Theory: Collaborating With Others - Networking & Co-creation

3.2. Benefits of Networking

●     Networking is the method that allows you to build long-lasting business relationships. Digital networking, especially, provides you with a great opportunity to get in touch with prospective partners in a quick and easy way. Your next collaboration might have started with just 1 click!

●     Is there any current challenge to overcome in the tourism sector in your region? Networking can be seen as an opportunity to come together to face common challenges and cooperate in their resolution. Thus, a varied and solid network of contacts will favour the opportunity to collaborate with other actors in the co-ideation, co-creation, co-design and/or launching of innovations to the market. Thanks to networking, it’s possible to meet organisations/people who share their mission and values and/or face the same issues, and therefore find opportunities for collaboration to work together on common projects. In this way, they can also amplify their positive social impacts.

●     Similarly, networking allows for mutual learning, especially when dealing with professionals/enterprises from the same or another sector that have already faced and overcome the challenges of tourism (and digitalisation). In addition, the exchange of experiences and opinions is an excellent vehicle for knowledge among actors that fosters innovation.

●     Access to resources will also be facilitated by the networking activity. This is because, in addition to facilitating collaborative processes that bring the resources and skills of the different participants to the table, sharing what you want to achieve will make it easier for someone in your network to help you, or to know a third party who can give you recommendations or put you in touch with someone who shares your vision and can be useful.

●     Access to additional resources is especially important for social enterprises that, in many cases, do not have solid financial backing in their early stages, so by building relationships and contacts in the business community, social enterprises can have access to a wide range of resources that can be useful for the growth and development of the organisation, such as funding, mentoring, professional services, and volunteerism.

●     On the other hand, networking also offers advantages when it comes to promoting and communicating your idea/product/service. By sharing your offer, vision and values with other professionals and stakeholders, it will be easier to expand your message and possibly access additional dissemination channels facilitated by your contacts. These relationships will be essential to the success of your firm, especially if you operate as a solo entrepreneur.

●     Create a sense of community for yourself with others, as well as for others with yourself.