Richard Davies is the UK managing partner at Netcompany UK
The UK's Trade Strategy sets an ambitious vision to deliver a "digital-first approach to export support."
This significant commitment aims to move beyond the current system of fragmented services to a more streamlined, modern ecosystem that empowers UK businesses to trade globally.
As a company with deep roots in Denmark's digital transformation, Netcompany’s teams have seen firsthand how a strategic, digital-first mindset can revolutionise a nation's economy.
Navigating a maze
For too long, the journey for UK businesses looking to export has been a labyrinth of forms and disparate government websites.
Finding the right grants, understanding customs requirements or navigating foreign markets often requires countless hours and specialised expertise, which creates a significant barrier to entry for the SMEs that the government’s services are designed to help most.
The new strategy rightly identifies this pain point. It's an acknowledgement that to become a modern trading superpower, the UK must equip its exporters with tools that are as sophisticated and integrated as the global markets they wish to enter.
Learning from the Danish blueprint
Headquartered in Copenhagen, Netcompany has been instrumental in Denmark's digitalisation, serving as a key partner for the public sector in modernising core systems and developing digital services, which has helped establish Denmark as a world leader in e-government, including customs and trade.
Denmark consistently ranks among the most digitised nations in the world; a status built on a deliberate and long-term strategy of putting digital services at the core of government operations.
One of the most powerful concepts in the country’s model is the "once-only" principle. This aims to ensure that a business only needs to submit a piece of information to the government once. This simple, but profound, shift eliminates redundant data entry, reduces administrative burdens and drastically speeds up processes.
Building the UK's digital export ecosystem
So, how can the UK translate these lessons into a tangible advantage? The answer lies in moving beyond a collection of individual digital projects to a truly integrated export ecosystem.
This should comprise of:
- A single information portal: The UK's commitment to enhancing the great gov.uk platform is a crucial first step. But the ultimate goal must be to create a single, intuitive portal that serves as a one-stop shop for all export support. This platform would not just provide information, but also actively guide a business through every step of the export journey – from market research and market access requirements to trade finance support.
- Smart, proactive support: A digital-first approach means using data to provide proactive, tailored support. By harnessing data analytics and artificial intelligence, a platform could provide a small UK manufacturer with personalised insights into new markets, identify potential trade barriers, or even automatically notify them of changes in customs tariffs. This kind of intelligent support would upgrade the system from being a passive repository of information to an active, business-growth partner.
- Integrating with trading partners: Many businesses don’t think of their international trading operations as a one-way street. Instead, the flow of goods, components, data and people means that identifying inward trade and investment opportunities is just as important as exports. The UK should look to integrate support where possible with close trading partners to leverage free trade agreements and the opportunities they present.
Supporting UK traders
The UK’s Trade Strategy is not just about improving access to information. By creating a comprehensive digital export ecosystem, the UK can move with urgency to support businesses in navigating an increasingly volatile international environment while helping them identify much-needed growth opportunities where possible.
The UK's digital-first export strategy is a bold and necessary move. By drawing on the lessons from Denmark and embracing a holistic, platform-driven approach, the UK can empower its businesses, simplify its bureaucracy, and build a truly modern trading nation that is fit for the digital age.
