From the rural heartlands to inner cities, SMEs employ more than half the workforce and offer a mechanism to create first-time generational opportunity, wealth, and security. It is imperative that we deliver cutting-edge digital tools and efficient workflows for our SME stakeholders. 

We stand at the convergence of unprecedented opportunity and need. The advancement in digital tools such as Open SaaS ecommerce platforms has significantly reduced the barriers to entry for SMEs to reach new markets and expand their business. Our economic recovery is dependent on significant public/private collaboration to enhance our communities’ ability to compete online and across the globe. This convergence can be articulated in three broad pillars: 

• Access to data and tools has become more affordable and capable of providing SMEs with a global vantage point that previously was only available to larger global multi-nationals. 

• Online and cross-border demand for goods has hit all-time highs, creating an opportunity and necessity for our SMEs to sell online across multiple points of sale and in multiple geographies.  

• Market dynamics and interwoven trade dependencies have accelerated government agencies’ embracing of new technologies and software focused on ecommerce, digital marketing, data privacy, customs clearance platforms and financial services, providing a public/private eco-system of support.