Monitoring Key Welfare Indicators of Children and their Families in Georgia
Areas of expertise
Industies
Country
In 2024, ACT began contributing to a joint project of the Produce in Georgia Agency and the European Union (EU) entitled "Support for the Digitalization of Small and Medium Enterprises." The project raised awareness among SMEs about the benefits of digitalization, improve the digital skills of their employees, and promote the adoption and use of digital tools to enhance business efficiency and competitiveness.
In particular, ACT cooperated with Enterprise Georgia to study the digital needs of SMEs operating in selected sectors and the relevant digital tools, as well as to identify the necessary digital skills of employees and develop training materials and syllabi for their education.
Within the project, the following activities were implemented:
• Review of digital tools for key business functions and the creation of a supplier database;
• Sectoral business function diagnostics and identification of optimal digital tools for each level of digital maturity; and
• Development of three-level training programs tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs with varying levels of digital experience.
ACT led all stages of the project, ensuring its effective implementation and guaranteeing the achievement of set objectives. The team’s work in the process is divided into categories and described below:
Data Collection and Analysis
• Market research, sector analysis, and a study of digital tools, taking into account both local and international practices.
• Review of 300+ digital tools and platforms, along with the development of practical recommendations for their application.
Sectoral Business Function Diagnostics
• Identification of five key sectors in coordination with Enterprise Georgia.
• Detailed diagnostics of each business function based on World Bank methodology and determination of digital maturity levels.
Strategic Planning
• Defining digitalization stages for each sector and setting out corresponding digital solutions.
• Analytical data review and targeted RFI studies in the business sector (covering prerequisites, barriers, challenges, etc.).
Training Program Development
In this regard, ACT developed a three-level training system, each tailored to the given level of digital skills held by the given entrepreneur:
Level 1: Development of basic digital skills for beginner entrepreneurs.
Level 2: Implementation of specific digital solutions for entrepreneurs already using standard software.
Level 3: Training for integrating complex enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
The training included theoretical and practical components, defining KPIs, and training of trainers" (ToT), ensuring the project's long-term sustainability. In addition, a supplier database was created and reliable local digital providers were identified.
The approach taken by ACT ensured that the project was adapted to accommodate Georgia’s economic realities, yielding long-term benefits for SMEs.
Ultimately, the project outlined a clear way forward for digital transformation among Georgian SMEs. Specifically, key outcomes include:
• Digital Tools Guide: A detailed review of 300+ digital solutions, along with practical recommendations tailored to specific business functions.
• Sectoral Development: Digital strategies developed for five key sectors contributing to improved operational processes and sustainable economic growth.
• Training Impact: Upgrading of trainers’ qualifications, ensuring the effective application of training modules for SME employees.
• Long-term Impact: Laid the groundwork for SMEs to independently manage and develop their digital transformation processes.
This project not only helped businesses to solidify their digital advances but also provided a strong foundation for Georgia’s sustainable long-term economic growth. The holistic approach of ACT, along with the active support of the "Produce in Georgia" Agency, financed by the EU, exemplifies how strategic collaboration can bring real and positive change to businesses, as well as their employees, stakeholders, and society as a whole.
