FOR many micro, small & medium-sized (MSMEs) business owners in Jamaica, the path to success is often marked by navigating challenges that hinder growth. But for entrepreneurs like Andrea Jackson Robinson, Tamieka Sewell Phang, and Fitzroy Ferguson, the government’s Digital Jamaica Project has been a game-changing opportunity.

Funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC), the €9.5 million project launched in October 2023, aims to close the digital divide for MSMEs across Jamaica by providing entrepreneurs with vital digital skills that can transform their businesses. Through hands-on training, these entrepreneurs have gained the tools and insights to streamline operations, improve customer engagement, and unlock new revenue streams. So far, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), the implementing body for the project, has trained more than 100 entrepreneurs in Kingston & St Andrew and St Catherine.

Jackson Robinson, the co-founder of Valentine’s Intimate & More, is just one of the MSMEs that have been impacted. Valentine’s Intimates & More is a women underwear and lingerie company that provides personalised bra fitting services.

Before the Digital Jamaica Training, Jackson Robinson said she was unable to serve all customers during rush hours losing significant sales.

“I had a situation where customers would come at a particular time of the day and I would not have been able to service all of them because they were just a kind of rush, say, for example, during the lunch hour time,”she said.

However, after participating, she gained valuable insight into how digital tools could streamline her business processes.

Jackson Robinson participated in Year 1 of the training programme which was delivered in October 2024. Each training event was two days long, and saw approximately 20 participants each.

“So just doing the training allowed me to really think about the opportunity that, oh, implement appointment booking using Google Forms, a simple tool, which was not costing me anything. So that I could eliminate that challenge that I had,” she said.

By implementing a simple yet effective appointment booking system using Google Forms, Jackson Robinson was able to eliminate long wait times during busy periods, improving customer satisfaction. Additionally, the system allowed her to collect valuable customer data for better business planning and personalised service.

“The biggest takeaway for me was learning how digital tools can simplify operations,” she shared.

The Digital Jamaica project focuses on three core areas: digitisation, digitalisation, and digital transformation, helping businesses streamline their processes, improve customer engagement, and unlock new revenue streams. Targeting 2700 MSMEs by 2026, the programme is poised to transform the way Jamaican businesses operate, setting the stage for long-term growth in the digital economy.

For Sewell Phang, CEO of TS Quality Consultants, the Digital Jamaica training was a turning point in her business journey. Specialising in food safety and quality management systems, Sewell Phang’s company provides auditing, implementation, and training services to businesses across Jamaica. However, despite her expertise in systems management, she had not fully explored the potential of digitising her own business processes until she attended the Digital Jamaica training.

“The training was eye-opening. It made me realise how much I could improve my business by integrating digital solutions,” she said.

The training helped her identify key areas where automation could drive greater efficiency.

Areas covered in the training include data digitisation, process automation, cloud migration, integrating digital systems, leveraging data analytics, adopting cloud solutions, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics.

“Before the training, I hadn’t considered how much I was missing by not embracing digital tools. Now, I’m actively implementing solutions that will help my business grow,” she added.

Sewell Phang is now in the process of digitising aspects of her business, including automating manual tasks, which will allow her to scale operations and increase revenue.

She encourages other entrepreneurs to take part in the training, noting the practical, hands-on approach and the immediate application of what is learned.

“This training isn’t just theory. You leave with actionable steps that can immediately improve your business.”

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the Digital Jamaica project is playing a crucial role in ensuring that Jamaican MSMEs are equipped to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

“The training was incredibly enlightening. It helped me realise that digitalisation is not just about having a website. There are so many other tools available to help streamline operations and improve efficiency,” Ferguson of Jaldon Enterprises explained. The business produces natural oils like castor and coconut oil, which are used for a range of health and wellness applications. Ferguson had already embraced some aspects of digital engagement, such as having a website. However, the Digital Jamaica training opened his eyes to the full potential of digitalisation.

One of the key lessons Ferguson took away was the importance of cloud-based services for data storage and protection, as well as automating essential tasks like human resource management and tax filings.

“My biggest takeaway is that you don’t need a large team to handle administrative tasks. Digital tools can take care of these for you, freeing up valuable time and resources,” he said.

He is now actively exploring more digital solutions to enhance customer engagement and optimise business processes.

“I absolutely recommend this training to other entrepreneurs. It has been a game-changer for my business,” he added.

Registration is set to begin for other parishes in the coming weeks. For more information on the Digital Jamaica project and to learn how your business can benefit, visit JBDC Digital Jamaica.