How ICT Can Benefit Small Businesses In Nigeria

The Benefits of ICT To Small And Medium Businesses 

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services can provide numerous benefits to small and medium businesses and more to Big Organizations. These technologies encompass a wide range of tools and services, including hardware, software, and digital communication, all of which can help small businesses streamline operations, improve productivity, and enhance their overall competitiveness.

Here are several ways ICT services can benefit small and medium businesses:

  1. Efficient Communication:

ICT services enable small businesses to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, and employees. Email, instant messaging, and video conferencing make it easier to connect with stakeholders regardless of their location. This can lead to quicker decision-making and problem-solving.

  1. Enhanced Productivity:

Automation tools, project management software, and cloud-based applications help small businesses streamline their processes. This leads to increased productivity as employees can perform tasks more efficiently and collaborate effectively on projects.

  1. Cost Savings:

ICT services can reduce operational costs. Cloud computing, for example, eliminates the need for on-site servers and reduces IT maintenance costs. Additionally, businesses can save on travel expenses by utilizing video conferencing for meetings. 

  1. Data Management:

Small businesses can efficiently collect, store, and analyze data using ICT services. This data can provide valuable insights into customer behavior, market trends, and business performance, helping companies make informed decisions. 

  1. Online Presence:

Establishing an online presence through websites and social media platforms is crucial for small businesses to reach a broader audience and attract new customers. ICT services can help create and maintain these digital channels effectively. 

  1. E-commerce:

Small businesses can expand their customer base by selling products or services online. E-commerce platforms and payment gateways facilitate online transactions, allowing businesses to reach a global market. 

  1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM):

CRM software helps small businesses manage and nurture customer relationships. It tracks customer interactions, manages sales leads, and provides insights for better customer engagement and retention.

  1. Security:

ICT services also play a critical role in protecting small businesses from cyber threats. Antivirus software, firewalls, and data encryption tools help safeguard sensitive information and maintain customer trust.

  1. Scalability:

Many ICT services can scale up or down to meet the evolving needs of small businesses. This scalability ensures that businesses can adapt to changes in demand and growth without significant disruptions.

  1. Market Research:

ICT services provide access to online research tools, competitor analysis software, and data analytics platforms. Small businesses can leverage these tools to gain insights into market trends and consumer preferences, helping them make strategic decisions. 

  1. Remote Work:

In the wake of global events like the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become increasingly important. ICT services facilitate remote work setups, allowing employees to work from home or other locations while maintaining productivity. 

  1. Competitive Advantage:

Adopting the latest ICT services can give small businesses a competitive edge. Being tech-savvy and agile allows them to respond quickly to changing market conditions and customer demands.

Scimitar Global Services Limited (SGSL) as an ICT services company offer a wide range of solutions and services that are of huge benefit for small businesses like yours, from improving communication and productivity to reducing costs and enhancing competitiveness. Embracing these technologies can be a valuable investment for your business as we partner together looking to thrive and grow in today’s digital age for more market share.    You can sign up for our Customer Connect 360  our All-In-One ICT services designed for Small and Medium Scale Businesses.

Contact Us Here   

Benefits of ICT In Our Education Industry

Unlock the Future of Education with ICT Solution and Services

The education industry has evolved rapidly and has bridged the huge divide in access to education in the last 10 years due to the adoption and embrace of technology as the key to staying ahead.

 

Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) in education has made learning more accessible, exciting, and enjoyable. The development of technological advancements in education has led to enhanced knowledge and skills of both teachers, lecturers, and students as it has now transformed the way we learn and has opened new possibilities for all; From increased flexibility and personalized learning to the ability to collaborate and access a wide range of resources,

Technology in education especially in the advent of Artificial intelligence (AI) it is now particularly important because it helps today’s teachers to adopt and integrate modern technologies and tools into their classroom. Teachers can upgrade and improve the ways they engage their students in unique, innovative, and equitable ways.

Here’s how some of our ICT offerings can transform your educational ecosystem:

1. Call Center Solutions: For Improved communication

– Enhance communication between students, parents, and staff.
– Streamline inquiries, admissions, and support services.
– Improve response times and provide a seamless experience.

2. CRM/ERP Software Solution and Services:

– Centralize data management for efficient administration.
– Gain insights into student performance and engagement.
– Automate processes for enhanced productivity.

3. Video Engagement for Higher Education:

– Facilitate remote learning with interactive video solutions.
– Host virtual lectures, workshops, and collaborative sessions.
– Foster engagement and enhance the learning experience.

4. Telemedicine platform:

– Extend healthcare learning and services to students and staff.
– Enable remote consultations and medical support.
– Ensure the well-being of your educational community.

5. Online Learning:

– Transition seamlessly to digital learning platforms.
– Deliver flexible, accessible, and engaging courses.
– Expand your reach and offer diverse learning opportunities.

6. Queue Management:

– Optimize campus operations with efficient queue systems.
– Reduce wait times and enhance service delivery.
– Ensure a smooth and organized environment.

Scimitar Global Services Limited (SGSL) as an ICT Solutions and BPO Services Company in Lagos, Nigeria, we understand the unique challenges faced by educational institutions, and we’re here to partner with you in designing your ICT roadmap and roll out plans to empower your journey with innovative ICT solutions.

SGSL is committed to elevating the education industry through technology in partnership with our OEM partners by offering tailored solutions and services designed to meet the unique needs of educational institutions, ensuring a brighter future for students, educators, and administrators.

Ready to transform your institution? Contact us today for a consultation and discover how our ICT Solutions and services can revolutionize your educational services to your customers.

#EducationTechnology #EdTech #ITServices #TransformingEducation #ScimitarGlobalServicesLimited #ICTsolutionsforbusiness #softwareforbusiness #ictsolutionforedusction

How To Generate Quality Leads, Increase Business Revenue At Reduce Cost A Growing Business! !

In today’s competitive business landscape, organizations like yours are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance their revenue generation while also delivering exceptional customer experiences. This involves huge investment in both technology, Process and Employees and most times one is abandoned for the other due to the cost involved. So Scimitar Global Services Limited (SGSL) is offering you a game-changer in achieving both goals with Customer Connect 360.

Customer Connect 365 is our all-in-one Business Development, Marketing and Call Center Outsourcing Service designed to help Entrepreneurs, Managing Directors, and CEOs of small and medium businesses to concentrate on closing more deals and making money while signed up to our technology for Business & Digital Marketing Services that helps them in Lead Generation and Customer Service and Support operations. 

As you explore the business needs of your organization from setting up an office space with employees, training them; designing a website, setting up an official mailing system, Sourcing for a Call center technology and CRM as well as setting up your social media pages; do remember that the key lies in choosing options that aligns with your business goals and empowers you to deliver exceptional results at reduced cost.  There may be no need to incur and invest huge cost in owning a space, the whole technology and even employees in the early days or depending on your processes keeping too many staff when you can outsource all your business processes and get desired result with a smaller number of employees.

With the Sales, Marketing and technology Mix of SGSL Customer 360, Small and medium businesses like yours can seamlessly optimize their sales, customer services, and even loan collections processes, leading to increased profitability and higher levels of customer satisfaction at extremely low operational cost compared to you running all the people, technology and processes yourself in one location.

Our comprehensive suite of technology sales and customer services is tailored to accelerate your company’s growth and success with the following key services and benefits we offer to take your business to new heights:

KEY SERVICES AND CAMPAIGN GOALS: 

  1. Help You Generate Quality Leads: Our primary objective is to connect your business with high-quality, targeted leads, ensuring maximum conversion rates and increased revenue streams.
  2. Boost Business Development: Through our expert business development services, we aim to enhance your company’s market presence, foster strategic partnerships, and explore new growth opportunities.
  3. Drive Revenue Growth: By optimizing lead generation and business development, we strive to drive sustainable revenue growth and long-term success for your business.
  4. Offer Quality Customer Service and Support:  New and existing customers will be supported effectively to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty which will also guarantee revenue from return businesses
  5. Expert Guidance and Consultancy: Benefit from the expertise of our seasoned professionals who bring years of experience in various industries to your doorstep.
  6. Focus on Core Competencies: With SGSL handling your lead generation, business development and Customer Support, you and your team can concentrate on core business activities and innovation.
  7. Increased ROI: Our data-driven approach ensures that your resources are invested in the right places, delivering a higher return on investment. This is our money backed guarantee within our terms and conditions.

Investing in the right technology services like Customer Connect 360 that is tailored to your business needs can yield significant returns in terms of increased revenue, improved customer retention, and enhanced brand reputation all while you concentrate on close deals and making more money.

So embrace the opportunity to transform your business with SGSL Connect 360 Services. Let us be your strategic partner in lead generation, business development and Customer Service, empowering you to thrive in today’s competitive business landscape efficiently and effectively.

Sign up now and unlock a world of growth potential for your business.

Together, we’ll achieve greatness!

VIDEO BANKING AND VIDEO CONFERENCING, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIDEO BANKING AND VIDEO CONFERENCING

“Is this not same service like Skype, Zoom or like Teams?” “We have been using them for meetings all this while, why can’t we use them to manage customers?”

These are some questions I have been asked in addition to rejections due to budget in the last 6 years that I have been pushing for adoption of Video Banking as one of the Omnichannel touchpoints to redesign Banking for the future and for financial inclusion.

My response is that those are video conferencing solutions or platforms that you can use for virtual meetings and team collaboration, but they not designed for Banking.  This seems to not have convinced most Bank C-level apart from two Banks in Nigeria that has our solution and using it for diaspora banking. I want to appreciate GTBank Plc, as the leader in use of Technology in Banking in Nigeria.

Even as Chief Innovations officers and CTO or even Customer Experience Group heads and leaders, you might get these questions from your CEOs, Executive team or board when you present your plans to improve your digital channels and improve customer experience. It is always about the cost and then… What’s the difference between video conferencing and video banking? Video banking is to expensive; Can’t we just use same Skype or Zoom to meet virtually with our retail customers with less or no overhead cost?

Video Banking Solution comes at a cost as it is an enterprise solution but when it comes to digital channels like this, cost savings shouldn’t be the only factor to consider. Security, Convenience, customer experience, compliance, and workflow designed with banking use case must be included in your Bank’s due diligence. The Return in investment outweighs the total cost of ownership.  On the other hand the SaaS model is always available as another option.

According to financial News London, confirmed reports have it that Bank of America, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, Standard Chartered and UBS advised their employees against using video conferencing tools for Banking purposes due to the noncompliance of these almost free Video conferencing tools.  As a Microsoft Partner and Indirect Cloud Solutions Provider, Even Microsoft teams which is secured and well accepted in Nigerian Banks today is not a Video banking Solution. We know the difference and capabilities of solutions we carry and will honestly can draw the line that for external meetings and Internal collaborations, use Microsoft Teams but when it comes to offering Omnichannel Banking Services for good customer experience and security, Use Kuber Video Banking from SGSL as it is designed solely for Banking and we leverage Microsoft Azure, Dynamics CRM , Microsoft 365 and Active directory to deliver the solution to ensure the full business value stays within our offering for customer satisfaction.

Oh I forgot, here are the two definitions from google search results:

“Video conferencing is an online technology that allows users in different locations to hold face-to-face meetings without having to move to a single location together”

“Video banking is a term used for performing banking transactions or professional banking consultations via a remote video connection. Video banking can be performed via purpose-built banking transaction machines (similar to an Automated teller machine), or via a videoconference enabled bank branch.”

So there is a big difference between Video conferencing and Video Banking when it comes to Banking as the latter is designed solely for Banks to foster and offer secured and convenient banking experience to customers especially in line with Banks omnichannel roadmap to reduce foot traffic to their normal brick and mortar services which has since been gulping resources in operational costs

Here are the diverse ways they differ:

SN VIDEO BANKING VIDEO CONFERENCING
1 Video Banking addresses the consumer side of collaboration and enables communication between businesses providing the ability to share educational information and provide a platform for business negotiations. Video conferencing platforms only enables communication between businesses provides the ability to share information and provide a platform for business negotiations but does not take care of the individual.
2 Video Banking does not require both parties to set a date and time to communicate. Customer can at any time access Video banking for a Face-to-Face Chat from a Banks website, kiosk or mobile app. So far there is someone available to speak with him from any Video enabled device. Video conferencing platforms require both parties to set a date and time to communicate, which creates service friction and customer dissatisfaction with missed appointments on both sides.
3 Video banking is very secured and has passed all ISO and Global standards for Banking. Ask for documentation for Kuber Video banking from SGSL. Our Video Banking solution has passed all compliance test required. Video conferencing and chat apps aren’t secure enough for banking transactions.

 

(You’ve probably heard the recent news about the iPhone FaceTime bug that allows users to eavesdrop on others before they even accept the call.)

4 Video Banking offers a secured face to Face engagement between your bank and your customers and cannot be hacked. Customer data and transaction are secured and protected from breach. Video conferencing platforms are insecure and can exposes the Banks to litigation for breach of trust which can bring bad publicity.
5 Video banking comes at a cost as it is an enterprise solution but when it comes to digital channels, cost savings isn’t the only factor to consider. Convenience, consumer experience, compliance, and workflow must be included in your Bank’s due diligence. Yes Video conferencing is almost free and cheaper to deploy and use but it applies to normal meetings and engagements for example as a vendor, we don’t have to physically be at the Bank IT office with the whole team of engineers.

We can work remote rather than for an in-person meeting.

6 Video Banking expands on the face-to-face digital communication by recreating an entire branch experience, with tellers, consumer service representatives, loan officers, and financial advisors. It will just like the customer is being serviced at the bank physically yet from the confines of his home of office. Video Conferencing allows for just normal face to face interactions for meetings.
7 Video Banking is custom built to meet the needs of banking consumer, with well-defined banking use cases supported by with banking workflows and processes for an optimized service delivery. Video Conferencing is built for conference calls, meetings and document shares.
8 Video banking usually supports the following Banking use cases

·       Document collection

·       Document signature

·       Screen sharing

·       Presentations

·       Co-browsing /URL sharing

·       OCR Data capture

·       Banking KYC

·       Account Opening

·       Standardized business workflows

·       Robust Reporting

·       Branch, web, and mobile deployments

·       After call surveys

Video Conferencing usually supports the following Banking use cases

·       Document collection

·       Screen sharing

·       Presentations

 

 

9 A robust video banking app brings all your products and services together, which increases your staff efficiency and racks up sales for increase revenue. Video conferences is just for video calls and collaboration to improved employee performance
10 Video banking has contact center features and can be built into your call center queue; making it an on-demand and click to call for consumers, just the way retail banking channels should be. Access to banking without asking for licenses Video conferencing does not have contact center features and cannot be built into existing queues or business rules. Only Microsoft teams can run with its complementary solutions stack for a B2B. It does not give good customer experience to the retail customer.
11 Video conferencing cannot be integrated into your existing customer management processes, and it requires but the customer and the relationship manager to show up at a scheduled date and time. Most Video conferencing platforms are not designed for businesses to own and manage themselves and this requires that participants still show up at the same time
12 Video banking automatically records all Video engagements sessions which are spool able in called reports, Bank can produce logs and metrics to track performance and provide data to prove compliance to Banking regulations. While some of the Video conferencing platforms are now recording their sessions it is at the agreement of the users or customers.
13 Video banking apps are not cheap but compliant with security regulations that assures security of financial data of both Bank and its customers. Video Conferencing platforms like Skype, Zoom, What’s app, WebEx and FaceTime etc. are good and affordable platforms and user friendly.
14 Video Banking can be embedded as our API allows Banks to host their video calls directly in their mobile app or website – no need downloads of plug ins, no redirects, and no waste time. Video conferencing platforms have mobile clients you can download from App stores but with branded clients
15 Video Banking Supports WebRTC even on mobile Some Video conferencing support webRTC some require you must download a client

 

Even before the outbreak of Corona Virus aka Covid19, a few Banks or even Global financial institutions allowed Video conferencing for meetings, but they restricted themselves to a few approved secured platforms to ensure security of Bank’s information. As a Fintech Solutions provider, I remember having to visit Serval Bank HQs with my team for presentations and Demonstration of our Omnichannel Video Banking Solution and Contact center Solutions as conference calls were not preferred, except in very rare cases to bridge gaps which it was best for just meetings. GTBank Plc was the first Bank to trusted us and launched our Kuber Video Banking Solution for their Diaspora Banking services. Click here to test GTBank Video Banking.

But the pandemic came and shut us all out, drastically reducing in-branch and physical visits to businesses across the globe, now forcing financial institutions to consider leveraging digital alternatives both for meetings, support and for Banking.  Which is how the VCs took over the market as Banks had to rely on video conferencing solutions but now realizing that these platforms does meet the needs of both the bank and its customers in the long term as they come with challenges of low security and non-compliance.

Now we present the better way: Kuber Video Banking Solution from SGSL. A Secured and complaint Video Banking Solution for Banks embedded into your Bank’s website, Online Banking, Mobile Banking and even Kiosks, ATMs in your Galleries and any data enabled devices for a click to call feature that allows your bank to host secure video calls directly in their app or website – no downloads, no redirects, and no wasted time.

Take back control of your digital customer experiences with SGSL’s Kuber video banking solution and continue to build stronger customer relationships with trust especially with the revised operation hours in branches, Banks can make its touch points more proactive, relevant, and frequent.

Book a demo here!

Microsoft-365

Microsoft Office 365 Subscription in Nigeria

 

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Business is better with Microsoft Office 365 as flexible pricing plans are now available in Nigeria. So now you can subscribe for Microsoft Office 365 through Scimitar Global Services Limited ( SGSL) and pay in Naira! And guess what, you don’t have to pay for a full year! Yes! it is now pay as you go while you:

  • Access files your from anywhere – online or offline: Access your files from anywhere on desktop, phone and tablet, online or offline. You and your employees can now be more productive from anywhere, even when there is no Wi-Fi or Internet connection.
  • Get monthly security updates and feature releases: Your sensitive business data in the cloud is protected with enterprise-grade security. You’ll always have the most secure version of Office – without the IT expense of patches and upgrades.
  • Use the web version of Office – with rich features: You get all-new Office 2016 apps, the web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook with rich features, plus OneDrive cloud-based storage to manage all of your files.

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All these and many more are available to your business if you call us today. So check out the our Microsoft Office 365 plan line up below and let us move you to the cloud! #CloudfirstMobilefirst   and remember in NAIRA!

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So to explore the benefits of  Office 365 , You can Sign up for a 30 days Microsoft 365  Free trial  with a work account that can be created here https://signup.microsoft.com/productkeystart

and then You have to authorize SGSL to set up this Microsoft 365  Free trial for  30 days. No payment no credit Card.  You can also explore Dynamics 365 CRM as well.

Also more enquires Contact us. and kindly Like and share, follow and also re-tweet our posts and stand a chance to win a gift.

Thank you

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Contact Center As A Service. An Affordable Lease Service Option From Scimitar Global Services Limited(SGSL)

Do you need a standard contact center solution and worried about the high cost of implementing one for your organization with all the nice features without breaking the bank? Are you still using PBX and GSM phones and boxes as a Contact center solution ?

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Do you want first Call Resolution at your call centers so that your customers do not have to always repeat their complaints from the start to new agents every time they call your business?

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CRM Landing Page

Do you want an Omnichannel solution that can record and track all the interactions of your customers for faster complaints resolution?  Do you want to automatically connect with your back office team that supports your customer facing teams for quick service delivery? How about historical data and reports with business insights about the voice of your customers and their interactions?

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 Case Management Dashboard

Scimitar Global Services Limited (SGSL) has some good news for you, no more Dead on Arrival Budget Presentation as you can now a case with our Contact center as a Services offering; A Cloud and an OPEX model for mid-markets that gives you all the features of a robust contact center at reduce cost.  All you need to worry is one your internet requirement and how to use and maximize it, which of course you will be trained to do so.

So sign up for our Contact center lease Service to own your Contact center with all the whistles and bells; without breaking the bank due huge investment in implementing your own contact center solution

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Drop your details here so that our solution consultants can connect with you for a best fit analysis and solution. You will be live in 3 weeks all things being equal within our terms and conditions.