Digital Economy Program

Sustainable Development Goals Impacted

Introduction

Currently, most MSMEs are governed by a traditional business model, with limited sales channels, logistics, administration, marketing and production systems, and purchase and sale cycles of 18 months on average, which affects economic and market results.

Based on this problem, the University of Celaya developed and implemented the digitalization program for MSMEs called Digital Economy. This project promotes the digital maturity of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the region, with the objective of strengthening their competitiveness in the market, fostering the spirit of collaboration, joint learning and the necessary links to build a solid business and commercial future. 

Stages

The program started on a face-to-face basis, with teams of students each collaborating with a MSME to implement digital transformation actions. In the first stage of project implementation, 1040 students were trained in the period January-June 2020 in digital economy and its implementation and more than 500 SMEs in the region and 16 social organizations were supported in their transition to the digital economy. In the August-December 2020 cycle, 200 students were trained in digital economy and its implementation and a total of 61 companies were supported: 

As a second stage of the project, the model was scaled up to the state level through the State Commission for Higher Education Planning in Guanajuato (COEPES) and the Ministry of Sustainable Economic Development of the state of Guanajuato. The educational institutions that are part of this commission replicated the project to support small and medium-sized companies throughout the state of Guanajuato, and the Ministry of Sustainable Economic Development of the state of Guanajuato approved the creation of the labor competency standard of the Digital Economy Implementer, which will now boost the competitiveness and employability of people who manage to become certified.

As a third stage of the project at the University of Celaya and under a certification model, in the first semester of 2022, 11 teachers from the University of Celaya were accredited and certified as Digital Implementers by the Ministry of Economic Development, obtaining their certificate and certificate as Digital Implementers, which in turn enabled them to evaluate aspiring students to be certified as digital implementers. For the second semester of 2022, 155 students from the University of Celaya participated in advising and increasing the digital maturity of 42 MSMEs and 67 of them were certified as Digital Implementers, obtaining a certificate and certificate from SDES. 

In the first semester of 2023, the certification model was implemented again, with 113 students participating in the process, benefiting 38 MSMEs and 87 of them achieving accreditation as Digital Implementers.

Impact

This project has a direct impact on Sustainable Development Goal 8 (decent work and economic growth): digital economy and geographical indicator.

As a result of the 3 stages developed in this project, it was obtained that 85% of the entrepreneurs of the MSMEs participating in the Program highly recommended the digital economy program.

MSMEs participating during the pandemic reported benefits such as: increased sales, development and implementation of a new business model, and increase and/or diversification of customers.

Today, the project continues in face-to-face format, entrepreneurs and students converge and share information regarding the needs and areas of opportunity of the businesses making a diagnosis that allows to know in what dimensions they can be supported. The training obtained by students at the University of Celaya is essential to be able to offer digital solutions that positively impact our municipality, achieving that more and more small and medium enterprises can continue to operate and develop their digital maturity.

Undoubtedly, the project is not over yet. The medium term/long term projection is to improve, at least, a level of digital maturity of the 25, 076 MSMEs of Celaya 260, 665 MSMEs of Guanajuato or the 5, 471, 537 MSMEs of the whole country, which will also benefit the levels of sustainability and employment, since these economic units represent 70% of the jobs in the state of Guanajuato. 

Training of students during the pandemic. Students were trained prior to the pandemic in person at the University of Celaya facilities and during the period of confinement caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the sessions were conducted remotely.

Interested in digitizing your business?

Contact: Francisco Moisés Mendoza Escobar. moises@udec.edu.mx

To support this project:

If you are interested in supporting this project, we invite you to enter the project bank for more information.

Studies and publications:

Alliances