Expert Identifies Ways SMBs Can Leverage Business Apps

Agnes Ekebuike

Given the importance of Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) in developing the Nigerian economy, the Country Head, Zoho Corporation in Nigeria, Kehinde Ogundare has identified five ways SMBs can leverage business apps for product development.

According to him, to reach their full potential, SMBs must leverage effective business-enabling technology, including solutions for CX, finance, HR and employee productivity.

He however said it would be important to remember that not every business app is equal, adding that it is essential for businesses to carefully select the apps they utilise, “whether opting for a mix of best-of-breed solutions from various vendors or choosing to deploy a unified suite from a single vendor who offers end-to-end business solutions for all needs.”

Ogundare identified new areas that businesses could consider when choosing apps that are best suited to their business needs to include: Apps with single source of truth; Scalability; Security; Ease of use; Customer Support and Integration.

In the area of single source of truth, Ogundare said data accruing from a variety of sources can be incredibly valuable, helping the business make decisions about where it’s performing best and which areas it needs to work on.

He however said that could only happen if the app (or suite of apps) provides a single source of truth (SSOT).

For security, he advised that all apps must comply with local data protection guidelines or regulations and should protect the data of the customers who has trusted you with their information, since Nigerian SMEs are among the biggest targets of cybercrime.   

For ease of use, he said, it would be vital to ensure that any business app or suite of apps that is selected is user-friendly, especially for non-technical staff. “Opting for easy-to-use apps has long-term benefits. As your business expands, seamless on-boarding becomes crucial, Ogundare said.