How can the delivery and uptake of business development services (BDS) be optimised? Digitalisation - the strategic use of digital technologies, is one trend that has been growing as organisations seek to provide BDS efficiently, inclusively, and effectively. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend. Looking ahead, organisations must determine what role digitalisation will play in their approach, with some choosing to re-integrate in-person delivery, while others will maintain a digital focus.
Overview
This guidebook aims to support BDS providers to successfully adopt digital practices and tools. It explores current practices and opportunities across the landscape to guide BDS providers in using digital technologies to provide services to entrepreneurs in an effective and inclusive way.
The guidebook, developed together with Dalberg Advisors, has four parts:
- Part One provides of background and context of this report and digitalisation's relevance to BDS
- Part Two summarises different potential digitalisation pathways organisations may take and why, ranging from digital delivery as a complement to in-person delivery, through to a digital-first focus.
- Part Three offers practical guidance on how to digitalise effectively
- Part Four highlights additional resources for BDS providers on enterprise support and digitalisation.
The guidance offered in this report draws on lessons from BDS organisations across the sector that have shown initial signs of success in their digitalisation journeys, as well as learnings from digital organisations in other sectors that offer insights into new possibilities and key success factors for BDS providers.
