Google’s Digital Unlocked: Things you Love to Know as SMBs

A few days ago, I was invited to Google’s India event named “Digital Unlocked”. The event took place on 4th January 2017 at Hotel TAJ, New Delhi. As the event was organised by the Google, so I was pretty sure that something big will happen. But, the announcement of Google’s initiative to ease the issue of “setting up business in India” faced by most of the businessmen turns to be bigger as expected. 

Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, announced two big initiatives “Digital Unlocked” and “My business Website” to digitally train thousands of small and medium business in India. The tech giant had last year come up with the idea to reduce the connectivity in the country and provide free Wi fi in association with RelTel. Continuing his legacy, this year also, Google aspires to give a lift to the small and medium business which are the backbone of the Indian economy. 

At the launch of the “Digital Unlocked” event, Sundar Pichai said that “In the event that we take care of an issue for India, we unravel it for world”. 

During his address, Pichai said that “The Internet is a powerful equalizer and we are motivated to bring the benefits of information and technology to as many people as possible. Building for everyone and making it available in the hands of as many people is at the heart and core of what we do. And we do this by investing in open ecosystems.”

Setting up the business in India is a daunting task, but, Google has cleverly taken the initiatives to ease the issue for the small and the medium businesses in India. 

Addressing specifically to the small and the medium size businesses, Sunder Pichai said that “the Internet and digital technology will be an engine of growth for the Indian economy. Today, anyone can become an entrepreneur, a developer, or a creator, but it is important that they have the right tools and skills to digitize. We believe it is important for us to invest in training and equipping these individuals and small businesses to accelerate their journey of growth”  

Here are some of the Key points which you will likely to know about the Google Digital Unlocked programme:

• The programme was basically launched to help the 51 million small and medium size business to go online.
• The training will be provided in both online and offline mode and the certification under this program to assist the SMBs.
• To provide the training tech giant Google has partnered with FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) and Indian B- Schools.
• Any business with Internet access can join this program by Signing Up here: https://digitalunlocked.withgoogle.com/
• Google has launched a new App also called “Primer” which works offline and is available on Google App Store.
• The main motto of the “Primer” App is to teach SMBs to develop their business online.
• Google will conduct offline training in some centres like Haridwar, Jalandhar, Jaipur, etc.

Some Key points which you surely like to know about “My Business Website”

• Main motto behind “My Business website” of Google is to help SMBs to create their small and beautiful website for free.
• Google will provide free and small templates and editable websites so, that you can customize your own website.
• My business will be available in English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Urdu, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati and Malayalam.

Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Minister of Electronics & IT, Law & Justice, govt. of India, welcome the Google’s initiative and said “In 1.5 years there been 42 manufacturing units that have come up. Employing 100,000 people directly and 300,000 indirectly”.