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Impact of Covid-19 on Startups and Adopting the Lessons for Sustainability

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Impact of Covid-19 on Startups and Adopting the Lessons for Sustainability

Author: Emmanuel Otori

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a widespread effect on businesses in many ways that has caused huge layoffs, bankruptcy, reduction in the production of the units of goods or services offered, increase in price from suppliers and change in the way work is done globally.

With this pandemic, comes the opportunity to become innovative and creative to serve the market demands and the different unseen variables that have influenced the world of business today.

Huge Layoffs

Start-ups had no constant cash-flow as a result of the covid-19 pandemic and needed to only keep staff that work directly on the areas of priority that serve the customers. Layoffs then became an option as without considering this solution, there would be a backlog in the payment of salaries which will negatively impact the company. These layoffs would also affect the productivity of the limited staff as they had to work longer hours and perform more task than before.

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Bankruptcy

Organizations that took off with initial investments or loan from financial institutions and could not sustain the repayment terms as working capital got depleted and there was not enough traction to request for a second tranche of investment, saw businesses go under as operations came to a grinding halt.

Reduction in the units of production

Consumers as a result of the covid-19 pandemic focused on just the essentials such as food, healthcare and education. There has been an increase in the price of foodstuffs and other items which made consumers to begin to cut spending as their earnings had not changes, this impacted the usual quantities of items purchased and businesses had to adjust by either adopting production upon request only to curb wastages or production in limited quantities as general consumption dropped due to increase in price.

Increase in price from suppliers

The supply chain is an important loop that affects all stakeholders as they obtain directly from manufacturers and then sell to retailers before reaching the final consumers. The conditions leading to whatever form of change from the manufacturer goes to affect the offering provided by the supplier and then goes on till everyone is impacted. Suppliers had to begin to obtain only what can be sold to the wholesalers which came in limited quantity as well.

Thriving In Times of Covid-19 Pandemic

Change is inevitable and only organizations that can adapt to the changing times remain sustainable in business. These are measures to ensure businesses keep running

  1. Adopt a remote work system

Start-ups have realized that the 5-day work week might not necessarily apply any longer as their team can now work from home and still get the job done. Majority of organizations now have a hybrid system of work where some staff work from home and the others onsite, this ensures productivity as teams can now manage themselves without making the top management resort to micromanagement. Tasks such as data entry, phone calls, receipt and reply of emails, online marketing can now be done by a remote team.

  1. Implementation of a cloud based storage system

The use of cloud based storage system might not have been easily adopted by a large percentage of businesses, however as covid-19 began to develop resistance and human-human interaction became limited, a cloud based storage system then became necessary not just for storage of files but for collaborative work and easy referencing of stored documents.

  1. Focus on Cash-flow

Organizations get into a web of numerous activities that then makes them to ignore their core. Inability to focus on their core then begins to bring irregularities in their revenue and this loophole was only exposed during the covid-19 pandemic. Guaranteed cash-flow is the lifeline of every business even if it does not make profit initially; there is a huge possibility of breaking even eventually. Focus should be on every activity directly or indirectly that can lead to generation of revenue for a business.

  1. Data Driven Decisions

Companies are trying to curb wastages that could occur in the application of their resources and they begin to pay attention to the data they are generating. Embedded in the customer’s data are insights that could lead to what quantity of items should be produced on a weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly basis based on the demand from using predictive analytics. Several tools can be used for collecting data for business purposes, mostly used are Google Forms, Google Analytics and Hubspot, the collected data can now be analyzed using specific tools in data science.

  1. Adoption of Wage Earnings System

The era of weeks of work before earning a salary has also come under challenge as there is a rise in the demand for freelancers to perform certain tasks without having to provide medical care, workspace, internet services and all the offers that comes with servicing a full-time staff. Companies need to decide on what roles demand a full time staff and the ones that demand freelancers, consultants or part-time staff.

Emmanuel Otori, the writer has worked on the GEM Project of the World Bank Bank, Conducted training for entrepreneurs and professionals at the Abuja Enterprise Agency and has over 8 years of experience of working with over 50 SMEs across Nigeria.

 Visit my LinkedIn profile here – https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuelotori/

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Creating A Social Media Plan for SMEs

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Bitrus Lawrence has been appointed as the Area Council Service Secretariat in the FCT

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Bitrus Lawrence has been appointed as the Area Council Service Secretariat in the FCT.

Poverty is mostly indegenous, we would tackle it from the root- Garki

…express readiness to collaborate with other Mandate Secretaries

The newly inaugurated Mandate Secretary Area Council Services of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mr Bitrus Lawrence Garki has said that President Bola Tinubu led administration would tackle poverty from the root.

Mr Bitrus Lawrence Garki, stated this when he was reveived by the management staff of the Secretariat in his office after immediately after his inauguration by the Minister of FCT, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Lawrence Bitrus Garki who is the youngest Mandate Secretary ever appointed, noted that it is an opportunity to be appointed, adding that the office is for the entire Nigerian Youth.

According to the Mandate Secretary, the energy of the youth and wisdom of the elders are all that is needed to succeed as a Mandate Secretary, and sue for collective collaboration between every department of the Secretariat in order to achieve success collectively.

“This position aligns with my principle and concept of operation. I am a youth that listen to the advice of both young and old.

” As an indigenous person, poverty is most indigenous, and we have to deal with that. We have to bring excellence into the civil service.

“We need the energy of the youth and wisdom of elders to succeed. We must work collectively to achieve success in this office,” he said.

Expressing his heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, for his appointment as Mandate Secretary Area Council Services of the Federal Capital Territory Administration for the great task ahead, Garki assured Mr President, Bola, F.C.T Minister, and other Nigerians of his resolve to liaise and work collaboratively with other Secretariat, promising not to disappoint.

He explained that his appointment as a Mandate Secretary represents not only a fresh start but also a remarkable opportunity for progress as it signifies a commitment to harnessing the energy, creativity, and potential of youth.

“In this appointment, we see the recognition of the important role that young people play in shaping the destiny of our beloved country.”

“My appointment is a testament that President Bola Tinubu acknowledges the contributions of the youth, their aspirations, and their determination to build a better Nigeria.

“It is a recognition of the fact that when the youth are empowered and given the opportunity, they can be a force for positive change.

“This appointment is indeed a win for the youth, and it is a testament to the wisdom of our father President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in recognizing the need for intergenerational cooperation and youth inclusion in governance,” said Abuja.

Responding on behalf of the management staff, Director of Administration and Finance, Mrs Olanipekun, pledge the readiness of the staff of the Council to make the newly inaugurated Secretary a successful one and sought the support of other staff to make it work.

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Bootstrapping Your Business From the Ground Up

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Bootstrapping Your Business From the Ground Up

Author: Emmanuel Otori

The term “Bootstrapping” is derived from the phrase “to hoist oneself up”. It is a method of starting one’s own business utilizing one’s own resources.

A bootstrapped startup is a business that began and grew without the help of outside investors. Bootstrapping a  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/microsoft-project-management-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” business does not imply that the company will not seek outside funding. In fact, a bootstrapped firm could be self-funded or wholly funded by its founders and founding team. These businesses do not solely rely on outside  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/data-visualization-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” investors such as venture capitalists to support them. Bootstrapped businesses are usually slower than funded  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/digital-marketing-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” businesses because they often start and scale without the intervention of investors.

Process of Bootstrapping

Customers/audience – are usually the hope of bootstrapping businesses as they seek to provide services and sales to the  HYPERLINK “http://www.abujadataschool.com/courses/” customers Businesses offer quality and services of value to establish a customer base.

Organic growth – customers are used as a way to grow the business as hinted earlier. Its growth does not have to be fast as It is more focused on bringing customers into contact with the business rather than acquiring  HYPERLINK “http://www.abujadataschool.com/” capital from venture capitalists.

Cash flow – the cash spent and received in the period of operation makes its cash flow. Future investors can look at the books of its cash flow to have a glimpse into the business history.

Reinvesting in the business – revenue generated in the course of running the business is ploughed back to generate more for  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/quickbooks-and-sage-50-accounting-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” growth and expansion purposes.

Viable business model – at this point, the business takes a structure that is realistic, feasible and solid worthy of investing in.

Improved customer base – loyalty is earned when the customers can rely on the  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/geographic-information-system-training-in-abuja/” business, hence, growth kicks off.

Sustainable ways of Bootstrapping

Debt and owner financing – putting your own money into the  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/cloud-computing-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” company.

Sweat equity – putting a significant amount of effort yourself rather than employing people to run the operations. It is not sustainable in the long run, but a good approach to raising your business from the ground up to make some headway.

Cost management – Bringing your  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/ui-ux-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” operating expenses to a bare minimum.

Income-based financing – earning early revenue through the sale of services and products, the cashflow can be used to fund the business continually.

Pros and Cons of Bootstrapping

Pros

Flexibility – this cannot be over emphasized as founders have the liberty to carry out business  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/website-design-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” operations in ways and manners that suit the process of growing it. This means being able to adjust swiftly to new situations as they emerge. Business owners can adjust their strategies to negotiate or overcome unexpected challenges.

Growth mechanism – Bootstrapped  HYPERLINK “https://www.msmehub.org/tips-and-tricks-of-choosing-a-business-name/” businesses take the risk of growing from scratch without money being pumped into it. Such businesses solidify if it thrives through the hurdles of raising from the ground up.

Business perception – Customers, revenue and profit are the main focus to keep the business going rather than scalability. In as much as Bootstrapped businesses want to scale, usually the founders concentrate on unit economics, considering the company’s revenue and profitability. Profits are what will allow the  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/administrative-management-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” company to grow and scale, especially because it is a self-funded venture. A bootstrapped business will be more successful and long-lasting in the long run unlike funded startups as they are more concerned with rapidly accelerating their businesses and expanding at 5 to 10x pace than with profit or a long-term business strategy.

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Business control – Bootstrapped founders have 100% control of the startup vision and operations unlike funded businesses that lessens its ownership by external support.In a shared ownership business, founders are likely to lose their own companies due to investor funding, even at an early stage. Bootstrapped  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/data-analytics-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” businesses have the power to make full decisions in regards to the business.

Cons

Slow scaling – Due to insufficient funds, bootstrapped businesses must rely on revenue and profits to scale their operations. This affects the growth level unlike funded businesses with full access to capital and only have to keep the business running more on a faster pace. Bootstrapped businesses must contend with slow growth in their early years until they accumulate enough customers, revenue and profits for fast growth.

Limited network connections – Bootstrapped businesses are oftentimes faced with the challenge of limited to no network connections unlike funded  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/architecture-design-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” businesses who get introduced to other venture capital companies. These companies connect their investee companies to other venture capital companies for collaboration which fosters a more rapid growth.

Risk taking – Bootstrapped businesses bear all the risks there is to raising a business from the ground up. The operational risks rest on the founding team who takes  HYPERLINK “http://www.thebroadnews.com/” responsibility for whatever goes on in the growth process. They bear the financial risks also as there are no investors yet.

One can consider running a rapid growing or slow scaling business. Rapid growing businesses often use funding from venture capital. Here external investors can provide capital, security, scaling speed, and advice/network, but they can also exert influence over you based on their preferences. Whereas, slow scaling businesses using bootstrap have complete control over the rate at which the company expands.

However, even if you want to raise venture capital, bootstrapping is a great way to get your business started.

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Improving Service Experience to Increase Customer Satisfaction

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Improving Service Experience to Increase Customer Satisfaction

Author: Emmanuel Otori

 HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/microsoft-project-management-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” \t “_blank” Customer satisfaction should be a business aim as it is vital to success for all brands. Customer satisfaction can be improved through user experience, which can have a favorable impact on your company’s return on investment (ROI).

A happy customer is a satisfied customer.  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/microsoft-office-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” \t “_blank” Customers that are dissatisfied with your service are less likely to return. From research, after a series of poor experiences, 59 percent of customers will abandon the  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/digital-marketing-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” \t “_blank” company, 18% tend to leave after one poor experience.

It is worthy to note that 98% of customers who have changed brands are due to user experience encountered in the past. Customer experience should be one of the things to look out for as it contributes greatly to keeping a business running.

You can improve your customers’ experience, boost customer satisfaction, and increase retention rates by using consumer data obtained through  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/software-development-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” \t “_blank” market research and customer surveys.

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What is user experience?

A user’s interaction and experience with a product, system, or service is referred to as the user experience. User Experience encompasses a person’s views on usefulness, usability, and efficiency of a product, system or  HYPERLINK “http://www.abujadataschool.com/” \t “_blank” service. Therefore, User experience is the experience, observation and feel users get through practical contact with a solution. This solution takes different forms which can be a product, service, project, company and other organizations.

First, for there to be a  HYPERLINK “http://www.abujadataschool.com/courses/” \t “_blank” user experience surface for interaction, there has to be a representation or a plan to give a glimpse into what should be expected to give maximum satisfaction to the end user. This plan is known as the design for user experience. Providing solutions based on personal ideas of what the needs of consumers are without viewing them from the perspective of the consumers often lead to giving solutions that are not right.  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/quickbooks-and-sage-50-accounting-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” \t “_blank” Customers not served well are most likely not to return.

Seeing that user experience is essential in giving value to users, offering a top notch and excellent service is important because it has a ripple effect on the  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/blockchain-development-and-cryptocurrency-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” \t “_blank” customer base and return on investment. Let us consider some useful tips in improving customer experience.

How to improve user experience 

    Feedback Mechanism: Be aware of what your customer’s desire. Therefore, listening to your  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/stata-for-data-analysis-training-in-abuja/” \t “_blank” customers will help you better grasp their wants and know how to meet their needs. Surveys and  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/ui-ux-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” \t “_blank” questionnaires are coordinated and a convenient way of gathering feedback reports.

    Action Step: Knowing customer’s needs to give insight on what is relevant is made easier through feedback. The action step requires you turn feedback gathered from  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/business-plan-writing-course-in-abuja-nigeria/” customers into practice.

    Product and Service Touch: As much as you take action in responsiveness of feedback obtained, there should be a flexibility to improve the product and services you offer. It portrays the image you have of the needs of customers at heart.

    Feedback Evaluation: Make comparisons of the feedback before and after action has been taken. Respond to customer feedback as this gives the feel you have  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/administrative-management-training-in-abuja-nigeria/” customers at heart.

    Ongoing Basis: Customer satisfaction should be assessed on a regular basis to keep up with demands in case there are changing desires as there are factors which can cause demands to change.

    Responsive Support: Oftentimes, customers need guidance to get the best of what they want through what you offer. A support that is responsive and quick to action is an excellent way to improve user experience. This could be live chat support, email support, on-the-phone support, In-person support and social media support. Customers will give you positive feedback if you pay more attention to their experience, and you’ll get a larger return on  HYPERLINK “https://www.abujadataschool.com/geographic-information-system-training-in-abuja/” investment.

Not limited to the above are other approaches to improving user experience which will take effect on the satisfaction of  HYPERLINK “http://www.thebroadnews.com” customers. Depending on the kind of service offered and platforms showcased, the steps to improving user experience are not a “one size fits all” approach as some other will require creating personas, sketching wireframes, building prototypes, testing the model to have a feel of what the design could actually turn out to be.

Excellent user experience is beneficial as it minimizes complaints and negative reviews. Irrelevant cost and waste of resources is brought to bare minimum as services become more efficient. How about your customers? Excellent and improved services that meet their needs give them ultimate satisfaction and make them loyal. Lastly, there’s a high revenue generated from their loyalty.

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