros over 2 years will enable municipalities that so wish to recruit a "town center manager" to carry out diagnostics and set up digitalization training courses for shopkeepers.
Several communes have already set up local e-commerce platforms, including Angers, Poitiers, Évreux, Nice and Châlons-en-Champagne.