Investments in digital, the associations launch an incentive for micro and small businesses

Give a boost to the digitalisation of micro and small businesses, professional firms and third sector bodies through a direct, simple and multi-year contribution. This is the objective set by Investo Digitale, the incentive proposed to the government for the next budget law by Assosoftware, AIIP, Confartigianato, Confcommercio, Confimi Industria and Confprofessioni.

The initiative concerns software, cloud, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity and finances, in addition to the purchase, also implementation, training and consultancy. According to the promoters, in fact, the existing tools have so far focused mainly on material goods and are often too complex for less structured entities.

The idea of ​​Investo Digitale was born to respond to the need of Italian SMEs to raise the capital necessary to invest in digital. A survey by the Piepoli Institute on 1,232 companies with between two and 99 employees shows that for 56% of companies the first obstacles are high costs and the lack of incentives.

76% then say that they would use a public voucher if it were provided with simple procedures and with a discount or direct debit from the supplier. A percentage that rises to 94% among associated companies. Finally, 70% believe that Investo Digitale would make a concrete difference to their competitiveness within three years.

The investment priorities of the companies interviewed include artificial intelligence and process automation (30%), ERP management software (20%) and administrative/accounting software (11%). The main benefits that companies expect to derive from the incentive, however, are time savings (22%), reduction in operating costs (21%) and increased productivity (19%).

Investo Digitale aims to become a horizontal policy capable of increasing the productivity of the entire economic system and is based on a commitment of public resources over a three-year period. According to the promoters' estimates, the contribution could reach 578,496 beneficiaries and activate 6.48 billion euros of investments, with a leverage effect of 1.79 euros for every public euro.