Creation of multiple ecosystems combining retail, services and other services under a single brand can harm the development of small and medium business in the country, said Sergey Borisov, chairman of the board of trustees of Opora Rossii, the Russian non-governmental organization for small and medium entrepreneurship.

"Digitalization has burst into our lives. On the one hand, there are new technologies to help small businesses: control and cash registers, very good services of the Federal Tax Service, good software products for SMEs, digital business protection. On the other hand, there are risks that should not be forgotten," said Borisov.

He explained that we are talking about the formation of digital ecosystems. "The ideal model of ecosystem - a person is locked in one perimeter, where he keeps his money, he also spends it there, as inside it he can get necessary goods and services. The model did not appear yesterday, but became viable and was only able to evolve thanks to digital technology. Its development and penetration into all spheres of life will change not only business, but all of our lives. The question is how exactly it will change," he said.

According to him, the experience of South Korea has shown that such ecosystems destroy competition and squeeze out small businesses.

"Sber is one of the pioneers of ecosystems in our country, VTB and other banks are already thinking about it. What will happen if this happens en masse? Small businesses will become fewer and fewer, they will move to contracting, not to competition and innovation. It will be entrepreneurial slavery, and then - extinction," - fears the expert.

He reminded that in America and China, banks are forbidden to create ecosystems. "And we have an element of promiscuity, the Central Bank is trying to regulate it somehow, but we do not see regulatory measures," the expert stated.

Borisov stressed that such a situation has an extremely negative impact on competition in the country.

"The topic is now of concern to everyone and everything, including the government. It's a pity that our antimonopoly services have not yet said their word, because this is a blow to competition. They will create monopolies, oligopolies, which will gradually destroy small businesses," he concluded.

Digital ecosystem is a client-centric business model that combines two or more groups of products, services and information to satisfy the ultimate needs of the clients.

Made in Russia / Made in Russia

Author: Maria Buzanakova