Learn about Shoestring Digital in a free webinar
The Shoestring Digital program is now open for small-to-medium sized agrifood and beverage businesses across WA.
The Shoestring program helps businesses answer the following questions:
- What simple low-cost digital solutions could my business consider?
- How do I decide where to start?
- What are my business's digital priorities?
- How do our priorities compare with other businesses?
- Which digital solutions could make my business more competitive?
- What comes next?
Businesses interesting in joining the program should sign up for the free webinar on 30 July 2024.
About Shoestring Digital
The Western Australian Government, through DPIRD’s Food Industry Innovation program, has signed a four-year agreement to bring a world-first manufacturing initiative to WA.
WA is the first jurisdiction outside the UK to gain access to the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring program, developed by Cambridge University with the support of the UK Government.
DPIRD has customised the program for WA agrifood and beverage businesses and named it Shoestring Digital.
How Shoestring works
Shoestring utilises simple and low-cost digitalisation methods for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). It involves low-risk solutions that can be installed one at a time.
Individual solution components are available for only a few hundred dollars and are simple enough to be operated by existing business employees.
The Shoestring experience starts with businesses attending group workshops to identify their digitalisation priorities. The Shoestring team then works with individual businesses to tailor solutions to their needs.
Learn more about the Shoestring approach through the following videos supplied by the UK program:
- Overview video: Digital Manuafacturing on a Shoestring
- Business owner reactions: Industry Case Studies
To express interest in building your business' digital capabilities, register your interest or contact DPIRD's Food Industry Innovation team.
WA participant case studies
DPIRD recently worked with eight agrifood and beverages businesses including Howard Park Wines, Shelter Brewing Co. and Ryan’s Quality Meats to pilot this highly successful program in WA. Learn about their experiences in the following videos:
- Shoestring Digital for WA Businesses
- Ryan’s Quality Meats case study
- Shelter Brewing Company case study
- Howard Park Wines case study
Why is digital manufacturing important?
The adoption of digital technologies is essential for WA businesses to maintain international competitiveness as trading partners, customers, and suppliers. Australia is underperforming in digital adoption and SMEs risk being left behind as other markets move forward.
Despite significant incentives and support offered by national governments around the world, uptake of digitalisation by SMEs has remained low.
High costs and complex technologies that accompany corporate-scale digital solutions present significant barriers to SMEs. Research shows that effectively addressing SME-needs requires a new approach; one that is driven from a clear understanding of what SMEs want from digitalisation.
Cambridge University’s Shoestring program is the leader in delivering simple low-cost digital manufacturing solutions for SMEs.
Digitalisation can deliver better customer experiences, enhance consistency and quality, combat labour shortages and boost competitiveness in local and international markets.
DPIRD considers Shoestring Digital to be a positive and disruptive step in the right direction with the potential to generate significant benefit for SMEs. The benefits will extend beyond WA as other regions recognise the power of this model and come onboard.
Contact information
Contact the Food Industry Innovation team on 08 9881 0221 or email foodindustryinnovation@agric.wa.gov.au .
You can also email Shoestring Digital's project officer Felipe Barria-Reyes directly: felipe.barriareyes@dpird.wa.gov.au .