What is OPTIMISE?
The OPTIMISE Programme was launched in 2011 and ran until 2019. The initiative was created to empower small businesses to improve their online presence, hone their digital capabilities and grow their e-commerce sales. Our Digital Health Index research reveals that SMEs and micro businesses with e-commerce capability remain in the minority, despite consumers’ appetite for online shopping growing. Over the last number of years, we have worked with over 200 small and micro businesses to plan, develop and implement significant web enhancements and e-commerce capabilities to their existing websites.
Sector based approach
In 2017 we revamped OPTIMISE, taking a sectoral approach in helping selected enterprises from a particular sector on their digital journeys.
Our partners were the Design & Crafts Council Ireland, Retail Excellence, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Hardware Association of Ireland.
Each participant of the programme underwent a focussed digital healthcheck. It measured the performance of a participant’s business under the headings of Branding; Design; UX Usability; Content; E-commerce; Coding; Mobile; SEO/AdWords; Social Media and Email Marketing. A detailed report was provided outlining recommendations, so that participants have a roadmap for improving their online presence and e-commerce capability.
From a sector organisation perspective, OPTIMISE supported SMEs to:
- Assist members to grow their businesses and protect their futures by ensuring they are digitally capable and confident
- Promote digital excellence within a sector and facilitate digital transformation
- Ensure members can compete online in the global marketplace.
Our partnership with the Design & Crafts Council Ireland proved very successful in improving Irish design and craft businesses online presence and e-commerce capabilities.
Case studies
We have several case studies on how individual small businesses have reaped the benefits of participating in the OPTIMISE programme:
For further information on the companies we have worked with, please browse our case studies from previous years.
.IE Digital Town
The OPTIMISE programme has now closed.
In 2021, the .IE Digital Town programme was launched to foster digital enhancement and adoption in Ireland.