CNR
worked with the Department of Trade & Industry supporting the UK
online for Business e-SME scheme. This programme was designed to
help SMEs finance their migration from non-trading websites to fully
e-commerce sites. For the first round of the scheme the application, vetting and management processes were manual and this created an inordinate administrative load at the Department of Trade & Industry. CNR subsequently identified a number of significant time-saving benefits that could be achieved by moving the programme application and administration process online. We developed, implemented, managed and supported a secure online tool for the scheme's second round. This enabled applicants, intermediaries and administrators to use a central website to gain information on the scheme; manage the programme; track and monitor the progress of applications; and generate management information and reports which were also the basis of a subsequent evaluation of the programme.
The tool, which we managed, produced substantial efficiency gains for the Department of Trade & Industry by reducing administrative time spent on routine enquiries. This was further enhanced by providing a secure platform through which to make available all briefing information, and to collect, process and manage individual applications. Administrators were able to reduce the burden of responding to repetitive queries and set triggers to create standard documents throughout the process. Furthermore, the tool's management information system provides a powerful mechanism to analyse data and produce standard and customised evaluation or monitoring reports.
A demonstration version of the site is available for viewing.
