Shaping the Digital Economy Agenda in Armenia

1. Webinars to raise awareness of digitalization among Armenian businesses

In May 2023, a series of online webinars were conducted as part of the project.

Webinar topics were as follows:

1. Selling Content,

2. Online Sales Platforms,

3. Data Digitization and Collection,

4. CRM Tools,

5. Digitalization: Current Opportunites, AI.

The online webinars were held in Armenian language, the participation was free of charge, a total of 220 business representatives from Yerevan and different regions of RA participated in the webinar series.

2. Consultations for businesses preparing their digital transformation strategies

Business digitalization consultation sessions were held in June-September of 2023. The 30 SMEs involved in this phase were given the opportunity to participate in free consultations (individual and group meetings) on the creation of their organization's digital transformation strategy.

In the selection of registered organizations, priority was given to participants of the online course of “Harnessing the Power of the Digital Economy!”. You can also participate in the course by watching the video lessons at this link։  https://bit.ly/42FCIng

3. Development of templates, guidebooks and video materials on digitization tools

In its commitment to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on their way to digital transformation, BSC developed comprehensive digitalization guidebooks, checklists, and templates as part of the project activities.

The guidebook headlines were as follows:
1. Digital Transformation Strategy Guidebook
2. Business Process Digitalization Tools
3. Your Business on Digital Platforms
4. Online Sales Platforms
5. Digital Security Guidebook for Businesses

The guidebooks were developed in Armenian and are publicly available with this link: https://bsc.am/hy/free-guidebooks-for-business-digitalization/.
The content of the guidebooks and supporting materials was developed taking into account the needs and existing problems of the Armenian business environment. The guidebooks are enriched with digital tools and platforms, applicable templates and questionnaires offered in local and international markets.

In order to raise awareness about digitalization, 3 video materials were developed within the framework of the project.

1. In the 1st video titled “5 Reasons for Businesses to Go Digital”, representatives of the public and private sectors state the reasons for business digitalization and the goals of digital transformation.
The video is available at this link: https://youtu.be/-5G-HeQOfiw?si=AE5389d5_rlMZ1QI

2. In the “Business Digitalization Stories” video, you can watch inspiring stories from the private sector and discover how businesses have harnessed the power of digital transformation to set and achieve bolder goals. The representatives of the organizations included in the video talk about their experience and the positive effects of implementing digital solutions.
The 1st part of the video is available at this link: https://youtu.be/Aznh2ISvXpc?si=J3L8QXHVYjbsq9T4
The 2nd part of the video is available at this link: https://youtu.be/DwrTjFeJb7g?si=3hbqPHPkXLaLouJP

3. The 3rd video titled “5 Business Process Digitalization Tools” showcases platforms and tools that enable the digitalization of internal business processes.
The video is available at this link: https://youtu.be/1hwEIEUbAjg?si=biexS5L2l8qiIu3f

4. Ensuring public-private sector communication and cooperation with the help of an online platform

As part of the project, an online communication platform in the form of a Telegram channel was created to improve cooperation between public and private sectors. Platform users have access to the latest news, upcoming events, and educational initiatives in the digitalization field.

The DigiSupport platform makes digitalization initiatives implemented by the state and international institutions accessible to the private sector and interested individuals.
You can join the platform through this link:
https://t.me/digisupport_arm

5. Public and private sector meeting-discussions in an offline format (PPDs)

In order to ensure the improvement of cooperation between the public and private sectors, 8 meetings-discussions of the public and private dialogues (PPD) were carried out within the project. The main topics of the meetings were the digital economy of Armenia, cooperation between the state and private sectors, ways of implementing the digitalization strategy developed by the state.
Below you can find information about the implemented meetings:

1. “The business digitalization and current opportunities” meeting was the first PPD meeting of the 8 PPD meeting series. It was conducted on May 23, 2023, in a format of a panel discussion. The speakers of the panel discussion were the representatives of the public and private sectors involved in the digitalization processes, digitalization experts. The meeting summary can be found in this link…

2. “Cooperation between banks and the private sector in the digitalization agenda” meeting-discussion was conducted on June 29, 2023, in a round-table discussion format. The meeting’s purpose was to create a communication platform between financial sector organizations and representatives of the private sector, which will facilitate their cooperation on the way to digital transformation. The meeting summary can be found in this link…

3. “Data Classification, Public-private dialogue on data policy issues” was held by BSC jointly with the Information Systems Agency of Armenia (ISAA), within the framework of the Agency’s Data Classification Working Group meetings. The meeting was conducted on July 18, 2023. The purpose of the data classification working group meeting was to create a communication platform between organizations involved in the working group, representatives of the public and private sectors. The meeting summary can be found in this link…

4. “5 Reasons for Businesses to Go Digital” was implemented on August 1, 2023. During the meeting public and private sector speakers presented their experience on the way to digitalization, success stories, encouraging the attendees to do digital transformation. After the speeches, the attendees asked their questions and made suggestions to the state representative. The meeting was concluded by highlighting 5 reasons for business digitalization. The meeting summary can be found in this link…

5. “Digitalization: ICT-Consultants-SMEs Cooperation” meeting was conducted on October 19, 2023, in a tripartite round-table discussion format. The main goal of the meeting was to bring together the three actors of digitalization, to identify the challenges and opportunities of cooperation, to highlight the role of the state organizations in the process of improving this tripartite cooperation. As a result of the discussion, the omissions, needs, as well as the solutions where the state can make its contribution were highlighted. The meeting summary can be found in this link…

6. “Digital transformation of the business environment” was held on November 17, 2023, in a Question and Answer format. During the meeting, proposals, questions were raised by representatives of the private sector’s IT, consulting and entrepreneurial fields, and a public-private sector question-and-answer session was organized between the participants and RA Deputy Minister of Economy, Rafayel Gevorgyan. The meeting summary can be found in this link․․․

7. “Digital Education: public-private dialogue” was implemented on December 15, 2023, as a panel discussion. The speakers of the meeting were representatives of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (MoESCS), educational academies and other educational institutions. During the meeting, the role of education in the processes of digitalization of the business environment and the role of digitalization in educational processes were discussed. Spokespersons of the RA MoESCS presented the ministry’s involvement and scope of activities in the 2021-2025 digitalization strategy of Armenia. The meeting summary can be found in this link․․․

8. “Shaping the Digital Economy Agenda in Armenia” meeting was held in the format of a panel discussion on December 22, 2023. The purpose of the meeting was to foster a collaborative environment through a panel discussion, facilitating the exchange of experiences among various stakeholders. This was achieved through presentations of digitalization programs and subsequent discussions on further cooperation in the field of digitalization. As a result of the discussion, each speaker presented their organization’s structure, the scope of responsibility and directions of activities. The attendees voiced their questions and suggestions, ensuring effective public-private dialogue. The meeting summary can be found in this link․․․