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Process & Business Expansion

Learn How to Start Your Company From Scratch

Start a Company with Ease!

Every business has to start from the very beginning, and it’s the passion behind it that drives you to start something and be your own boss. Starting a company from scratch need not be complicated, but requires a lot of planning and backend work. Here are a few tips on how to start a company from ground zero.

1. Research & Refine your Idea

If you are thinking about how to start a company and set a business, you must be having an idea. Thorough background research of the idea is critical

Analyze what market leaders are doing in that space and learn from their mistakes 

Talk to a lot of customers, understand their pain point and try to solve that problem

Conduct surveys, hold focus group meetings and research SEOs

2. Prepare a Business Plan

After researching your business idea, the next phase is preparing a business plan that reflects steady & realistic growth

Don’t rush into things before understanding the key aspects of a business. For e.g. 

  • What is the objective of your business?
  • Your defined customer base
  • Price points
  • Sales projections
  • Operational costs
  • Market Strategy

All this has to be a part of a well-defined business plan

3. Choose your Business Structure

This is very important before you decide to start a company. There are a few structures that SMEs can choose from:

  • Sole Proprietorship where you are the ultimate boss and the cost of setting up is the least
  • Partnership- Where you can start the company with a friend, family member or a business partner and decide your profit and loss sharing ratio
  • Limited Liability Company (LLC)- This is a popular choice for small to medium sized businesses. The cost of set up is not very high and there is a separation between the owners and the company

Once you choose a structure, register the company and follow all mandates to make it official

4. Make a financial breakdown chart

If you are starting a new company, you need to address finances and see how the funding will take place 

One of the ways to do this is to prepare a break-even analysis. This is essential for financial planning to know when your business will be profitable 

The simplest way to do this is to calculate your fixed costs and your variable costs and get the difference between the two

Set a financial goal, this will help in keeping a check of whether you are stretching your budget or there is room for margin

Keep a list of the funding options available to you and at what stage you would like to use them

5. Build a Founding Team

Human resources are important to every business and an entrepreneur should be clear that he cannot manage all the functions

Get together a team by assessing their strengths and weaknesses, so that everyone is an asset to the company

Delegate work effectively

Incentivize the team so that when the company grows, they also benefit from it

6. Improve on the Go

Once you have clarity on all your initial steps, there is never a better time for starting up. Improvisations can be made as you go along. 

Most successful companies have launched with imperfections but that did not deter them from adapting to the changes

Learn from the journey and enjoy every bit of it!

7. Decide a launch Strategy

Once you start a company and your product is ready to hit the market, be clear about how you want it to launch

Think about media spends and the mediums you want to use, how do you want to market the product initially and grow it phase by phase

Start branding yourself using social media. Build a following on Facebook and Instagram to create the initial buzz  

Build a logo, create a website and let people identify with your brand

8. Feedback is Essential

Once the company has started and you have launched your product, let people use it and give feedback. A perspective from the consumer will help you see the product in a different light

Customer feedback will help in improving your business 

There is no perfect route to start a company and grow your business, but a killer instinct and the ability to adapt will help you achieve success. Have a quick problem-solving approach as you will

be constantly competing against time. Don’t rush into things and you will be on your way to building a company that you always dreamt of.

Categories
Process & Business Expansion

How to Create a Successful Subscription Business Model

How to Build a Successful Subscription Business model

We all have realized that the Subscription business model is here to stay. A large number of businesses are moving from a product economy to a subscription economy. 

Why does a subscription-based business model work?

There are 4 factors that we can attribute to this:

  1. It gives you the opportunity to move towards a recurring revenue model. The model is devised in a such a way that the customer will have to pay monthly, quarterly or yearly for your product and service and if you keep providing him quality, chances are higher that there will be a repeat subscription
  2. It allows you to constantly engage and connect with the consumer. Business-customer relationship should not be limited to just a single point purchase
  3. New revenue streams can be created from the current customers by adding more services to your product
  4. A subscription business model can make you take the plunge into digital which can help you save a lot of cost and can help you scale faster

Now if you have chosen to walk the subscription path, you still need to work hard on your product, on your pricing and your service to make sure it is a success. Here are a few tips to succeed using a subscription model

1. Align your Pricing with the Business Goal

  • Pricing is the most important strategy in a subscription business model to make sure your business is a success. It can help you in a lot of ways to acquire new customers, create more revenue streams from existing customers and also make sure the retention rate is high.
  • Structure your pricing tiers on the basis of monthly, quarterly or a yearly based subscription model
  • Also take into account other factors like usage levels, loyalty, new schemes
  • You can start with some basic pricing tiers & adjust it over time keeping in mind customer feedback

2. Bring in Uniqueness

  • Provide the customer with new products and services that add value to them
  • In a subscription-based business model, customer sometimes might not know about the differentiating services provided by you. Spell it out through constant alerts to prospective clients
  • Your product needs to constantly connect with the consumer for it to work

3. Give the Consumer Convenience

  • Today most companies that provide anytime, anywhere convenience to the customers are the ones making money
  • For e.g. All OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hotstar give the consumer an option to watch shows/movies anytime and anywhere. Netflix has also devised a pricing strategy for content watching for mobile-only users. This is cheaper than its usual monthly package.
  • Provide the consumer with variety at the click of a button

4. Streamline Cash flow & Billing
 

  • In a subscription based model most of the cash being received by you is upfront, the maximum credit cycle is also 30-45 days. Hence, make sure you are rotating your cash efficiently
  • Bring in automation and software to ease our the billing process and optimize cash collection

5. Build Customer Relationships

  • Customer Relations form the basis of every business and similar is the case in a subscription business model
  • If the customer is not happy with your product or service he will cancel the subscription for the next time. Hence, innovation and building strong relationships is key
  • Get to know your customer well and then design products for him. This will also help in deciding the pricing strategy

6. Give your Customer a Choice

  • In a subscription business model, the one size fits all strategy might not work well for everyone. Hence, give the customer a choice to choose a specific service or a specific pricing tier according to their likes and needs
  • This will help you attain more customers as paying according to choice will appeal to your target audience

Every entrepreneur wants a regular income in his business for positive cash flow and business growth. Subscription based business models provide the perfect platform to enable that ambition, but the cheery on the cake will always lie in your product quality and customer satisfaction.

Categories
Process & Business Expansion

ERP For Small Business: Going The Right way!

Transform your business using ERP solutions

Billionaire Entrepreneur Bill Gates has said, ’Vision without execution is day dreaming’. Managing business requires handling many functions and verticals and to align this together ERP software tools need to take center stage.  The advantages of using ERP solutions for small businesses are immense which will eventually help their companies to grow. Here are 8 benefits of implementing ERP small business software:

1. Cost Reduction

  • Implementation of the best ERP tools will reduce administrative costs considerably. This also helps in better turnaround time. Employees won’t have to waste time in doing manual jobs and entries into the system
  • Capability of your employees can be used for bigger and more profitable projects and plans 

2. Automation with Increased Efficiency

  • Automation in workflow will help avoid the possibility of human error. Hence, reduction in any delays or problems related to customer interface leading to increased efficiency
  • Industry best practices can be adopted and aligned with the company’s goal and vision
  • Increased Efficiency is one of the biggest benefits of ERP tools for Small businesses

3. Visibility and Transparency

  • Visibility & Transparency is one of the biggest selling points for ERP small business software. It allows access to most of the critical functions of the business by keeping a track of every department.
  • For e.g. you can keep track of your distribution network, your inventory in the store house and how much of it is in transit as well as your marketing spends & financial books.

4. Single Reporting Structure

  • In SMBs there are not too many departmental heads, hence with the help of ERP small business software, a single reporting structure is created making it easier to analyze, report and draw conclusions

5. Improved Planning & Departmental Collaboration

  • Since the software gives you accessibility and the ability to analyse and compare reports from across departments, it can help plan inventory and financial management in a better and efficient manner making ERP small business software highly beneficial

6. Inventory/Supply Chain Management

  • For businesses with inventory requirements, ERP solutions create the opportunity for another kind of savings in the form of inventory management
  • ERP for small business can help calculate demand for specific materials, decrease overstocking and track real-time supply
  • When supply chain management runs smoothly, the entire organization will benefit

7. Data Reliability and Security

  • Data is the heart of any organization and needs to be secure all the time
  • ERP tools have controls that can keep your data secure by having restricted rights of edit, copy and deletion monitored continuously
  • Since there is a single source of data, accuracy and security are most important

8. Mobility

  • Today organizations are working on the move especially Startups and SMEs, hence effective ERP systems help in giving the same opportunities to employees who are working on the field
  • Employees can have access to a central database where they can carry out work from any location and any device making them a productive asset for the company. 

ERP for small business is a boon that companies need to embrace and understand. The company needs to weigh which ERP solution is best suited to its goals and objectives and can deliver the ROI expected; hence decisions regarding ERP small business software need to be made strategically before jumping the gun.

Though every business has its own need and requirements, these are some of the Best ERP tools for Small & Medium Businesses

NetSuite ERP

Business Cloud Essentials

Sage Intact

SYSPRO

SAP Business One

Oracle ERP Cloud

Sage Business Cloud Enterprise Management

Epicor ERP

Categories
Process & Business Expansion

Tips by Ratan Tata to Run a Successful Business

Lessons for Life: Business Gems by Ratan Tata

Entrepreneurs today are not just building companies, but creating a stronger India. Some of the best business tips revolve around the attitude & determination of an entrepreneur that eventually decides the altitude he can achieve. Growth in business is full of challenges and to reach the top you need to inculcate habits that make your life happy and productive. Here are 10 business tips for success mentioned by a visionary and entrepreneur par excellence- Chairman Emeritus of Tata Group, Mr. Ratan Tata.

1. Giving

  • Businesses need to go beyond company profits, sales & targets. You need to give back to the communities you serve
  • Successful companies have the resources to give back to the society and do good!
  • Build a culture of giving back in the organization, in this ways the employees respect and look up to you even more
  • The gesture of giving only builds mutual respect making your community a better place to live in

2. Persistence

  • Have the ability to push and push till you reach the finish line
  • Persistence in business is one of the best business tip for an entrepreneur as you need to fight failure and bounce back, only then you can be successful
  • Persistence is all about indomitable spirit whether it is in business or in your life
  • Find new ways to do things and you will be able to find new solutions to many of your problems

3. Talent

  • Everyone cannot be the best in everything. Develop your talent and find your unique strength
  • An important business tip for success is to focus on the visible skills and hone them. As a leader you should do this on a regular basis for your employees
  • Build a culture of development- Mentor employees, have one-on-one interactions, devise programs for skill development. This gives employees the confidence to build more capabilities in them
  • Understand the value of learning- Learning is a continuous cycle and for people interested in building new skills, touching new horizons & reaching new heights, learning should never stop

4. Life

  • Embrace life, love life and enjoy every moment of it
  • Don’t stress over things what others say to you.  As Mr. Ratan Tata himself says, let them throw stones at you and you should build a monument out of it
  • You are born to do bigger and better things in life, identify your goal, your mission and put in all your energy to fulfill it. This can be one of the best business tips to lead a prosperous company and will turn you into a happier soul

5. Decision Making

  • Decision making is required at every level of your business; in fact it is required at every moment of your life as well
  • For success, one of the best business tips is to have clarity of thought. Be sure of what you want to do and then devise plans around it
  • Don’t be scared of making the wrong decision, this too is a part of your learning curve
  • Gather relevant information that can help you make a decision and then evaluate your options. This will help you reach closer to your goals
  • Evaluate the results- Evaluation and reviewing helps in judging the effectiveness of the choice made by you

6. Mindset

  • Your mindset can either break or make the goal you have set to achieve. It is your way of thinking to treat a problem as an opportunity or an obstacle
  • Develop a success-oriented mindset; following this mantra is a key business tip for success
  • Be around positive people and find time to disconnect from unnecessary stressors
  • Focus on learning new skills and put yourself in challenging situations, this will help in making you mentally strong and build confidence

7. Change

  • We all know the only thing constant is Change. So embrace it and move on with it
  • Suggest new ideas, introduce new processes and do things differently. A change for the better is the best business tip
  • Predict and prepare for the future. This will help you face challenges in the rapidly changing business environment with ease and preparedness
  • Focus on your values and not the fears. You need to understand that change is inevitable and there should be no inhibitions while adapting to it

8. Challenge
 

  • View any obstacles that stand in your way as a challenge, have the belief that it’s not impossible to overcome a certain business problem
  • In challenging times, the best business tip for an entrepreneur is to don the role of a leader. Show the way to your people and other stakeholders
  • Ups and downs are very important in business to keep us going. It helps us challenge our limits as well
  • Understand the problem first and then put things into perspective before jumping the gun and making a hurried decision 

9. Legacy

  • Follow a set of values, ethics or culture that your forefathers have left behind
  • Build your business on sustainability and not just on the basis of profitability. Money is important but sustainable development is the best business tip for success in the long run
  • Following or leaving a legacy requires immense investment in upholding the value system that has been created

10. Growth

  • Know what you want- If you have clarity about your goal, you will focus all your energies to achieve that and this business tip forms the stepping stone for growth in business
  • Set your eyes on the prize- Measure yourself, your team, and your organizational goals alongside your target. Once you know the how far the target is, everyone can align their energies to work towards it
  • Keep your Passion alive- Keep the excitement and enthusiasm going, it is contagious and spreads to people around you
  • Think People first- Your stakeholders are the backbone for the company. Keep your employees motivated, customers happy and other stakeholders aware of the functioning of the company. This business tip for success will play a major role in your growth strategy

So if you feel a little lost in life, these 10 business tips for success by Ratan Tata can put you back on track and motivate you to bounce back.

Categories
Process & Business Expansion

Phygital- Redefining the Customer’s Shopping Experience

Shop till you drop with Phygital

Imagine a shopping experience where you just enter the store, pick up what you want and simply walk out. Yes, you read it right! No lines, no checkouts, no payments just walk in, grab and go! Welcome to the world of Phygital.

4 years ago when e-commerce giant Amazon launched it’s first ’Amazon Go’ store, it redefined the entire Customer’s shopping experience. With their ’Just walk out technology’ Amazon Go became the first store of its kind where no checkout is required. 

The Amazon Go app allowed the customers to enter the store, browse through its products and then leave. What bliss for people on the go!

Defining Phygital

  • The marriage between the usages of intelligent technology to boost customer’s shopping experience is the new norm today
  • It is an ecosystem where both physical and digital co-exists.

Both the worlds complement each other in the sense that the consumer experience is not just limited to their computer or mobile screens but makes it way into the vicinity of fancy stores as well. 

The objective of both the premises is to enrich customer’s shopping experience
which has a direct impact on revenue generation and business growth

Importance of Phygital in business growth

With technology and innovation taking center stage of every business, companies now have become more focused on giving its consumers a world-class shopping experience be it in physical store or in the digital domain. 

In an age where time is money, a consumer needs the holistic experience of both the worlds (digital + physical) before buying a product.

In retail, through Phygital a customer can experience the following things:- 

  • look and feel the product
  • Browse through a plethora of options
  • Take feedback
  • Enjoy easy transactions through mobile point of sale units
  • Guided layout to add value to overall shopping experience
  • Virtual add-ons
  • No need to stand in queues 

After making a mark for themselves in the e-commerce space, brands like Lenskart, Myntra, Nykaa, Firstcry.com understood the need of giving this ’wholesome’ shopping experience to the customer.

It allowed brands to move from online to offline seamlessly. It helped them in increasing their offline reach to the customers and in turn helped in their business growth.

The Way Forward

Taking a cue from the retail giant Amazon, back home in India, Dmart also followed suit. 

In its new store format, customers can place their order online or through the app. They can then collect their purchases from the DMart Ready stores, or have it home-delivered for an additional charge. 

Clearly, the idea behind the new format is to provide shopping convenience to customers and to tap into the e-commerce category as well.

Small business in tier2 and tier3 cities should focus on the smooth transformation of their stores/shops into new age customer engagement hubs. 

Tip:

  • A small businessman can create a basic website or app, through which he can accept orders online from customers and customers, can pick up their order from the nearest physical store without having to wait or stand in the queue.

Great opportunities lie ahead for businesses that have a hold in smaller cities. 

Tip:

  • Small businesses should look for the collaboration with online giants like Flipkart, Snapdeal to open their physical stores and target offline customers for their business growth.

The Phygital trend which is catching so fast is here to stay for 2 simple reasons- 

  • In Phygital, physical comfort meets digital convenience
  • Speed meets personalization

Phygital has enhanced the overall shopping experience of a customer by multiple notches and has been an integral strategy for the business growth of many brands. Offline and online stores which were once perceived as opponents, Phygital has surely blurred the lines between the Bricks and the Clicks.

Categories
Process & Business Expansion

5 Business Automation Tools to Grow Your Business

Work from Anywhere, Anytime!
 

Have you ever thought of a scenario where you are on a holiday, sipping your favourite drink and your business back home is not only running smoothly but also generating revenue? 

Yes, it is possible! Automation in business gives an entrepreneur the advantage to create more value for himself and his customers. 

As a small business owner if you are not leveraging the power of technology, then in all probability you must be micromanaging everything in your business. In that case, as weird as it may sound, you are in all likelihood just like any other employee in your company with the fanciest title.

The advantages of using business automation technologies
are many. It helps:

  • In leveraging an entrepreneurs time
  • It reduces the time in completing a task
  • It increases the efficiency and productivity of employees
  • Business owner can focus on other important aspects of the business like customer service, innovation, strategies and revenue generation.

With the ever changing landscape of business, business owners need to develop the ability to adapt and use the power of technology and automation in their businesses.

The top 5 Business Automation Tools are-
 

1. Make a Repeatable business model

The model is applied to new products and services for the generation of sustained growth in the company. 

It can be achieved by enabling the people of your company through processes and technology.  

The best example of a repeatable business model is of DMart. The company enjoys the market capitalization of Rs.114,000 crore. Over the years the company has focused on building a good team, robust process and technology. 

2. Smart Marketing

As the name suggests, many B2B and B2C businesses swears by the smart marketing formula. 

Smart marketing not only helps business owners to increase their sales significantly but also allows unlocking their time.

Examples of smart marketing tool-

a) Facebook ads/Instagram Page

Facebook and Instagram are the most popular social media platforms. While Facebook has the largest user base across the globe, Instagram enjoys immense following amongst youngsters.

Both Facebook and Instagram are widely used as an advertising tool that allows you to reach directly to your specific customers based on their interests, gender, age and location.

The icing on the cake is that it is cheaper than the conventional modes of marketing.

b) LinkedIn Ads

If you want your business to get the visibility in the world’s largest professional community then LinkedIn ads are the best and the only bet. 

It helps in creating awareness about your brand, generating leads and increases engagement with your potential customer on a global professional platform.

3. Mail chimp

Mail chimp is a powerful marketing software. It is a tool that redefines the conventional way of connecting with your group of customers. 

With the help of this business automation tool, you can boost your email marketing efforts. It helps you in sending newsletters to thousands of recipients who have signed up for it in one go. 

It also helps in automating your email campaigns and collect leads for your business.

4. Technology

Technology in business is the best enabler. It helps in business automation and reduces operational costs. 

Few examples of popular business automation tools are:

a) ERP-

Enterprise Resource Planning is a centralized database that puts the important parts of business on automation.

ERP can be implemented across the departments of an organization be it Sales, Marketing, Finance, HR, Inventory Management etc.

b) Zoom- 

It is video conferencing platform which is used for conducting video conferencing meetings, webinars, audio conferencing, recordings and live chats from anywhere.

This business automation software saves travel time, helps in better communication, increases productivity without any physical infrastructure.

c) Cloud based Services- 

It is a system where the hardware and software hosted by a 3rd party. It is a service that can be accessed from any location freely through an internet connection. 

This business automation tool is cost effective and improves functionality of your business. 

For Example: Dropbox, Google Apps, Amazon EC2 etc.

5. CRM

Relationship with customers is the most important thing in the business world. To maintain a record of thousands of customers can become a cumbersome task at times. Customer relationship management (CRM) software eases out this process for business owners. 

This powerful business automation tool not only automates the whole process but also collects data from other sources as well.

If you are a small or medium-sized business, it is critical for you to implement these business automation tools to increase efficiency and productivity enables by tech today.

Categories
Process & Business Expansion

5 Fastest Growing Industries to Start a Business In 2020

What industries should excite you in 2020?

Are you planning to start your new business venture?

You must be wondering if you have your eye on the right industry or not?

Starting your own business is not easy. There are so many things to consider, from market demand to competition, but it will all be worth it. 

To help you drive the wheel towards the road to success, we’ve rounded up 5 fastest growing industries to start your business in 2020:

1. Ed-tech

Data Points for the Industry:

  • From 2014 to 2019, more than $1.8 Bn has been invested into Indian ed-tech startups.
  • The sub-segment of test preparation has the highest capital inflow & the greatest demand in India.
  • India’s tech economy growth has also pushed the demand for skill development solutions.

If educating people is something that you’re passionate about, Ed-Tech or Educational Technology may just be the startup industry for you.

The growing popularity of online learning has provided a major push to 3 of the top subsectors in the edtech market:

  • Test Preparation (from k-12 to entrance exams)
  • Online Certification
  • Skill Development

What’s the upside of Ed-Tech industry in India?

Fundamentally, India is one such market where there is a lot of focus on education. Most parents aspire to see their children aim high in education, and hence, people are willing to pay for these services. 

  • As per a study conducted by KPMG, the estimated market size for the ed-tech industry i.e. online certification and the reskilling industry is estimated to be $463 Mn (2021) growing at a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 38% since the year 2016.
  • The key theme and major advantage for the ed-tech industry is: Personalisation and Inclusion
    .

Ed-tech is considered as one of the fastest growing industry in India.

2. HealthTech

Data Points for the Industry:

  • Indian Health-tech sector recorded a total funding of $586.93 Mn in the year 2019
  • Indian healthcare market to be valued at $372 Bn by 2022.
  • Some of the popular healthtech startups are CureFit, PharmEasy, Practo, etc.

Increase in population, changing lifestyles and environmental instability pose newer challenges, as new diseases appear. To tackle these challenges and focus on mass scale solutions, it is important to encourage technology & automation in the Indian healthcare sector.

What’s the upside of HealthTech industry in India?

  • Indian healthcare industry is growing at tremendous pace and is considered as one of the fastest growing industry due to increased penetration of technology, improved connectivity and enhanced healthcare policies.
  • Indian healthcare market is expected to grow threefold to Rs.8.6 trillion by 2022. 

3. FinTech

Data Points for the Industry:

  • India is experiencing a ’FinTech Boom’ by emerging as the world’s second largest fin-tech hub.
  • Indian Fintech sector received a total funding of $3.18 Bn in the year 2019
  • Some of the popular Fintech companies are Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay, Cred, etc.

For years, FinTech (or Financial Technology) has been a hot startup sector and one of the best industry for business in India. The digital payment space in India is set to witness interesting times as WhatsApp
, the global messaging app, is coming in a phased manner with its payment services.

What’s the upside of FinTech industry in India?

  • As per Deloitte & CII’s Vision 2020 report, India is speedily heading towards becoming a digital economy with over a billion mobile phones, 330 million internet users, and 240 million smartphones.
  • B2B startups in FinTech industry are climbing the ladder
  • Some of the other areas where Fintech businesses are moving in 2020 includes taking insurance to the masses & a new wave of Fintech in education.

There is no doubt that competition in the fintech industry will intensify in the year 2020, however, it will still remain one of the fastest growing industries in India.

4. Gaming

Data Points for the Industry:

  • Smartphones accounts for a majority of online gaming revenues in India
  • India fantasy sports operators witnessed a 7 times growth since 2016, while the user base grew 25 times in India
  • 250 Mn online gamers and game developing companies were recorders in the year 2018, while the numbers were 20 Mn and 25 Mn, respectively in 2010.

Today, gaming industry has grown to become one of the biggest in the entertainment sector in the world and is considered as one of the fastest growing industry.

With smartphone penetration at its peak, the Indian gaming market ranks 5th among the world’s top mobile gaming markets. 

What’s the upside of Gaming industry?

  • Gaming industry was estimated at more than $150 Bn in 2019, and this figure is anticipated to grow to nearly $200 Bn by 2022, with a CAGR of over 9%.
  • The impact of mobile gaming is nowhere more evident than in India, where it always has always been considered a niche form of entertainment.

Games such as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), FarmVille, Candy Crush Saga, and Clash of Clans, with social and multiplayer components, only furthered the trend, making gaming one of the fastest growing industry.

5. Data Security

Data Points for the Industry:

  • The Indian business ecosystem’s poor data security is no secret
  • The BYOD (Bring your own device) work culture is now prevalent across many offices and workplaces in India
  • India business & enterprises don’t have adequate visibility into their cybersecurity health

The more time people spend online, the more they are exposed to data breaches & violations of digital privacy. 

Due to major data privacy thefts & scandals like Cambridge Ananlytica, companies and consumers have now become more aware of these risks.

What’s the upside of Data Security industry?

  • Data privacy breach makes Cyber Security one of the fastest growing industries and creates endless opportunity for entrepreneurs and business owners willing to bet on cybersecurity and data protection as a business.
  • According to a report by PwC, the cyber security market in India is expected to grow from USD 1.97 billion in 2019 to USD 3.05 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 15.6%

Though Data Security is one of the fastest growing industries, but starting a cyber-security company is no easy feat but the starting point could be by offering consultancy services to local companies.

If you’re thinking about starting a business soon, be where there is enough sunrises. Be a part of those sectors where the next wave of growth will come from.

We have given you a lowdown of the 5 best industries for business in 2020 and should be well considered when establishing a new business 

Categories
Process & Business Expansion

Transformation of Small Businesses in 2020

2020: Shaping new trends for small businesses

2020 is going to be a totally different year for small businesses. With the slowdown caused due to Coronavirus lockdown and companies re-strategizing the way they function, small business trends
will be all about efficiency and productivity in the minimum cost. These are some small business trends that will change the face of business in the coming years:

1. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is becoming an integral part of our life as its opportunities and applications are virtually limitless

Artificial Intelligence is being used in every sector be it healthcare, manufacturing, banking, retail or even education. You name it and AI has an application that a sector can use 

For e.g. Chat Bots to help get initial information from customers, Virtual Assistants to delegate your mundane tasks, smart cars for unique driving experience and many more

2. Rise of Remote Working
 

The coronavirus lockdown has definitely taught us to be more productive while working from home where employees are multi-tasking and working beyond capacity to fight difficult times

Less of overhead costs will be the priority of employers. This will lead to saving costs, time and resources for many sectors

Remote working is going to see a huge rise as one of the small business trends for 2020

3. Leveraging Technology

The competition today is cut-throat not only amongst businesses but also when you are competing with big players and it is only through tech especially the digital tools available that can help you scale

Analytics, CRM tools, Social media marketing, ERP tools- all these tools you can ditch traditional methods of spreadsheets 

Small business trends for 2020 is going to be all about using technology to increase productivity and best employee outcomes

4. Personalized Customer Service & Customer Reviews will be the king

Smart personalized engines will be able to analyze and understand the consumer in a far more efficient manner giving digital side of the business a good boost

Customers will move towards businesses that offer personalized services, give them what they want in the fastest time possible

Another small business trend would be of user reviews or using the a customers as an influencer for others to buy that product

Since small businesses have small marketing budgets, it becomes paramount to focus on user reviews and use this tool efficiently

This will also help build trust of other potential customers who are on the line to get converted into buyers

5. Story Driven Marketing

Social media marketing is going to be all about stories- Compelling stories that connect with the consumer emotionally 

Direct News feed style marketing will be absolutely irrelevant 

Use more visuals that too much text to convey your messaging. This will help in the retention of your brand as well as the brand message

Customer engagement in a savvy and relevant way will be the new small business trend for 2020

6. Millennials will reshape the Workforce and Workplace

Millennials work differently; they bring with them the zeal of new ideas and new ways of doing things. They are going to form an integral part of the workforce in organisations

Millennials prefer to use better tech with better working tools, hence digitization at the workplace will be the norm for them to function properly

The tradition of working 9-5 every day at a cubicle is no longer the norm, with laptops and smartphones, video conferencing and team messaging ’ technology has made remote work easier than ever

7. Leverage highly motivated employees

Coronavirus crisis has made employees handle multiple functions, different teams and sometimes even work with new skill sets

This time will help businesses identify motivated and highly productive employees and leverage them to the best of their abilities 

 With 2020 looming under the corona crisis, the second half of the year will need companies to bounce back and stand up on their feet. They need to look out for these small business trends in order to rekindle their energies and move on the path to gaining growth.

Categories
Process & Business Expansion

Importance of online business courses for entrepreneurs

Learn from Home: Advantages of an Online Business Course

We all believe that our home is the first place to learn the lessons of life and what better opportunity when you get to learn from best through online business courses. In an ever-changing business environment, the good thing is that you don’t need to go to a university to learn about new strategies, new business models and new technologies. Everything is available at your convenience and at the click of a button.

At Bada Business it has always been our endeavor to empower the ‘Real Bharat’. Provide small businesses with tools and knowledge that will help them grow their business 10X and make profits.

Here are some of the benefits of subscribing to an online business course for entrepreneurs:

1. Convenience & Comfort

We all know that education is a very powerful tool and can give you information that can do wonders for your business

An online business course can be studied at any time, at your own speed and at any location. It provides you the comfort and convenience that a business owner would need as he is already juggling with many things at hand

Back in the olden days, you might have to visit a Business school to get this information, but in today’s time with the advancement in technology, learning can be done as per your comfort

2. Professional Development

Enrolling for the best online business courses can help small business owners understand some of the core business processes and concepts. It helps you in your professional development

Online business courses help you enhance your skills for managing different functions of the business

One of the top-selling models at Bada Business is the Problem Solving Courses (PSC). These are video courses designed especially for Tier 2, 3 & 4 city entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs and students. We are curating world-class content with teaching methodologies used by global universities to ensure that our customers don’t just learn, instead, they implement the learnings and grow business

More interactive videos with case studies helps entrepreneurs to understand the strategy & its implementation in an easier way rather than learning from text-based books in colleges. Each course in our PSC module has 15 – 20 videos curated by Bada Business along with subject matter experts

3. Lower Cost
Online courses don’t need a brick and mortar set up, there is no requirement of a physical building and infrastructure, and hence online business courses are much cheaper than traditional campuses

The cost-saving benefits of online courses help in saving money that can be invested back into the business

Our PSC courses are also priced very nominally and we deliver content for a period of 2 years which turns out to be low on cost & high on knowledge

4. Learn from Billionaires & Experts

In your lifetime as an entrepreneur, you might not ever get an opportunity to meet or learn from billionaires in our country. Online business courses give you this chance to learn strategies and effective tools from business icons

In our ‘Everything About Entrepreneurship’ product, we talk to some of the topmost billionaire entrepreneurs on strategies that can be implemented for small businesses. Leaders like Manu Jain (Xiaomi), Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (Biocon), Mohandas Pai (Manipal University), Keki Mistry (HDFC), R.S. Sodhi (Amul) and Acharya Balkrishna (Patanjali) have become Bada Business Professors to educate entrepreneurs

Even in our ‘Problem Solving Course’ subject matter experts are bought onboard to give you the right technique, the right tool, and the right methodology to run a business

5. Better Opportunities for Networking
Networking is very critical for all businesses. The online business course allows learners to interact with people from all parts of the country

The opportunity to interact and engage with fellow business owners is in itself a rare opportunity.

An online business course is affordable, time-saving and a fun way to update or extend your knowledge. Having a good understanding of some of the processes, concepts and developments in your business can also help you to employ the right team to take your company forward. So reap the benefits of the immense knowledge available.

Categories
Process & Business Expansion

Building Customer Communities to Grow your Business

Unleash the Power of Brand Communities!

Today’s brands do more than just delivering a product or a service. They form connections with customers. If you want the consumer to have an everlasting love for your business or product, then think of BUILDING CUSTOMER COMMUNITIES!
 

With businesses having less and less money post the Corona crisis to acquire customers, building communities can be the best way to attain customer loyalty and new buyers.

New-age customers and social media together have fueled this shift to community-conscious brand building

Here are some tips to build communities around your brand:

1. Take the Customer-first Approach

Before you invest in building customer communities around your brand, make sure your product meets customer expectations. Even if the customer base is small, they should be happy customers. If the product is likeable then brand building becomes easier.

2. Give it Time to Build
 

Building customer communities takes time. If you are in a rush, the consumer will sense that and the connection will be lost

For e.g. In 1983, Harley-Davidson was facing a financial collapse. The demand for their products had gone down and a lot of overheads were eating into their profits. 

By 2009, 25 years later the company had completely turned their fortunes around, becoming a top-50 global brand. How’d they do it? 

They invested in building a customer community and working to improve the loyalty of their buyers. They created an aspiration around the brand and that was enjoyed by all bikers, which in turn was used to spread the word. 

So have patience to develop and grow a brand community as in the long run you will see tangible benefits 

3. Think of a Larger Mission 

For building customer communities you need to think of a larger purpose for doing it. Just loving the brand is not enough; it has to trigger a passion or an emotion.

Brands that have a social impact that helps the larger community are especially effective

For e.g. If you see the journey of a brand called 1469, it is known for T-shirts & merchandise that have fun Punjabi slogans written on them. The idea for them was to connect the youngsters with the roots of Punjab. From one shop in Janpath, they now have 5 exclusive stores across Delhi & Chandigarh. How did they do it?

They connected the Punjabi community through an annual fest that saw Punjabi singers come together with the people and celebrate the love for their culture. To make the language fashionable, the owners started by manufacturing good-quality T-shirts with catchy Punjabi slogans which extended to other merchandise as well.

The idea of building communities for their marketing helped this brand scale significantly

4. Involve your Customers through video testimonials

Encourage your customers to make videos of themselves using your product so that it can become viral and organically reach many more potential customers

When you use a video testimonial it becomes even more authentic than just plain advertising

For e.g. Fitness Company Kettlebell Kings featured its customers via videos and those videos were reshared by the company tagging the customer

This helped them build a community around their brand of fitness enthusiasts and also encouraged more people to buy their product and get featured on social media

5. Use the Customer as an Asset

A successful community is when it’s a matter of pride for people to be a part of a particular group

Reward members for doing tasks that have been set by you to engage them 

Don’t underestimate the power of your consumer to make your brand viral and credible 

For e.g. The Salesforce Trailblazer Community is another great example of a company using its customers as assets to grow its brand. It’s a huge community of millions of members now. 

By rewarding members for answering questions and providing help to other members, the community was bombarded with people in no span of time. The certification provided by Salesforce started being considered as an asset when any of their community members joined a company as an employee.

It’s is the perfect example of what a B2B community could potentially become for your business. 

With competition on the rise and imitators everywhere, brand love counts for a lot in today’s economy & building customer communities can have solid benefits in the long run. Cash in on the customer enthusiasm; let them make your brand the talk of the town. What you need to build and make sure is that your product is worthy of a community that will always be evergreen!