The Italian economy backed by businesses pushed by the internet and the epidemic

Pierangelo Masciadri has been selling relationships since his younger days drawing on the shores of Lake Como since the 1970s, but the epidemic has forced him to sell his products online.

As European businesses closed their doors last year Masciadri, which has thousands of customers around the world, including former US President Bill Clinton, is starting to sell on eBay. “It was a big change for my business,” Masciadri said.

“Who would have thought to learn what a search engine is like when they are 70 years old… When the first rule came, I couldn’t believe it was real.”

He is not alone. Exports from Italy have been successful in the country economic recovery from the booming economy last year, which was affected by the temporary increase in businesses using digital technology.

As of April, exports were 6% higher than January 2020 levels – the strongest growth in any major euro economy, compared to less than 1% in France and Germany. As a result, the volume of Italian trade has increased significantly since the outbreak began.

The volume of online sales was more than 50 percent in January 2020, well ahead of 42% of the euro.

It is not yet time. Italy has been lagging behind for a long time. In 2015, a year before Rome established a corporate plan aimed at promoting professionalism, at least one of the 10 small and medium-sized businesses sold online – only half of the eurozone.

This has been going well with the 6 percent share, but still leaves many without selling online. This has hindered Italy’s harvest, which has not only been hit by the crisis but has not really grown since the beginning of the millennium.

Andrea Basso, head of marketing at Aptos Italy, a company that specializes in sales technology especially for small and medium enterprises, said because many companies experienced “very difficult” times during the epidemic “they were forced to find creative solutions, developing a digital approach”.

“Small companies, in particular, recognize the need to take immediate action if they are to compete,” added Basso.

Dario Carosi, operator of Mondo Convenienza, which manufactures, sells and distributes furniture and household appliances, said selling cash was the only way to help the company achieve a 70% success rate, even in the worst time of the epidemic.

The digital segment that the company launched in 2017 “saved us”, said Carosi. The company has made a lot of changes to the digital world by realizing that their online customers are here.

Digitalisation and innovation are also at the heart of Italy’s quest for popularity in the wake-up call epidemic. Mario Draghi, the Italian Prime Minister, took office earlier this year and promised to restructure the country’s most well-known financial institutions.

He wants to spend € 205bn which Rome will receive as its share of EU exemptions economic transformation, as well as construction, climate and environmental activities, education and health.

Speaking at a press conference last month, Draghi said digital production was “essential” to reduce economic inequality and help the economy recover from Covid-19.

“It’s one of the most important things for the government,” Draghi said. “Many jobs [in other sectors of the economy] it would not be possible without advances in state-of-the-art technology and our planning skills. ”

Massimo Rodà, chief economist at Confindustria’s hosting company, said digital production was “an important part of the country’s economic growth and competitiveness”.

“It changes the way it is used and its structure, the types of businesses, tastes and prices that are similar and also affects other factors such as employment, yield and inflation,” he added.

This helps to alleviate the financial woes of the plague. Italy is the only economy that has grown in the first half of this year. Zake output is increased by 0.1 percent from three months ago; In contrast, total erosion averaged 0.3%.

“Italy’s entire future depends on digital and the current state of affairs has led to a change in a country that has been moving for a long time,” said Irene Finocchi, a professor of computer science at LUISS University in Rome. “This is now an opportunity to find other countries.”

These changes during the epidemic mean that many Italian companies are enjoying the benefits that have suddenly evolved into digital markets.

Maura Maitini owns a shop selling religious literature and liturgical clothing in the ancient city of Assisi, where many people visit the site. He also said that his business was “slightly downgraded” – until he started shopping online.

“The first thing we sent was a Holy Mass cup,” he said. “Yes, communication with people is important, but faith is changing with technology. Sometimes, when someone orders an online pen or rosary online, I bless the church before sending it. ”