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« Je passe au numérique » : the Afnic initiative for VSEs/SMEs

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Home > Observatory and resources > News > « Je passe au numérique », the Afnic initiative for VSEs/SMEs
11/16/2020

Afnic, the association responsible for .fr domain names, is launching the initiative ‘Je passe au numérique’ (‘I’m going digital’), with the support of its partners, to facilitate the shift and support VSEs and SMEs in developing their online presence thanks to 3 simple, secure and accessible packs.

This initiative follows on directly from the Réussir-en.fr (“Succeed with .fr”) programme created by Afnic to develop the online presence of French VSEs/SMEs. Thanks to this initial project, the association, which trains some 20,000 businesses per year alongside Lyon-based SME Néocamino, has received a great deal of feedback on the needs of VSEs/SMEs in terms of online presence. ‘Je passe au numérique’ is the result of this understanding of the needs expressed, and draws on a network of qualified .fr registrars. The initiative currently encompasses over a dozen partners, including: Amen, Eproshopping, Gandi, Ionos, Infomaniak, Jimdo, LWS, Namebay, Orange Business Services, OVH, Scaleway, Shopify, Viaduc, Wix, and many more to be found on the website.

“Je passe au numérique”: offerings calibrated for VSEs/SMEs, instant solutions to make the switch

The association worked with the .fr distribution network to identify existing offerings that respond to various criteria – price, functionalities, services – allowing for an effective, controlled, secure and, of course, accessible online presence! Once approved, these offerings under the ‘Je passe au numérique’ label were incorporated into 3 essential packs: professional email, showcase website, and e-commerce website.

The ‘Je passe au numérique’ sticker will thus enable VSEs/SMEs to get their bearings in the face of an increasingly abundant supply and to make an informed choice!

“The need to build an online presence and online sales capacity is more urgent than ever for tradespersons, retailers, and more generally VSEs and SMEs as a whole. Support and training are Afnic’s first point of action, but we wanted to go further alongside the .fr registrars, which have set up instantly accessible offerings providing simple, concrete and low-cost solutions to allow VSEs/SMEs to make the shift to digital”, says Pierre Bonis, CEO of Afnic.

3 packs, 3 essential needs

The professional email pack

It may be the equivalent of a brand’s identity online, yet it is often overlooked despite being essential in affirming an online presence and gaining credibility. Having a customised professional address means: showcasing the company’s name, and contributing to strengthening its online visibility by advertising your own company rather than a web service provider!

Afnic has selected from among its partners’ offerings those that are adapted and that meet the requirements: creation of a .fr domain name, 2 professional email addresses, 2GB of storage, a secure web interface, antivirus and antispam, a tutorial in French, support available in French, etc.

The showcase website pack

Why have a showcase website? Firstly to convey simple information: address, opening times, contacts, and any other information that allows you to connect with customers. Secondly for autonomy, to break free of web giant platforms and mark out your own space on the Internet. To ensure you can be found, seen and recognised!

Afnic has selected the most relevant offerings based on minimum requirements: .fr domain name, possibility to create at least 3 pages and update the content yourself, automated SEO service, 50GB storage minimum, updating, data protection, etc.

The e-commerce website pack

The holy grail to ensure business continuity, where possible, in almost all circumstances. Why have your own e-commerce website rather than a marketplace? Because you can control your communication, your identity, you’re not lost among a sea of others, and because it enhances your online visibility.

Once again, Afnic has identified the appropriate solutions from its partners: .fr domain name, at least 2 responsive templates available by default, creation of an unlimited number of catalogue pages and updates, automated SEO assistance service, online payment function, promotion, invoicing, unlimited traffic, SSL certificate, etc.

All of these offerings have been designed to be accessible to the widest possible audience. What’s more, their price makes them eligible for financing from the French government (€500) to support the digital transition of retailers.

Discover the “je passe au numérique” initiative here: reussir-en.fr/offres-tpe

About Afnic

Afnic is the acronym for Association Française pour le Nommage Internet en Coopération, the French Network Information Centre. The registry has been appointed by the French government to manage domain names under the .fr Top Level Domain. Afnic also manages the .re (Reunion Island), .pm (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon), .tf (French Southern and Antarctic Territories), .wf (Wallis and Futuna) and .yt (Mayotte) French Overseas TLDs.

In addition to managing French TLDs, Afnic’s role is part of a wider public interest mission, which is to contribute on a daily basis, thanks to the efforts of its teams and its members, to a secure and stable internet, open to innovation and in which the French internet community plays a leading role. As part of that mission, Afnic, a non-profit organization, has committed to devoting 11% of its Revenues from managing .fr Top Level Domain to actions of general interest, in particular by transferring €1.3 million each year to the Afnic Foundation for Digital Solidarity.
Afnic is also the back-end registry for the companies as well as local and regional authorities that have chosen to have their own TLD, such as .paris, .bzh, .alsace, .corsica, .mma, .ovh, .leclerc and .sncf.

Established in 1997 and based in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Afnic currently has nearly 90 employees.