With the massive disruption caused by Covid-19, ecommerce service providers are finding ways to help. Here is a list of free programs from service providers to help fight the pandemic. The programs include grants for small businesses, information technology, fulfillment services, storage, start-up financing, assistance for local businesses, and free meditations to relieve anxiety.
Free Programs
eFulfillment Service offers free storage to medical manufacturers. eFulfillment Service announced that it would provide free storage to any producer of medical supplies to help overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. eFulfillment Service serves ecommerce clients worldwide from warehouses in northern Michigan with more than 250,000 square feet of space. The company will waive fees for inventory storage and client service to qualified manufacturers of medical supplies, especially personal protective equipment, throughout the pandemic.
eFulfillment Service
Ecwid opens tools to small businesses. To support small businesses affected by Covid-19, ecommerce platform Ecwid is giving away premium ecommerce tools through the end of 2020, for all new sign-ups. The tools include curbside pickup, gift cards, Square point-of-sale integration, live support, and access to small business funding through Reliant Funding partnership. Previously the tools were available only on paid plans.
PC Matic Pro offers free cybersecurity. To help with the massive transition to home-based workers due to Covid-19, PC Matic is offering free cybersecurity and remote management through PC Matic Pro to newly established remote workstations through June 30, 2020. PC Matic Pro will also be provided free to kindergarten through grade-12 schools utilizing distance-learning, and to nonprofit organizations that are aiding in Covid-19 relief efforts. All onboarding and support services will also be available at no charge.
Tech To The Rescue offers free IT support. At TechToTheRescue.org, non-governmental organizations and nonprofits whose activities have been significantly constricted can apply for free information technology services and access to products, tools, and specialists. TechToTheRescue.org contains a list of over 140 companies offering free IT, design, marketing, and even legal services. The list is open and is growing. To sign up, a company has to provide the method and scope of offered assistance and its contact details.
TechToTheRescue.org
Yelp announces $25 million in free services to support local restaurants and nightlife. Yelp is providing $25 million in relief, mainly for restaurants and nightlife businesses, in the form of free advertising, products, and services. Restaurants and nightlife businesses that remain open will receive Yelp page upgrades, including Business Highlights, Call To Action, and Connect. Restaurants will also receive three months of free access to Yelp Reservations and Waitlist. For restaurant clients that offer delivery or takeout, Yelp is providing $100 in free search advertising.
CS-Cart Multi-Vendor offers free marketplaces for nonprofits. CS-Cart Multi-Vendor is multi-vendor software for building online marketplaces. As a response to Covid-19, CS-Cart is offering a free marketplace to nonprofits, industry associations, and governmental organizations. Creating an industry-specific online marketplace can become a new source of revenue for nonprofits.
Bringg announces free BringgNow, a last-mile delivery management service for SMBs. Bringg, a delivery platform, announced the pre-release of BringgNow, a last-mile delivery service to launch and scale delivery operations. Using BringgNow, business owners can quickly load incoming orders, dispatch deliveries to their own drivers or crowdsourced fleets, and deliver items to customers with a fully branded experience. The service was scheduled to launch later this year, but Bringg released it early to aid businesses facing increased demand for delivery services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bringg is offering businesses this last-mile delivery management service for free.
Bringg
eBay waives fixed-price listing fees. To support small and medium-sized businesses affected by Covid-19, eBay is implementing some promotions and changes to its marketplace. eBay sellers can list for free up to 50,000 additional fixed price listings in March and another 50,000 in April. Also, eBay is deferring most selling fees for 30 days.
FarEye offers free technology to handle surge and execute contactless home deliveries. To ensure seamless deliveries of groceries and essential daily items amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, FarEye, a predictive logistics platform, announced that it would equip companies with its delivery optimization software to handle a surge of home deliveries. FarEye SERVE is free to organizations making home deliveries of essential daily items, hospital sites, and for the supply of food and medicines for non-governmental organizations that are responding to Covid-19.
Facebook launches a $100 million small business grants program. Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where it operates. Facebook will begin taking applications in the coming weeks. In the meantime, sign up to receive more information when it becomes available.
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Luma Launch creates portal to help investors and start-ups connect. Luma Launch, the corporate investment arm of film studio Luma Pictures, has launched a portal to match venture firms with start-ups seeking financing. Laurent Grill, an investor at Luma Launch, has issued calls requesting that investors sign up privately to the managed list. There’s also a list for start-ups that are looking for cash.
ShelterZoom launches DocuWalk, free to Covid-19 response teams. ShelterZoom, a blockchain transaction-management platform, announced the free availability of DocuWalk, a new service, to organizations working to combat Covid-19. Built on ShelterZoom’s blockchain-based smart-contract platform, DocuWalk transforms records, documents, and contracts into digital, interoperable, and intelligent assets. DocuWalk leverages security, blockchain technology, and ShelterZoom’s document token to overcome the limitations presented in existing document and contract management technology.
Amazon creates Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund. Amazon is launching a $5 million “Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund” to provide cash grants to Seattle-based small businesses that need assistance. The fund is for businesses with fewer than 50 employees or less than $7 million in annual revenue. Eligible businesses (i) have a physical presence within a few blocks of Amazon’s Regrade, South Lake Union, and Bellevue office buildings, (ii) are open to the public, and (iii) are reliant on foot traffic for customers.
Simple Habit offers free mindfulness to ease coronavirus anxiety. Helping anxious professionals forced to stay at home, Simple Habit, a meditation app, is offering free premium memberships to everyone who is financially impacted by the pandemic and can no longer afford to pay. Simple Habit is also offering new meditation services for pandemic-related anxiety. In addition, Simple Habit is continuing to support its experts, as most in-person events are canceled.
Simple Habit
April 1, 2020 at 09:00AM
via https//www.brucedayne.com/
Sig Ueland, Khareem Sudlow
