Abstract
This technical report makes inference on the impact of COVID-19 and its non-contagion restrictions on micro and small businesses from Vilakazi street. The technical report further holds a supposition that digital technologies are a modern approach to shield and mitigate the effects and impacts brought forth by COVID-19. Various technologies are emerging and influence our surrounding in ways that reveal we are at the midst of the Fourth Industrial revolution, an era that shapes and extends the need for digitalizing from all business forms including those that are micro and small. This technical report investigated digitalization of 20 micro and small businesses in Vilakazi street through the induction of in-depth and semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that all 20 participants are familiar with digital technologies however, digital awareness and digital costs hinder them from using these technologies to subdue the reality COVID-19 created for them. Nonetheless, the report advises that it is paramount for these businesses to take some time and consider exactly what kind of an era they are experiencing and how individually as businesses they can start introducing modern solutions to their businesses to curb modern problems.