Google India has set a target of creating online presence for 20 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country by 2017 through its platforms such as Google Search and Google Maps, without these businesses requiring investing in a website or domain.

To achieve this, the search giant, has launched a mobile-based application — Google My Business — that will help SMEs to create and manage their business information online across Google platforms in English and Hindi for free.

According to Google South East Asia and India Vice-President and Managing Director Rajan Anandan

 “In the next three years, India will have over 500 million Internet users, who will search for information, including local businesses. However, search experience for local business in India is broken today, and we want to fix it by connecting businesses with their customers.”

He also said that out of the total 51 million SMEs in India, less than 5 to 6 per cent have an online presence.

Anandan added that, “SMEs have been central to Google’s success globally and have been a strategic focus for us in India. Google My Business is our first mobile based product initiative for SMEs, and we have seen immediate adoption of it in India.”

Image Courtsey: thehindubusinessline.