Dear Readers,
I would like to discuss the pivotal role of digitalization and sustainability within the realm of SMEs and the advantages they will offer companies in the near future. The utilization of digital tools, introduced through digital transformation, significantly contributes to the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability.
As a bank dedicated to leveraging technology for environmental sustainability and social impact, we have advanced our digital initiatives through the Digital Bridge Platform since 2019. This platform aims to reduce environmental impact and enhance business processes for companies. Furthermore, we prioritize digitalization and the promotion of social literacy on sustainability.
Through these efforts, QNB Digital Bridge has become Türkiye's largest digital SME platform.
Digital Bridge is a comprehensive platform where SMEs can conduct all their banking transactions and enhance their business operations through digitalization, all in one convenient place. This mobile Super App offers over 20 digital solutions across five categories, enabling SMEs to efficiently manage tasks from human resources and logistics to e-commerce and financial analysis.
Out of the rapidly expanding array of over 20 digital solutions within our organization, 8 are provided by our Bank's group, while the remaining are sourced from various fintech partners. In this regard, contributing positively to the development of the fintech ecosystem is also important for sustainability.
Over 300,000 companies benefiting from Digital Bridge gain a competitive edge through time savings, cost efficiencies, and productivity gains achieved via our digital solutions for banking and other business needs. Consequently, businesses that embrace digitalization continue to operate more swiftly and effectively, gaining the capability to compete with their global counterparts.
Sustainable digitalization entails considering the environment and society in the development and use of technology. In line with this approach, technological advancements should be pursued with a conscientious regard for our ethical and environmental responsibilities, beyond mere commercial interests. Our priority is use technology to enhance human welfare while advancing without causing harm to the environment. Technology should empower us, guiding us toward a more sustainable future and minimizing our environmental impact. Therefore, adopting and promoting sustainable digital practices is a crucial way to contribute to a better quality of life for everyone.
At QNB , we believe digitalization to be the foremost tool for advancing sustainable development goals and facilitating the global green transformation towards a greener future. Therefore, alongside our efforts to digitize and reduce the environmental impact of our own operations, we collaborate with our customers to digitally transform their operations, leveraging the transformative power and expertise of our bank.
Given their importance in the Turkish economy, we prioritize the needs of SMEs. Why is that? Because SMEs are the backbone of our economy. They are active in many sectors, from manufacturing to retail, and contribute to our economic vitality. Particularly in terms of exports, SMEs are of great importance; they have a significant role to play in accessing large markets such as the European Union.
The Power of SMEs
SMEs are the foundation of the Turkish economy. As of 2022, there were 3,517,763 such enterprises operating in Türkiye, constituting 99.8% of the total number of enterprises; 47.7% operated in the trade sector, 16.2% in the industry sector and 13.4% in the service sector. SMEs employed 13,448,000 people, making up 72.8% of total employment, and contributed 52.5% to the total GDP by generating added value of 2 trillion 335 billion Turkish Liras. The share of SMEs in total exports in 2022 was 31.6%.
These figures clearly underscore the significance of SMEs to our economy. Present in all areas of the business world, these enterprises contribute to economic growth in numerous ways, from creating jobs to exports. Hence, It is imperative to support SMEs in the digitalization process and to optimize their potential in this field.
Digitalization of SMEs
In addition to supporting sustainable development goals, the digitalization of SMEs brings many benefits. The diversification of job opportunities, promotion of innovation and enhancement of energy efficiency are just a few advantages of digitalization. Through the Digital Bridge, we aim to bring these benefits to SMEs and support them in their digitalization process.
Through the Digital Bridge Academy, we assist SMEs in improving their digital literacy by providing them with training videos, blogs on current topics, and "Digital Bridge Anatolia Meetings" organized in various cities across Türkiye. Additionaly, we present tailor-made solutions to SMEs by analyzing their needs. With the lifetime free support we extend in the e-invoice product, we encourage companies to use e-invoice and other e-transformation applications to reduce their paper usage. To increase the sustainability and efficiency of businesses, we continue to add new solutions for different needs to the platform every year.
Moreover, I would like to mention the solutions we offer to support the export processes of SMEs and enhance their competitive edge in international trade. Taking a pioneering role in the digitalization processes of SMEs, we have extended the ‘’1 with the World’’ vision to the Digital Bridge Platform. Through the carbon footprint calculation solution, implemented in cooperation with Captanomy and offered through the Digital Bridge, our SMEs can evaluate and report their environmental impact by measuring their carbon footprint. This enables, businesses to comply with the regulations imposed by the European Green Deal Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, sustaining their business activities and participating more effectively in the international market.
This year, we plan to expand the Digital Bridge, Türkiye's pioneering Super App for SMEs, which already features over 20 digital solutions across five different categories, by introducing additional sustainability solutions. Specifically, our goal is to bolster SMEs' sustainability initiatives through innovative methods like carbon footprint offsetting. In doing so, we aim to help businesses reduce their carbon footprints and take steps towards a greener future.
At QNB , we remain committed to enhancing the connection between digitalization and sustainability. Through the Digital Bridge, we take pride in aiding businesses in achieving their objectives in sustainability and digitalization.
Okay Yıldırım
QNB eFinans General Manager & QNB Digital Bridge and Banking as a Service Managing Director
