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Digital Solutions
The Digital Solutions program helps support small businesses to harness opportunities and grow in the digital economy. Through the program, you can access up to 4 hours of one-on-one digital advice from a qualified and experienced business adviser for a small fee.
You can also access free workshops, webinar presentations and self-directed tutorials. Services cover a range of topics including:
- digital marketing
- social media
- websites and selling online
- business software
- cybersecurity.
Eligibility for the program
The program is for small businesses with fewer than 20 full-time (or equivalent) employees, as well as sole traders. The service is available across all metropolitan and regional areas in Australia.
Cost and services
Small businesses can attend workshops and webinars at no cost. A small fee will be charged for one-on-one advisory services.
Contact a Digital Solutions adviser near you
Realise Business is the lead provider for the Australian Capital Territory.
Realise Business is the lead provider for New South Wales.
Business Enterprise Centre NT is the lead provider in the Northern Territory.
Phone: 08 8944 2950
Email: Online enquiry form
Website: Business Enterprise Centre NT
Regional Business HQ is the lead provider in Queensland.
Phone: 1300 249 482
Email: info@businesshq.org.au
Website: Regional Business HQ
Melbourne Innovation Centre is the lead provider in South Australia.
Melbourne Innovation Centre is the lead provider in Tasmania.
Melbourne Innovation Centre is the lead provider in Victoria.
Business Foundations WA is the lead provider in Western Australia.
Phone: 1300 958 085
Email: digitalsolutions@businessfoundations.com.au
Website: Business Foundations
Find out how the Digital Solutions program has helped other businesses
Hear from small businesses that have engaged with the Digital Solutions program to save time, connect with customers and grow their business.
Pharus Wellbeing (QLD)
Daniel recently transitioned his business from part-time to full-time. He reached out to the Digital Solutions program for guidance on how to grow his business digitally. Daniel has started an eNewsletter to stay connected with clients through digital marketing, and improved search engine optimisation for his website to increase online visibility.
[Image appears of a view looking through grass at a sunrise as the camera pans right, and shows a grass seed head, and then image changes to show Daniel McCullough working with a colleague]
Daniel McCullough: I've linked into the Digital Solutions program to get knowledge and education to better improve my business.
[Images move through to show a side profile of Daniel talking, a medium view of Daniel talking to the camera, and then a close view of Daniel talking to the camera, and text appears: Daniel McCullough, Owner, Pharus Wellbeing]
Accessing the Digital Solutions program allows you to access reputable mentors and get reputable information for a fraction of the price.
[Images move though to show a “Pharus Wellbeing” leaflet, a medium view of Daniel talking and
showing documents to a colleague, and then a close view of Daniel pointing at the documents]
The name Pharus comes from the Latin word for lighthouse. A lighthouse is a beacon of support.
[Images move through to show various views of Daniel talking to the camera, Daniel talking while using a laptop, a rear view of the laptop video chat with Daniel talking in the group chat screen]
Our mission is to provide mental health education, awareness and training for communities, organisations, sporting clubs across Australia.
[Image changes to show a side profile of Daniel talking]
There's a lot of different digital tools that I lean on.
[Images move though to show the laptop video chat screen with Daniel talking, side profile of Daniel talking, and then Daniel’s hands moving up and down as he talks]
I was looking at ways of how can I continue to engage with clients, people who have come to my courses.
[Music plays as image changes to show a medium view of Daniel talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show the camera panning in to show Daniel working on a computer]
I was able to get that guidance from some of the mentors and look at creating a newsletter.
[Images move though to show a screen of a website of traffic graphs, “Operations and Client Management” hand written poster on a wall]
Some of the greatest benefits I've seen is, is there's been an increase in engagement and increase in traffic to my website.
[Images move though to show “Shining Light – Vol 9” on a laptop screen from the Pharus Williams website, and then the screen minimizing to show a graph]
[Image changes to show a close side profile of Daniel working on his computer, and then image
changes to show the “Digital Solutions – Australian Small Business Advisory Services” website]
This was a side business. What I've been able to achieve is transition into full time.
[Images move through to show various views of Daniel talking to the camera, a “Crisis Intervention
Brisbane” website scrolling through, and Daniel working at his desk as the camera pans out]
Having more knowledge to how to use digital solutions gives me time, time for bringing in more business, bringing in more clients or time to support my clients better.
[Images move through to show a medium view of Daniel talking to the camera, a close view of Daniel talking to the camera, and then Daniel walking along outside with is laptop smiling]
I'd call myself an expert facilitator, expert trainer. I am not an expert business owner, I'm still learning.
[Image changes to show a close side profile of Daniel smiling, and then image changes to show a medium view of Daniel talking to the camera]
The Digital Solutions program is my own lighthouse in a way for small business.
[Image changes to show a medium view of Daniel holding his laptop and smiling, and then a close view of Daniel smiling as camera pans right]
Whether you're digitally savvy or starting from scratch, the Digital Solution program can cater to anybody.
[Image changes to show a blue screen with the Australian Government Coat of Arms, and text appears: Digital Solutions, Australian Small Business, Advisory Services, For more information visit business.gov.au/digitalsolutions]
Give it a go. There's nothing to lose.
[Music plays]
Sticky Rice Cooking School (SA)
Claire recognised she needed to adapt to the digital age to reach new customers and embraced Digital Solutions. Connecting with a mentor, she learned to integrate a client relationship management system. This allowed her to optimise her business website for improved customer journeys and seamless booking experiences.
[Music plays as an image appears of a close view of lemons in a bowl and then image changes to show a close view of bottled products on a shop’s shelf]
[Image changes to show a close view of various relishes on a shelf, and then image changes to show a wide view of Claire Fuller standing in front of the “Sticky Rice Cooking School” building]
Claire Fuller: As a business owner, you wear many hats.
[Images move through to show various views of Clair talking to the camera, and then a knife being used for dicing food, and text appears: Claire Fuller, Owner, Sticky Rice Cooking School]
You have to be the creator, the director, the leader, the HR person, the sales, the marketing, finance.
[Images move through to show a prawn being skewered, a hand grater being used to grate cucumber, a female’s face smiling, cooking students smiling and laughing around a table]
It's crazy. You just can't be an expert in all of those. So we really do need assistance.
[Music plays as images move through to show a knife being used to dice onion and then the onion being scraped into a bowl, and then Claire talking to a cooking student]
[Image changes to show a close view of a dark liquid pouring from a bottle, and then image changes to show Claire emptying a bottle of clear liquid into a bowl]
I saw that there was a workshop on digital solutions.
[Images move through to show fruit and vegetables on a plate, Claire talking with her male mentor in the kitchen, Clair talking, and then the male mentor talking]
I was able to go along to that in our regional area, and that was where I was connected with a mentor.
[Images move through to show views of Claire and her mentor in conversation while looking at a
laptop screen scrolling through, and views of a Smartphone QR code being used to register]
We were able to look immediately at the things that we could do that were going to give us a return straight away, things like implementing software, changing up the way that my website worked, and implementing the QR code where people can check in and register when they arrive.
[Images move through to show a “Thai food” book, a hand pointing at the laptop’s screen showing a website, and then a screen showing an order]
I've got a CRM system now that feeds from any interactions that I have with customers.
[Images move through to show a side profile of Clair talking, a lap top screen scrolling through a “Class Booking Form” website, and then a side profile of Claire’s mentor talking]
I'm able to nurture those relationships and to add value to those customers.
[Images move through to show Claire talking, hands operating and pointing at a laptop screen, and then various views of Claire talking to the camera]
I think the biggest things that have made a difference is the analytics that I now have access to, to make better business decisions.
[Images move through to show three students cooking with Claire and her mentor, shrimp skewers cooking, Claire laughing with students while cooking, and then bay leaves dropping into a wok]
You need to be pulling every lever you possibly can to optimise your business.
[Images move though to show Claire with a female watching contents tossing about in a wok, and
then a scraper being used in the wok as it continues the tossing motion]
You have to stay visible and keep up with the technology.
[Image changes to show a hand dropping coriander onto a plate of food, and then image changes to show Claire taking a photo of the food while standing beside the mentor and students]
The Digital Solutions program has made sure that I feel equipped, confident and supported.
[Image changes to show medium view of Claire talking to the camera, and then a close view of Claire talking to the camera]
I'm invested knowing that what I do is actually going to make an impact.
[Image changes to show a medium view of Claire standing with her laptop and smiling at the camera in front of a Buddha statue]
I can be very targeted and then wow, you see the results.
[Music plays as image changes to show a blue screen with the Australian Government Coat of Arms, and text appears: Digital Solutions, Australian Small Business, Advisory Services, For more information visit business.gov.au/digitalsolutions]
Illawarra in Colour Painting (NSW)
After arriving in Australia, Khirullah was determined to relaunch his successful overseas painting business. Khirullah accessed the Digital Solutions program to create his website and social media business accounts to promote his service and connect with potential customers.
[Music plays as image appears of a close view of a paintbrush, and then image changes to show a wide view of Khirullah Walid Odda stirring paint in a bucket]
[Image changes to show a close view of Khirullah talking to the camera, and then a wide view of Khirullah talking to the camera, and text appears: Khirullah Walid Odda, Owner, Illawarra in Colour Painting]
Khirullah Walid Odda: As the owner of a small business, the toughest aspect for me is language.
[Images move through to show Khirullah picking up a container of paint, Khirullah’s shoe stepping onto the ladder, Khirullah at the top of the ladder, and then Khirullah talking to the camera]
I was worried to open a business but because I have someone to help me who also speaks my language, it’s allowed me to move forward and believe in myself and not be scared.
[Images move through to show Anas Khawam talking to the camera, painter’s tape being pulled and breaking, and then Khirullah rolling painter’s tape down a wall, and text appears: Anas Khawam, Mentor, Digital Solutions]
Anas Khawam: Khirullah has started a painting business. He approached Digital solution. He want to be found.
[Images move through to show Khirullah painting with a long-handled paint roller, Khirullah making coffee and then taking it to a table]
He was looking for opportunity for his business to expand. So we had sessions.
[Images move through to show Khirullah’s hand pouring coffee into a cup, Anas talking, views of Anas and Khirullah talking and looking at laptops, and then Anas’ hand pointing at his laptop]
I explained to him how to use AI to design his first website. Even how to use AI to do posting on the social media.
[Images move through to show Khirullah listening to Anas, Khirullah’s hand picking up his smartphone, and then Khirullah using his smartphone]
Khirullah Walid Odda: I became a part of the Digital Solutions program so I can learn new technology and how I can use it for my business. I’ve learned how to use Facebook.
[Image changes to show Khirullah scrolling on his smartphone, and then image changes to show a laptop screen scrolling through the Illawarra website]
I ‘ve learned how to use the essential tools to operate my website and how to design it.
[Images move through to show various views of Anas talking to the camera, Anas pointing at the laptop screen, Anas talking to Khirullah, and then Khirullah listening]
Anas Khawam: The five pillars of Digital Solution program is enhancing the awareness of digital for small business, enhancing the websites for business, working on social media and digital platform.
[Image changes to show a laptop screen featuring part of the Illawarra website, and then image changes to show Anas talking to the camera]
Working on the business software and cybersecurity.
[Images move through to show the laptop screen buffering, Anas’ hand pointing at the laptop screen, and then Anas talking to the camera]
The cybersecurity aspect is very important in all type of businesses.
[Images move through to show Anas’ hands using the laptop, Khirullah watching and listening and then talking with Anas]
Owners must be educated and learn more how to protect their business and data.
[Images move through to show various views of Khirullah talking to the camera, and then various views of Anas walking and talking with Khirullah who is carrying painting equipment]
Khirullah Walid Odda: Thank you to the Digital Solutions program, I know my business is going to continue to grow.
[Music plays as image changes to show Khirullah talking to the camera, and then image changes to show Anas and Khirullah smiling together and then turning to face the camera]
Sign up for Digital Solutions. You will get the benefit.
[Music plays as image changes to show a blue screen with the Australian Coat of Arms, and text appears: Digital Solutions, Australian Small Business Advisory Services, For more information visit business.gov.au/digitalsolutions ]