Name in original language
ביזדאטה
Initiative overview
Each year, the Ministry of Economy provides in‑person or assisted consulting to around 30,000 businesses, covering only about 5% of Israel’s entrepreneurial population. BizData was created to extend this support to the remaining majority of small and medium‑sized enterprises by delivering scalable, digital business guidance. Using conversational interaction, the system identifies the type of business, its activities, geographic context and customer base, and then provides tailored information such as comparable business characteristics, recommendations for business planning, guidance on licensing and employment, and market‑related insights.
The system is built on an AI agent combined with custom databases developed specifically for the initiative and is being progressively connected to additional governmental and public data sources. This allows businesses to receive context‑specific information from a unified platform rather than navigating fragmented systems. A key technical capability enables the AI to interpret a simple verbal description of a business and match it across datasets that use different classification systems, resolving inconsistencies that previously prevented effective data integration.
Less than one year after launch, BizData is used by approximately 5,500 businesses and entrepreneurs, with 60% returning for repeated use. Among survey respondents, 86% report receiving significant value from the system. Interest from other government ministries has led to discussions on expanding shared knowledge contributions, and partnerships are being explored with organisations that employ business consultants and mentors. These collaborations would allow the development of a “consultant assistant” function to support professional advisors in delivering higher‑quality guidance.
Implementation presented several challenges. Business‑related datasets varied in structure and classification, requiring the development of an AI‑based matching component to align user input with reliable data sources. Additional effort was required to secure approvals from data owners to enable lawful reuse of information for public benefit. A current strategic challenge is positioning BizData as the primary digital gateway for businesses across Israel.
The long‑term objective is to strengthen business resilience, support the creation of new enterprises and enable growth among small and medium‑sized firms, contributing to broader economic development. BizData is designed to evolve into the central channel through which businesses in Israel access trusted business and government information, combining scalability, accessibility and informed decision‑making in a single platform.
