The mobile internet is rapidly transforming the way Nigeria is doing business. This is being made possible with the use of cheaper smartphones.
Magnus Nmonwu, Regional Director, Sage West Africa told CNBC Africa that the country was also seeing the change in the nature of business due to rapid improvements in telecoms infrastructure, and the availability of affordable cloud applications.
He also said the use of internet and smartphones was empowering enterprises to be more flexible, responsive and efficient.
“A number of developed countries are being powered by small and medium businesses that use digital platforms. These SMEs acquire a number of mobile devices and digital activities so as to power their businesses,” he added.
“It is our view that small and medium businesses in Nigeria should be given the power and ability to put their services in digital form for users in the market [just like in the developed markets.”
Nmonwu said the use of smartphones was vital to digitalisation of the Nigerian economy. He called for building more applications tailor made for Africa’s largest economy.
He said with the smartphone becoming cheaper by the day, it was possible for every citizen to get one in the near future.
“We have solutions that we have been able to put in mobile phones for SMEs to utilise. To use these services one requires a smartphone. In the next five years the number of people using smartphones will get to 100 per cent,” said Nmonwu.
He added that the use of smartphones will allow users to have up to date and readily available information that enables one to make quick decisions.
Nmonwu said for Nigeria to realise these opportunities in the digital space, the government and business should start promoting bridging of this digital gap.
“We need to start design tools and codes that will improve the digital space; we also need to write codes and applications meant for our market. This education of coding should be made available locally so that those who want to enter into this space do not have to travel to countries like India for that knowledge.”
Source :CNBC Africa
