Deakin University’s new Digital Futures Hub and eCommerce SEO agency Megantic have launched a partnership to help Victorian retail businesses boost their web traffic and online sales.
The Deakin-Megantic eCommerce Accelerator Program seeks to enhance the national and international market competitiveness of medium-size online retailers through improved eCommerce platforms.
The program will be tailored for each participating retail business across key areas such as technical support and implementation, cyber security awareness, competitor analysis, eCommerce strategy, and digital marketing, among others.
Participating retailers can qualify for up to $50,000 in vouchers to support their participation in the program and lower the co-contribution required. This assistance was made possible by the support of the State Government via the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund (VHESIF).
“This contribution makes the program significantly more affordable for Victorian businesses, compared to others on the market,” Deakin Digital Futures Hub Director and Industry Professor, Dr Gjoko Muratovski, said. “The eCommerce Accelerator Program aims to assist companies that have the potential to become future market leaders but may lack the technical expertise, knowledge, or the resources to do so. This is how we can help.”
Victoria’s Minister for Training and Skills, Higher Education, and Agriculture, Gayle Tierney, said that her department are proud to invest in programs that create new job opportunities for Victorians, support Victorian businesses to develop digital expertise and ensure they are equipped to remain competitive on the global stage in the future.
Megantic General Manager, Jeremy Hanger, said that the company are excited to be partnering with “one of Australia’s leading education institutions to help Victorian businesses get the most out of the eCommerce site”.
“We’re thankful to the Victorian Government for their support,” Hanger said. “The eCommerce Accelerator Program has been established to help businesses drive digital growth by equipping selected Victorian businesses with knowledge, training and best practice SEO to maximise website traffic and sales.”
Deakin’s $6.5 million Digital Futures Hub is an innovation space located at its Burwood campus that offers digital transformation services to Victorian SMEs through collaborations with state and local governments as well as technology partners. SMEs can also access Deakin’s research, education, business, and partnership capabilities to provide services and technologies to drive business growth.
Registration is open for the Deakin-Megantic eCommerce Accelerator Program is open on the websites of Megantic and Deakin’s Digital Futures Hub until 31 March 2023.
