Top 100 SMEs get tips on use of digital media to boost sales
Iridium Interactive chief executive Sriram Bharatam during the Top 100 SMEs forum at the Royal Orchid Hotel in Nairobi on February 11, 2016. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU
What you need to know:
SMEs ought to create and monitor their social media platform conversations to get realistic future scenarios of their businesses.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to embrace the digital revolution to transform their businesses instead of fighting innovation.
Sriram Bharatam, chief executive of Iridium interactive — a technology solutions firm — said Thursday that companies ought to create and monitor their social media platform conversations to get realistic future scenarios of their businesses.
Mr Bharatam said there is a paradigm shift in how businesses are being run, and that enterprises can lean on the changes to drive sales of their products.
“You do not have to put millions in using social media to grow business but just a few coins and you will be overwhelmed by the outcome,” said Mr Bharatam.
“Digital disruption is real, let’s deal with it and if you can’t beat them join them.”
Mr Bharatam was speaking Thursday when he chaired the Business Daily and KPMG Top 100 small and medium sized enterprises forum in Nairobi.
He said companies could start by giving free offers to their customers, a move that is likely to invite different views on how best to grow their businesses.
He said disruption “like what Uber is doing” is creating a shift in behaviour that is changing businesses. He urged SMEs to tap technology to achieve their full potential.
“Uber, for instance, rates a customer who rides with it, if you are rated poorly they may not answer your call for a pick up next time. “If we behave and commit to bring change in our companies every other thing will fall into place,” he said.
During the forum, it was announced that a platform exclusive to the Business Daily Top 100 companies was being developed to facilitate interactions of the members with one another, and polish how they offer their services.
KPMG regional senior manager — marketing knowledge and communication — Abijah Kanene, said the online discussion forum would generate lobby ideas that could help government and other agencies in their decision making.
“The Top 100 Marketplace will create a business-to-business forum that will facilitate knowledge sharing and building of networks,” said Ms Kanene.
Top 100 companies dating back to 2008 when the survey was started would be eligible to sign-up on the new platform, she said.
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