News

App development for small firms

Nomsindo is offering Apps for small businesses from as little as R285 No you didn't read it wrong - only R285!

While many micro enterprises are disinclined to spend on websites, e-commerce and more complex digital presence, mostly because of an affordability and maintenance problem, many are acutely aware that far more people in South Africa have smartphones than PCs or laptops.

It has also not escaped the average entrepreneur that the average smartphone owner uses their device for a lot more than calls and SMS and therefore even the large corporations are cottoning onto using mobile technology to increase their reach into communities previously hard to access.

This has become obvious with the speed by which FNB with their Mpowa and Nedbank with their PowerPOS have followed the Western European and US trends to enable small businesses to access merchant retail systems in remote locations and with little digital infrastructure.

While this is commendable, the proof in the pudding will be in uptake and understanding and therefore also the returns on their investment in the small businessman. While the African economy is often very misunderstood by the west it seems that their own financial institutions have hit it on the head and are taking every opportunity to open up new markets (thereby increasing profits).

Its incredibly exciting to see South African banks responding so quickly to international trends and applying them to the local economic culture. It also makes the battle against poverty and imbalance of opportunity so much more worthwhile.

We at Nomsindo have adopted a similar approach. Any and every local enterprise should be able to access the local digital market.

We have different app products, but the approach is the same. 

If a regular customer wants to know what their opening hours are, if they stock a certain product or directions to their premises, its much easier to navigate one or two simple clicks and have the info on hand, than to search it online while walking in the street. What they want to access is an instant type business card from which a simple click will enable them to make the phone call.

So why should these folk download a business card in app format. At Nomsindo we realise that apart from the cellphone fast becoming a necessary utility it is also used for entertainment, so why not combine the two?

When designing apps for charities we have created games that enable a user to dress and feed a homeless person. When they buy the upgrade, the cost of the game actually goes to feeding and clothing the homeless person, that the charity supports. Its win -win. The person gets a fulfilling cellphone activity and the charity can fulfill its purpose.

The concept is transferable to small business. A customer uses a free to download App and gets a voucher - They use the App when visiting the small business and present the voucher - every time, bringing repeat business. For a small hairdresser or second hand furniture business this is far more cost effective than paying for print ads that are usually completely unaffordable to informal and micro traders.

So why is it successful? Mainly because we train the small businesses to utilise other social media to enhance their mobile digital presence with apps such as foursquare, offering the mayor an enhanced discount, and multiple check ins rewards. The Social Media training session comes FREE, when a small business orders an App design from us, even at R285

How do we do it profitably? - We're not greedy and the rest is our secret..... and every business has its trade secrets.

Nomsindo provides mini apps and social media at discounted prices for small business groups and organisations to offer their members- email us for more info