MTN Nigeria and Kenya’s Ajua have partnered in a new project that will see the companies attempt to address issues currently faced by more than 40 million SME businesses in Nigeria.
The partnership is preceded by the launch of EnGauge, an online eCommerce customer engagement management platform. EnGauge was developed by the two organizations.
According to Ajua, the platform is set to transform how SMEs conduct business in the country. The platform is set to solve 4 of the UNDPs social development goals for Nigeria while also enabling business owners to oversee the smooth administration of transactions and operations of their companies.
The SME market in the West African state is valued at $220 billion annually. Projections have also revealed that businesses with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) have bolstered their productivity by 40 percent.
Thus, the product by Ajua and MTN Nigeria is expected to see notable SME empowerment, besides conducting businesses more efficiently.
MTN EnGauge is available in Android’s Play Store. Ajua says that the the app “offers innovative customer management solutions which include digital payments, CRM tools, customer feedback channels, customer debt management and tracking as well as business and product promotions through mobile and social media channels.”
Once a business has registered its account on MTN EnGauge, it is automatically provided with a unique business code (USSD), which allows their customers to interact, transact and communicate with them in real-time. The solution only available on the MTN network at the moment is accessible with an affordable monthly subscription of N500 and a yearly subscription of N5,500.
The app does not use an internet connection once a business has set it up.
Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, added that is was the ideal platform for business owners and entrepreneurs to thrive in the ‘new normal’.
“Entrepreneurs have had to re-organise their core business models through backward and forward integration to maintain relevance. The EnGauge mobile application helps make this possible and seamless,” she said.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ajua, Kenfield Griffith, said the app would help solve challenges SMEs experience, from digitally engaging their customers to cash management.
“With MTN as a partner and their reach across the continent, we believe MTN EnGauge will have a positive and impactful trajectory, driving transformational business growth for SMEs,” he added.
The telco added that the solution was downloadable on the Google Play store and only available on the MTN network.
