Why don't more SMEs export?

Studies around the world identified these common barriers:

1. Very few SMEs have an export plan.
2. They are deterred from entering export markets by perceived complexities and costs.
3. Traditional advice is to first select a particular export market. Then they have to dedicate significant time and resources in approaching that market - without any proof that there is indeed a market for their goods or services. Not surprisingly, few SMEs take this risk.
4. Another common complaint from SMEs is that, although there are organisations and companies providing export support services, none cover the complete export journey (from approaching a market for the first time right through to the completion of resulting export contracts). As a result, many SME export campaigns quickly fall by the roadside.

The challenge is to provide comprehensive, cost-effective support for the 6 Key Challenges SMEs face International Trade:

A flexible, holistic solution is needed to:

1. Connect Buyers & Suppliers.
2. Help resolve communications.
3. Indicate tools, techniques and resources to facilitate risk reduction and risk management.
4. Manage logistics and supply chain management.
5. Provide a checklist for costs, financing and pricing issues to be considered.
6. Explain the documentation that may be required and the positive impact of digitalisation on international trade.

The solution is explained in the following tab "Protegra - The Solution".

Protegra - The Solution

The Key Protegra Elements

1. Central, National Hub – Direct communication between members, the management team, and support services; blogs, helpdesk, newsletter, etc.
2. Knowledge Centre – Comprehensive online resources (including, for example, The ExportersAlmanac and The AEODirectory).
3. Training & Mentoring – Accessible both online and offline (see our YouTube Playlist International Trade Made Easy for the kind of content we can provide).
4. Business Services – Finance, insurance, logistics, legal, accounting, consultants, etc.
5. Virtual Trade Events – A digital gateway to new markets.
6. Multilingual Marketing Support – To showcase the SMEs globally.
7. Online Market – Where SMEs can meet new potential clients & partners.

This solution, implemented in careful stages resolves the 6 Key Challenges that we previously outlined:

1. Buyers & Suppliers are introduced.
2. Communications are facilitated.
3. Risks are reduced and managed.
4. Logistics and supply chain management solutions are provided.
5. Costs are calculated, prices are agreed, and trade finance is accessible.
6. Documentation and digitalisation solutions are provided.

Partnering with TradeTech Solutions - Together We Thrive

Promote Protegra in Partnership with TTS

Our mission is to make B2B eCommerce simple for SMEs - and one of the keys to achieving this is through partnerships.

1. Typically, you will have a base of at least 500 companies that are interested in expanding their export potential.
2. Some of these services we describe will already be part of an Organisation’s portfolio. Let’s discuss what is missing. Together, we can fill any gaps and deliver a complete, tailored Protegra platform.

What does a TTS partnership offer?

Partnerships with TTS can be structured in a number of ways to suit you, to offer:

1. Recurring income streams;
2. Access to anonymised data traffic statistics which indicate the potential for new cross-border markets and services;
3. A clear value-added service to your corporate client base.

In addition:

1. As your clients open up their international potential, you can promote more of your support services.
2. Offering these value-added services allows you to differentiate the scope of your services from those of your competitors.

If you have a client or corporate membership base that you think would benefit from having access to a Protegra platform, then please contact us for a no-commitment chat.