The State Sends Digitalization Vouchers – by Mail

In order to increase the digital maturity of small, medium, and micro enterprises, the Ministry of Economy has announced a call for digitalization vouchers, which are financed through EU funds. Their aim is, among other things, the development of digital business models, strengthening the capacity for implementing digitalization and digital transformation, or improving cybersecurity, which will ultimately increase the competitiveness and resilience of companies by using digital technologies. The calls have been conducted, those who will receive vouchers have been selected, some have already been delivered, while others are delayed.

– They are delayed because the state sends digitalization vouchers, which should help us change the business model, by mail – reported a reader to Lider, who has been sitting in the office for days, although everyone else is working from home due to the heatwave and is waiting for the postman.

– If only I knew exactly when the mail would arrive, but that information is not digitalized either – our reader wonders, a Croatian micro entrepreneur who will use that voucher to improve digital skills and the digital transformation strategy.

Drago Cmuk, a partner at the consulting firm Forvis Mazars, specialized in consulting for business digital transformation, confirms that such a practice is common in Croatia and states that the only reason for this is that the state still insists on signatures and stamps.

– It is really ridiculous that vouchers are delivered in such a way, but that is true. Signature and stamp are what they are used to in the public service, and that is the only reason why such a method of delivering vouchers, which should help automate and digitalize business processes, is insisted upon – said Cmuk, adding that there is another way because there is a digital platform that could solve this, especially since, he reminds, the exchange of documents with the state is digital.

– However, while they ask applicants to digitalize and everyone has digital signatures via mobile tokens, the state sends such documents by mail, and it has the option to send them signed, if they insist on that, and digitally via already existing platforms – concluded Cmuk.