Businesses have been given a facelift in recent times as a result of the inception of various online platforms. Jessica Acheampong writes
The Internet, until recently, had never been a part of business because of high cost of owning and managing a website.
The unavailability and inaccessibility of the Internet for most Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the incapability of entrepreneurs to utilise it to their benefit was also a major factor.
But with the inception of various online platforms, SMEs can now have access to the global world either through the Internet or by SMS.
According to the Country Lead for Google Ghana, Ms Estelle Akwofio-Sowah, the Internet plays a very important role in businesses hence the need to strive to make its usage an integral part of businesses which have so many benefits on the economy.
With the various online platforms available, business owners can build their websites for free, interact better with clients, and have a wider reach to people on a global level for free.
Some online platformsGoogle Trader is one platform introduced by Google, which has fast gained roots in Ghana. Trader is a classified product which allows business owners to post products and services being offered, as well as search for products they want.
Trader, according to Ms Akwofio-Sowah can either be used online or via SMS (Airtel and Tigo) as well as on feature phones.
This, she said, gave businesses the opportunity to have access to a larger market whether they were connected to the Internet or not.
“Africa get your business online” is another platform. Businesses can build free websites which are easy to manage. It also has the potential to reach customers all over the world. Feedbacks could also be acquired through SMS.
“Google Search” also gives users the opportunity to find suppliers, information, new techniques and technology in running businesses while the Gmail account also gives businesses a platform to communicate professionally, use calendar and manage their time carefully, as well as use and share their own documents with partners.
Success stories“Africa get your business online” was launched by Google in January 2012 and five months down the lane, it has registered several businesses hosting free domain names on its website.
Some businesses who have taken advantage of the Africa get your business online platform shared their experiences with the GRAPHIC BUSINESS.
Alhassan Abdul- Rashid Alandu, who manages the website for Auntie Muni Waakye, a popular waakye joint in Accra, disclosed that ever since the company took advantage of that opportunity, they had recorded a significant growth increase.
The company, he said, had been able to reach a larger market, thus ensuring a global presence for the company since they get good feedback.
Asked if he would recommend an online platform for any business, he re-sponded in the affirmative.
“The Internet is a powerful tool to reach a larger market besides, this platform is inexpensive and can be managed so easily,” he said.
Another beneficiary, William Edem Senyo, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Accra Music Lounge, also explained that going online helped his company to reach more people as well as get sponsorship from partners who shared the vision of his company.
He said they had been able to build several key partnerships, both locally and international, mainly because people found them online. Notable among these partners are Hekimax Solutions Ghana, Muhimanchi Arts and the Kerstner Foundation in the USA.
“Thanks to this free webhosting service, we’ve been able to link up with a wide range of potential partners all over the world. Aside the impressive numbers of Ghanaian users who visit our website, our monthly web statistics show consistent visits from the USA, Canada, UK, India etc,” he said.
In terms of getting feedback, Mr Senyo explained that the contact form on the websites made it easy for them to respond to enquiries and messages which are forwarded to their Gmail accounts or received by SMS.
He further told the GRAPHIC BUSINESS that “as a small company, we are always on the lookout for ways of cutting cost and maximizing returns on our expenditure. The Google free webhosting has therefore been very useful since we do not have to incur extra costs for web- design and hosting. It’s free! Businesses everywhere can take advantage of this free service.”
Ms Akwofio-Sowah also hinted that Google was very much concerned about growing SMEs and with the feedback that they had obtained about the usage of online platformme; the company would still do more.
“We are excited about the usage because we have over 3,000 businesses registered online, feedback has been great and companies are given free publicity within a long reach,” she said.
She said despite the impressive turnout, it must get to a point in the business sector that SMEs wouldl have, as a matter of norm, to go online to reach out. GB
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