– Insufficient support for capacity building at each stage of growth, and a gap in support after entering the online platform.
The lack of basic data on digital merchants necessitates a policy reorganization that reflects their characteristics.
Kookmin University's Platform SME Research Center (hereinafter referred to as the Research Center) announced on the 27th that it published a report titled "Current Status and Implications of Digital Merchant Support Policies" (hereinafter referred to as the Report).
This report was prepared by the Research Center to examine whether the government's small business support policies adequately reflect the unique needs and demands of digital merchants and to suggest future policy directions. Focusing on the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' small business support policies, the report comprehensively analyzed the potential for digital merchants to utilize these policies.
With the growth of the e-commerce market, the number of digital merchants selling products and services through online platforms is rapidly increasing. While similar to small businesses in that they have relatively limited human and material resources, digital merchants differ in that they actively leverage digital technology and accumulated data to pursue innovative growth.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups' current small business support policies apply comprehensively to digital merchants and small businesses, without distinguishing between them. This has resulted in a lack of capacity-building policies that take into account the characteristics and growth stages of digital merchants. Current support policies, such as the "Korea Companion Festival," "Small Business Consulting Support," and "E-Commerce Export Market Entry," support entry into domestic and international online platforms. However, they do not support capacity building after platform entry.
Furthermore, the lack of basic data to understand the startup and growth processes of digital merchants, as well as their management practices, has limited the design of tailored policies. Furthermore, data from the small business big data platform is structured around market analysis, limiting its utility for digital merchants' business operations.
The report raises the need to establish a policy system that takes into account the characteristics and growth stages of digital merchants, and suggests new policy directions, including: ▲ analysis and consulting support based on online sales data; ▲ expansion of practice-oriented digital education and establishment of in-depth courses; ▲ dedicated financial support for online-based brand growth; and ▲ support for global expansion tailored to the characteristics of platforms and products.
Kim Do-hyun, director of the Platform SME Research Center, emphasized, "The continued growth of digital merchants will solidify the foundation of the national economy." He added, "It is time to establish a policy system that takes their unique characteristics into account, including shifting from protection-focused to growth-focused policies, integrating overlapping businesses, and addressing blind spots in support." Further details can be found in a report on the Platform SME Research Center website.
The Platform SME Research Center at Kookmin University is a specialized research institute established to support the growth of digital merchants and foster a healthy platform ecosystem. The center continuously conducts various activities for digital merchants, including data analysis, policy recommendations, research, and educational programs.
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