Time to automate business registration processes

Many entrepreneurs have shared stories of the frustration they encountered in registering their businesses in Kenya.

While this is partly due to their own ignorance of the steps required, it is also due to the numerous processes that one has to go through.

In Doing Business in Kenya 2009 report, the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation says it requires 12 procedures, 34 days, and costs 36.48 per cent gross national income per capita to register a company in Kenya.

This is the minimum days that one spends if you are visiting the government agencies for the first time, all information is readily available and that the various officials that are to help you through the registration process worked without the debilitating effects of corruption.

Most of these procedures require more than one physical visit to the relevant offices.

Internet and mobile technology can be used to cut down on some of these procedures.

For example, searching for a business name can be done through the Internet and mobile phone.

Payment of registration fees can also be done online via debit or credit cards or via the popular mobile payment services.

You can also get a notification for collection of the business certificate via mobile or through your e-mail.

These three steps alone would significantly reduce the headache and time one spends going to the registry.

The government too would save on resources such as paper used to print forms as these will be made available online and printed on demand.

With integrated payment systems, corruption will be nipped as automated platforms will handle transactions.

At the end of the day, the deployment of citizen centric services online and on mobile is a sure win for everyone as it creates citizen-government touch points that are important in the smooth running of a country.

Ultimately, it means more money and time for you to put into your business and for government it will free up additional funds for other projects.

However, the onus is on the government which must act as an enabler to automate these processes through a working e-government platform which will make services available faster and more conveniently.

The way forward is for government to research where there is most urgent need and where greatest impact will be felt then proceed to launch pilots of various services on both web and mobile.

Their success will be measured by the rate of adoption by citizens.

The writer is CEO of Symbiotic Media. www.mbuguanjihia.com; on Twitter - @mbuguanjihia