40,000 SMEs Using Contactless Services, Expected to Exceed 80,000 by Year-End

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] The number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) utilizing non-face-to-face services such as remote work and online education has surpassed 40,000. It is expected to exceed 80,000 by the end of the year.

According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on the 4th, as of the 2nd, 40,064 applications have been submitted for the 'Non-face-to-face Service Voucher Project,' which supports SMEs in adopting non-face-to-face services such as remote work and online education.

The 'Non-face-to-face Service Voucher Project' provides vouchers worth up to 4 million KRW (including a 10% company co-payment) to SMEs wishing to utilize non-face-to-face services such as video conferencing, remote work, and online education.

Last September, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups piloted the 'K-Non-face-to-face Voucher Platform,' which conducts the entire process from application to service exploration, payment, and settlement online without face-to-face contact. Until the 4th of last month during the pilot operation, an average of 278 companies applied daily, but after the platform officially began operating on the 5th, more than 1,500 companies applied daily, with a total of 31,737 companies applying.

In particular, from the 14th of last month to the 2nd of this month, when procedures were simplified by excluding restrictions related to personal debt default of applicant representatives and easing the obligation to submit SME confirmation certificates, an average of 1,787 companies applied daily. If this trend continues, it is expected that more than 80,000 companies scheduled to be supported this year will apply for the Non-face-to-face Service Voucher Project.

Among the applicants, 60% were corporate enterprises and 40% were individual enterprises. Considering that the overall proportion of corporate enterprises among SMEs is 11% and individual enterprises 89%, this suggests a high level of interest from corporate enterprises in remote and telecommuting work and digital transformation.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups also decided to expand the payment methods available to demand companies when using vouchers from the current two types to four types for user convenience. In addition to the existing personal check cards and Zero Pay gift certificates, prepaid recharge cards and corporate check cards will be added. Prepaid recharge cards will be available for online application starting from the 6th, and corporate check cards from the 12th.

Additional supplier companies providing non-face-to-face services to demand companies will also be selected. Supplier recruitment will be conducted online through 'K-Startup' from the 4th to the 16th, followed by eligibility review, document evaluation, and face-to-face evaluation for selection. Detailed application and submission methods can be found on the Ministry of SMEs and Startups website, the K-Non-face-to-face Voucher Platform, and K-Startup through official announcements.

Kim Juhwa, Director of the Non-face-to-face Economy Division at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, "We continue to listen to field voices through three supplier meetings and are enhancing user convenience by additionally selecting suppliers and introducing more payment methods," adding, "The Non-face-to-face Service Voucher Project will contribute to the digitalization of SMEs."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.