If your company has between 10 and 249 employees and you have not yet heard of Kit Consulting, this guide is for you. It is the Spanish Government programme — managed by Red.es and financed through NextGenerationEU funds — that provides a digital advisory voucher so that an SME can pay an accredited consultant to design its digital transformation roadmap. It does not cover software or hardware: it pays for the expertise of a specialist who analyses your situation and tells you exactly what you need and in what order. That distinction — advisory rather than implementation — is the key difference between Kit Consulting and Kit Digital, and understanding it is the first step to making the most of it.
What is Kit Consulting and where does it come from?
Kit Consulting was launched in 2024, with the regulatory framework approved through Order TDF/436/2024, of 10 May (BOE-A-2024-9524), within the Spain Digital 2026 Agenda and the SME Digitalisation Plan 2021–2025. The programme has a total budget of 300 million euros, entirely financed by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU mechanism — the same one that funded Kit Digital, but now aimed at larger companies and at a consultancy-based service rather than licences or tools.
The logic of the programme is straightforward: an SME of a certain size already has some technological maturity but lacks the strategic vision to take the next step. Kit Consulting pays the consultant who carries out that diagnosis, defines the roadmap, and sets out the concrete steps. The subsequent execution — ERP, cybersecurity, automation — can be funded through other instruments or with the company's own investment, with a clear plan already in hand.
Who can apply for the voucher?
The programme is aimed exclusively at small and medium-sized enterprises with a tax domicile in Spain. The size is calculated in full-time equivalent headcount, adding employees under the General Social Security Scheme and the Special Scheme for Self-Employed Workers. Micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees), large companies, and public-sector entities are excluded.
In addition to size, the company must:
- Be up to date with its tax and Social Security obligations.
- Not be in a situation of business crisis under EU State aid rules.
- Not have received more than €200,000 in de minimis aid over the last three fiscal years (general cumulation rule).
- Not have been declared insolvent or be subject to insolvency proceedings.
Voucher amounts by segment
The voucher amount depends on the size of the company. The call divides beneficiaries into three segments:
| Segment | Headcount | Maximum voucher amount | Maximum per service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segment A | 10 to 49 employees | €12,000 | €6,000 |
| Segment B | 50 to 99 employees | €18,000 | €6,000 |
| Segment C | 100 to 249 employees | €24,000 | €6,000 |
The €6,000 cap per service means that a Segment C company can engage up to four different advisory categories, combining them according to its needs. A Segment A company can combine two categories (2 × €6,000). This makes the advance planning of which services to contract critical: choosing the right categories determines the real value the company extracts from the voucher.
The ten available advisory categories
The official catalogue of eligible services currently lists ten categories. Not all are equal in depth or suitability for every type of company:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI maturity diagnostic, identification of priority use cases, and design of an adoption plan.
- Data Analysis (basic): inventory of data sources, quality assessment, and dashboard recommendations.
- Data Analysis (advanced): data architecture, analytical models, and definition of business KPIs.
- Digital sales: omnichannel strategy, CRM, automated marketing, and e-commerce.
- Business or production processes: process mapping, bottleneck identification, and automation roadmap.
- Business Strategy and Performance: digital strategic planning, balanced scorecard, and change management.
- Cybersecurity (basic): asset inventory, basic risk analysis, and initial improvement plan.
- Cybersecurity (advanced): in-depth technical analysis, incident management, and definition of advanced controls.
- Cybersecurity (certification preparation): gap analysis and roadmap towards the National Security Framework (ENS) or other certifications.
- Digital Transformation 360: comprehensive overview combining several of the above axes into a unified diagnostic.
For an industrial or professional services SME, the most common combinations we see at Summum Sistemas are: Business Processes + Artificial Intelligence (for companies wanting to automate operations with AI) and Advanced Cybersecurity + Data Analysis (for companies with sensitive data that need protection and visibility). The right choice depends on a prior diagnostic, not on trends.
Key differences between Kit Consulting and Kit Digital
Confusion between the two programmes is common. They are complementary, not alternatives. This table clarifies the essential differences:
| Criterion | Kit Digital | Kit Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| What it funds | Implementation of technology solutions (software, licences, development) | Strategic consultancy and digital transformation diagnostic |
| Beneficiary size | 0 to 249 employees (includes self-employed and micro-enterprises) | 10 to 249 employees (SMEs only) |
| Deliverable | Working tool (online shop, CRM, basic cybersecurity...) | Strategic plan, roadmap, technical diagnostic |
| Provider | Adhered Digitalisation Agent (ADA) | Digital advisor accredited by Red.es |
| Compatibility | They are compatible: both can be used as long as the de minimis limit is not exceeded | |
In practical terms: Kit Consulting comes first. You first define the strategy (Kit Consulting) and then implement the tools (Kit Digital or own investment). Doing Kit Digital without a prior strategy means buying solutions without knowing whether they solve the right problem.
How the process works, step by step
The process has four clearly defined stages:
- Voucher application: the company submits its application through the Red.es electronic office (sede.red.gob.es), providing its tax ID, headcount data, and supporting documentation. After evaluation, Red.es issues the grant resolution with the voucher amount.
- Choosing an accredited advisor: the company looks for an Adhered Digital Advisor in the AceleraPyme catalogue. It is important to verify that the advisor is accredited for the specific category you want to engage. Not all advisors cover every category.
- Signing the Service Delivery Agreement: the company and the advisor formally set out in writing the scope, deliverables, and timetable. This agreement is registered on the Red.es platform. Without this document, the expenditure is not eligible for the subsidy.
- Service delivery and justification: the advisor carries out the work and delivers the agreed reports or plans. The company validates the delivery and the justification process with Red.es is initiated to release payment to the advisor.
Common mistakes when applying for Kit Consulting
In our experience supporting SMEs through this type of programme since 2007, the mistakes we have seen most often are:
- Choosing the advisor before the service: some companies are led by whichever sales representative approaches them and end up contracting the category the advisor sells, not the one the company actually needs. The correct order is: identify needs → select categories → find a specialist advisor.
- Not verifying the advisor's accreditation: an advisor may appear in the catalogue but not be authorised for every category. Always check the AceleraPyme profile to see which specific services they are approved for.
- Confusing the diagnostic with implementation: Kit Consulting pays for the plan, not the execution. Companies that expect to come away with an ERP installed or a new website are left disappointed. The deliverable is a strategic document, a technical analysis, or a roadmap.
- Not properly combining it with Kit Digital: both programmes are compatible but subject to the de minimis limit (€200,000 over three fiscal years). If you already have Kit Digital or other subsidies, verify the cumulative total before applying.
- Leaving the deadline to the last moment: the deadlines for formalising agreements are different from those for applying for the voucher. A company can have the voucher granted and still lose it if it does not sign the agreement with the advisor within the stipulated period.
What a good Kit Consulting advisor should deliver
The minimum deliverables required by Red.es vary by category, but quality advisory work must always include: a documented initial diagnostic of the company's current state in the relevant axis, an identification of gaps and opportunities based on objective criteria, and a prioritised roadmap with initiatives ranked by impact and effort, indicative timelines, and investment estimates.
At Summum Sistemas, when we act as advisors in Business Processes, Artificial Intelligence, or Data Analysis categories, we additionally deliver a prioritised use-case matrix and a reference KPI dashboard (sector benchmarks) so that management can assess their starting position with real comparative data. A generic 15-page report that could apply to any company is not good Kit Consulting advisory work.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for Kit Consulting if I already have Kit Digital?
Yes, both programmes are compatible. The only limit is the de minimis aid threshold: you cannot exceed €200,000 in cumulative public aid over the last three fiscal years. If you are unsure about your cumulative total, consult your accountant or advisor before submitting the application, as an incorrect declaration may result in repayment obligations.
How long does the advisory service last?
There is no single timeframe set by the regulations, but most agreements are structured around working sessions over two to four months. The actual duration depends on the category (a Basic Cybersecurity advisory engagement is shorter than a Digital Transformation 360) and on the company's internal availability for meetings, interviews, and validations. What matters is not the duration but the quality of the final deliverable.
Does the voucher cover 100% of the advisory cost?
Yes, within the established limits. If the cost agreed with the advisor is equal to or less than the voucher amount for that service (maximum €6,000 per category), the subsidy covers 100%. If the agreed scope exceeds that limit, the company pays the difference. There is no mandatory co-financing, although in practice more complex projects typically require additional budget for the subsequent implementation phase, which is not covered by Kit Consulting.
What happens if the call is closed?
The main Kit Consulting call had its application period open until early 2025. If you are reading this in 2026 and did not apply for the voucher, the programme may have exhausted the funds of the initial call. However, Red.es may open new calls drawing on NextGenerationEU funds or new budgets, so it is worth monitoring the Red.es electronic office and the AceleraPyme portal. For digital transformation needs that cannot wait, other instruments are available, such as the ACTIVA Industry 4.0 Programme (IPEX/ICEX) or the digitalisation lines offered by CDTI and ICO, with different conditions but similar objectives.