With the trend ever increasing towards online spending it is estimated that only 23% of small Irish businesses are engaged in any meaningful way in e-Commerce sales.
For businesses employing less than ten people this percentage could be even lower. It is now believed that of online purchases made in Ireland that 70% of these are done in overseas markets.
There is now an urgency to ensure that businesses recognise that this is happening and that they are encouraged and supported to correctly respond to this digital reality.
In order to support this goal, the National Digital Strategy aims to get a further 2,000 businesses trading online. To this end, the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR) has launched a Trading Online Voucher Programme and has teamed up with the Local Enterprise Offices to deliver this to Irish business.

Those wishing to avail of a voucher, must attend an obligatory Information seminar. At each seminar attendees will be informed of the purpose of the scheme and how best to use and get value from the application of the voucher.
The application process for the Vouchers will be a competitive process.
Eligibility Criteria:

• Vouchers will be available to a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure (exclusive of VAT), whichever is the lesser
• Voucher approval must be gained prior to incurring any expense
• Own labour is not an eligible expense
• Third party costs only will be considered
• All third party/supplier invoices must contain proper business details (e.g. Tax and Business Registration details)

The vouchers are targeted at businesses with the following profile:

• Limited Online Trading presence
• Less than 10 employees
• Turnover less than €2m
• Applicant business must be registered and trading for at least 12 months
• Business must be located in one of the pilot areas under this phase of the scheme

What the vouchers can be used for:

• IT consultation
• Development or upgrade of an e-commerce website
• Implementing Online payments or booking system;
• Purchase of Internet related software
• Purchase of online advertising (this purchase cannot make up any more than 30% of approved Voucher costs and can only be drawn down in one payment phase)
• Developing an app (or multiplatform webpages)
• Implementing a digital marketing strategy i.e. Social media marketing
• Consultation with ICT experts for early stage adopters of online strategy
• Training/skills development specifically to establish and manage an on-line trading activity

What the vouchers cannot be used for

• Development of brochure websites
• Purchase of non-internet related software
• Anything other than online trading related activity

Evaluation Process

• An evaluation committee will assess the applications and make recommendations for approval
• A competitive process will be put in place to assist with selection process. Selection of successful applicant will be based on the following criteria:

1. Eligibility for scheme
2. Value added potential
3. Export potential
4. Job creation potential
5. Financial Sustainability

• Record decisions and report to the Local Enterprise Office approvals committee
• In order to apply for a voucher applicants will be required to attend a training session on how to use and get the best value for money from the voucher

Voucher Administration

• Letter of offer with Voucher to be sent out to successful applicant
• Letter of offer signed, accepted and returned
• Client has three months to complete the work as per their application
• Client must attend pre-voucher application information seminar

Post-Voucher reporting
By accepting a Trading Online Voucher, businesses agree to provide information on the impact on their business of trading on-line;

• Reporting will include: Jobs (new or reallocated) , Exports and/or domestic market expansion, Increase Revenue, Reduced Costs, Expected follow on investment  Suppliers will be required to report on the impact of their products and services.
• Reporting will include how their product or service enabled: trading on-line, improved business performance, reduced cost, opened markets. 

Acknowledgements
The trading online voucher scheme is an initiative of the National Digital Strategy, developed and funded by the Department of Communication, Energy and Natural Resources on behalf of Government. It is being administered by the Local Enterprise Offices on a pilot basis

For more information contact us www.cosmos.ie/

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