Resources for businesses
during the COVID-19 crisis

Business tycoons, big players of commerce, and renowned economists had predicted the year 2020 to bring in progressive changes in the market along with innovations no human mind had conceived before. Who would have known the world would suffer a bad break and be clawed by COVID-19 crisis. It is a period when the world is grieving a massive health crisis and the global economy is undergoing a severe setback. All the goals set by businesses have fell through, product launches have been held up, and sales are running downslope.

When things are going south, big companies and the US government are making an effort to provide some relief by offering grants to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Google
Has donated more than $800 million to support small businesses, health organizations, governments, and health workers impacted by COVID-19. The amount includes $340 million in Google Ads credits for SMBs having active accounts in the past year.

Amazon
Launched a $5 million Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund to provide financial grants to SMBs in and around the Seattle area that are impacted by COVID-19 crisis.

Facebook
Has committed to offer $100 million cash grants and Facebook advertising credits to 30,000 SMBs.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Has expanded access to U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans by providing an emergency grant of $10,000 to SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan applicant. Other projects undertaken include Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program, Payroll Tax Delay, and Employee Retention Tax Credit.

In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a list of coronavirus relief options such as Federal Income Tax Filing and Payment Deadline Extension and State and Local Coronavirus Small Business Assistance. The good news is that the SBA offers much more than loans. The SBA offers resources such as Free business counselling, Disaster preparedness plans, Investment capital, Surety bonds, Grants, Business courses, and Business guides.

Amongst the big players who have stepped forward to grant financial relief to SMBs amidst the COVID-19 crisis are some of the i95Dev partners.

Magento
The E-commerce platform is offering free on-demand Magento and Marketo Engage training. You can get free access to Magento University and Marketo University on-demand training up to June 30, 2020. It will take efficiency and your digital operations to the next level.

Magento U is offering 100% OFF all on-demand training, 15% OFF all instructor-led training, and 30% OFF all Magento 2 Cert. Exams.

Marketo University (MU) rolled out discounting on Public attends and Unlimited Passports through end of May 2020. Additionally, it is offering discounts on both MCA and MCE exam vouchers through end of May 2020 including 15% discount on public MU attends, 20% discount on MU Unlimited Learning Passport subscriptions, MCA Exam Offer – $75 (instead of $95), and MCE Exam Offer – $175 (instead of $225). Furthermore, it is offering FREE 90-day access to its eLearning Passport content through end of June 2020.

In addition, companies can avail the Magento Migration Loan that can help accelerate them move to Magento M2 and Braintree. Upon migrating, they will receive a full credit from PayPal on the cost of financing. Magento M1 end-of-support is approaching quickly, thus, you should be prepared and migrate now. If approved, you can enjoy a full credit from PayPal on the loan fee.

Adobe
The company is providing educators and students with free at-home access to its Creative Cloud applications online after thousands of schools switched to online learning to battle the coronavirus outbreak. Adobe’s current global higher education and K-12 institution customers can request at-home access granted until May 31, 2020. In addition, Adobe is offering free 90-day access to its web conferencing tool, Adobe Connect, for current subscribers and non-customers, until July 1, 2020.

Microsoft
The Dynamics 365 Commerce team is enabling an e-commerce accelerator program including an “in a day” engagement to help retailers conceptualize and drive faster implementation of an e-commerce solution for their business. Dynamics 365 Remote Assist is also available free of charge for up to 6 months.

SAP
SAP is providing free access to two solutions to ease COVID-19 impact on supply chain and business travel. The company has announced that between March 13 and March 31st, any individual traveler can sign up for TripIt and receive the Pro version for 6 months.

Quickbooks
Intuit Quickbooks has teamed up with Go Fund Me to offer the Small Business Relief Initiative. The company is seeding this initiative with up to $1 million.

Avalara
Avalara, the technology partner of i95Dev, is a business leader in indirect tax automation. It helps businesses of all sizes in achieving compliance with transactional taxes including VAT, sales and use, excise, communications, and other tax types. To help businesses stay afloat in the current pandemic, Avalara has created a tax relief round up. This will help businesses navigate taxes during the COVID-19 crisis. The company has sent out a 90-Day Promo for NEW Avalara Customers enabling their clients to get the first 3 months of sales tax automation at no cost without having to make any payment for 90 days when they add Avalara’s premier cloud-based tax compliance suite to their financial and commerce systems. In addition, the customers can benefit from Avalara’s Sales Tax Risk Assessment tool that creates a report which maps out where a company may have tax liability/economic nexus.

Conclusion
The coronavirus pandemic is a massive trial for small businesses across the world. The financial grants, discounts, and relief resources from big companies and the US government are acting as breathers for SMBs enabling them to stay afloat and get their strokes right. To combat the catastrophe, there is no other way but to stand united and make wise use of the resources that can pull us out of the abyss.