Mobile-friendly to mobile-first: why it matters to your business

Do you remember having to pinch and scroll endlessly to read content on your smartphone simply because the desktop site was rendered the same way? Pretty frustrating, wasn’t it? 

Mobile design — and even website design — has been evolving continually to serve users better. A long time ago, most people browsed on their desktops. But not anymore. The shift to browsing on mobile devices has necessitated a corresponding shit to a mobile-first user experience. 

Today, over 60% of all website traffic comes from mobile devices. So, it only makes sense to give priority to websites designed not just to be mobile-friendly but to be mobile-first. 

But what does this mean? 

Mobile-friendly vs. Mobile first 

You see, many websites today are designed to be responsive. That is, the actual desktop mode conforms to mobile when viewed on a smartphone. Some even have the mobile version of the web (think of how Facebook for mobile was before now). Such a website is said to be mobile-friendly. 

Still, the typical mobile experience isn’t there. In some cases, some functions are either limited on mobile or are difficult to access simply because the website wasn’t designed for mobile in the first place. It was only adapted from desktop to mobile. 

Mobile-friendly is the bare minimum. We can live with it, but it’s surely not the best that smartphone users today desire. A site that is thoroughly mobile from scratch is what they want, and that’s what you have to give to them if you wish to offer stellar experiences.  

Therefore, it’s definitely worth having thorough mobile testing done before launching your app. By having your app tested on a mobile-centric testing platform, you ensure the product ticks all the boxes before getting released. This will guarantee its acceptance since it is exactly what users want. 

Why mobile-first design is crucial for your business in this era 

  1. Mobile-first makes it easier to scale

Designing for mobile first makes sure that your website will work well on all devices. If you design for the desktop first, it might be hard to make the design work well on smaller mobile screens. This could result in a poor mobile experience for a lot of your users. But if you start with mobile, you can make sure that the important parts of your website work well on small screens and then add more features for desktop users. This way, your website will be scalable and work well on all devices. 

  1. Mobile search is becoming the standard

More and more people are using their mobile phones to do things like search the internet, book appointments, or buy things online. This is because mobile phones have gotten better and faster, and people are becoming more comfortable using them for a wider range of tasks. As a result, mobile phones have become the most common way that people access the internet, and businesses need to start designing their websites and apps to work well on mobile first. Not to mention the SEO benefits, such as Google prioritizing mobile-first in search results. 

  1. The mobile-first approach potentially eliminates frivolity

Designing for mobile is difficult, and designing with a mobile-first approach is even more challenging. This demands a lot of focus and attention on what’s most important for the user. You have to be careful not to include anything that’s not necessary. Hence, designing for mobile first helps you simplify the experience by including only what’s really important. 

Conclusion: Mobile-first is the future 

As smarter and even smarter mobile devices are launched each year, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more than 80% of searches done on smartphones. If the complete mobile search is the future, then going mobile-first now will put you ahead of your competition as they scuttle to jump on the bandwagon then. 

How to Promote your Startup on Social Media

Introduction 

Starting a business is a big accomplishment, but it’s just the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey. To succeed, you need to make sure people know about your product or service. Social media is one of the most powerful tools you can use to get the word out. In this blog, we’re going to show you how to promote your startup on social media and get more customers, without breaking the bank.

Now, before we dive into the nitty-gritty of social media promotion, let’s take a moment to appreciate the irony of it all. Just a few years ago, social media was just a place where people posted pictures of their food and checked in at the airport. Now, it’s a key player in the world of marketing and business. Who knew?

So whether you’re a seasoned social media pro, or you’re just starting out, keep reading. We’ve got all the tips and tricks you need to turn your startup into a social media superstar. You don’t need to spend a fortune on advertising, you just need to know how to play the game. And we’re here to show you how.

Choose the Right Social Media Platforms

Choosing the right social media platforms to promote your startup is crucial to your success. You wouldn’t wear a tuxedo to a pool party, and you wouldn’t want to promote your startup on the wrong social media platforms. So, how do you choose the right ones? The first step is to identify your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your product or service? Once you know that, you can research which social media platforms your target audience is most active on.

Now, you might be thinking, “But I want to be on every platform, to reach as many people as possible!” And who can blame you? But here’s the thing, it’s better to do a few things well, than to spread yourself too thin and do everything poorly. Choose the platforms where your target audience is most active, and focus your efforts there. Trust us, you’ll see better results in the long run.

And just because you’re focused on a few platforms, doesn’t mean you can’t experiment. Try new things, and see what works. The great thing about social media is that it’s constantly evolving, and there’s always room for innovation. So, choose wisely, and have some fun!

Develop a Strong Social Media Presence

Developing a strong social media presence is crucial for promoting your startup. Your profile is your online business card, so make sure it’s polished and professional. Fill out your profile information completely and accurately, and use the same profile picture and cover photo across all platforms to create a consistent brand image. And while you’re at it, why not have a little fun? Use an online video maker free to create a quirky profile video to show off your personality and give followers a behind-the-scenes look at your startup.

Posting regularly on your social media profiles is key to keeping your followers engaged. But don’t just post for the sake of posting. Make sure your content is high-quality, relevant to your audience, and, most importantly, shareable. Use a mix of text posts, images, videos, and even live videos to keep things interesting. And don’t be afraid to try new things. For example, you can use a video creator to create attention-grabbing videos to share on social media, giving your followers a glimpse into the unique aspects of your startup.

Remember, the goal of social media is to create a strong connection with your followers and build a community around your brand. So, be yourself, have fun, and most importantly, be authentic. Your followers will appreciate the effort, and you’ll be well on your way to building a successful social media presence for your startup.

Utilize Paid Advertising

Utilizing paid advertising on social media is a great way to give your startup a boost. While organic reach on social media can be limited, paid advertising allows you to reach a much wider audience, including people who may not follow you yet. And let’s be real, sometimes you need to put your money where your mouth is if you want to get noticed.

Before you dive into paid advertising, it’s important to set a budget and have a clear idea of who your target audience is and what you want to achieve. This will help you create more effective ad campaigns and ensure you get the most bang for your buck. And the great thing is, you don’t need to break the bank to run successful ad campaigns.

So, don’t be afraid to invest in paid advertising on social media. It’s a cost-effective way to reach a wider audience and promote your startup in a big way. Just remember to set a budget, know your target audience, and have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. And most importantly, have fun! You never know what amazing things can happen when you put your money where your mouth is.

Engage with Your Followers

Engaging with your followers on social media is key to building a strong community around your startup. And let’s be real, social media is a two-way street. It’s not just about you talking to your followers, it’s also about your followers talking to you. So, make sure you’re listening!

Respond to comments and messages in a timely manner, and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. This will not only show your followers that you value their opinions, but it will also give you valuable insights into what your audience wants and needs. And, who knows, your followers might even have some great ideas for your startup!

But engagement isn’t just about responding to comments and messages. You should also be actively reaching out to your followers, asking questions, and starting conversations. And, most importantly, have fun! Social media is a great way to connect with your audience and build a community around your brand. So, let your personality shine through, and engage with your followers in a way that’s authentic to you. And remember, a little bit of humor never hurts anyone!

Track and Analyze Results

Tracking and analyzing your results on social media is crucial if you want to see what’s working and what’s not. After all, if you don’t know where you stand, how will you know where you’re going? And let’s be real, you don’t want to be stuck in social media purgatory, do you?

Fortunately, most social media platforms have built-in analytics tools that allow you to track your engagement, reach, and conversions. These tools can give you valuable insights into what content resonates with your audience, what times of day are best for posting, and how your ad campaigns are performing.

So, make sure you’re regularly checking your analytics and adjusting your strategy accordingly. And, most importantly, don’t forget to have fun! Tracking and analyzing your results can be a great way to see the progress you’re making and celebrate your successes. So, grab a glass of champagne and let the data do the talking!

Conclusion

In conclusion, promoting your startup on social media is a great way to reach a wider audience, build a community, and ultimately, grow your business. By choosing the right business promotion catalogue, developing a strong presence, utilizing paid advertising, engaging with your followers, and tracking and analyzing your results, you’ll be well on your way to success.

But remember, promoting your startup on social media is a marathon, not a sprint. So, be consistent, stay true to your brand, and don’t be afraid to experiment. And most importantly, have fun! Social media is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape, and it’s an exciting time to be a part of it. So, embrace the journey, and let’s see where it takes us!

Essential Traits Of A Dependable Logistics Partner

Supply chain and logistics are perhaps the trickiest parts of business operations because they ensure proper product quality and timely reach to the market. Most American companies struggle to keep these operations in place, but finding a reliable logistics partner can resolve the challenge. But choosing the one you can depend on requires a good understanding and analysis because your business depends on it. While there is no proven checklist to assess a supply chain company, you can look for a few qualities that make them better than others. Let us highlight the essential traits of a dependable logistics partner.  

Visibility and tracking 

Last-mile deliveries can be stressful for a business owner. After all, the thought of leaving your precious cargo with truck drivers is daunting. But a logistics service that offers real-time visibility and tracking for their fleet is worth trusting. Measures like GPS-tracked freight cut down the suspense about deliveries. You need not worry about packages turning up late or suspiciously going missing because your provider lets you track them on the go. 

Customized delivery options 

Another trait to look for in a logistics company is customized delivery options according to the nature and sensitivity of your products. You cannot expect to send high-value or time-sensitive products like wine and medicines in a traditional vehicle designed to carry bulk volumes. A dependable provider provides a variety of vehicles to ensure the apt one for your needs. You can rely on them to protect your inventory, no matter how valuable or sensitive it is.  

Responsive shipping adjustments 

The business landscape is dynamic, and organizations must scale and evolve to keep pace with competitors and trends. You need a logistics partner that supports your growth with responsive shipping adjustments. Fortunately, you can find them across the country, provided you know what to look for. New Jersey businesses should evaluate New Jersey logistics companies to find one that incorporates alternative transit options such as air and rail freight into their services. Knowing that you have a provider you can rely on makes scaling effortless. 

On-time availability 

On-time availability is another factor that sets a shipping and supply chain partner apart from the rest. You may need last-mile bookings more than once as urgent orders and deliveries come into the picture for all businesses. Ensure that the provider can arrange last-minute services on short notice. Moreover, they should not charge exorbitantly for quick service. Missing out is not a choice because you may lose revenues and customers in the long run. 

Track record and customer reviews 

You cannot overlook the track record and customer reviews of a logistics company because they give a fair idea of what you can expect from them. Collaborating with a provider that goes the extra mile with customer satisfaction is always a plus. You can check testimonials and ask for recommendations to decide whether they are worth depending on. Also, ensure good customer support as a part of the service. 

The right supply chain partner can set up your business for long-term growth, so you must not compromise on this front. Look for these traits to find a company you can trust.

4 types of business insurance you need as a startup entrepreneur

As a startup entrepreneur, there’s every reason to protect your business against uncertainties. From property damage to car accidents, a disaster can hit anytime, and the only way to prevent heavy financial losses is by buying business insurance. 

Many business insurance policies exist. However, as a startup in Edmonton, there are four vital ones you need to have: 

  1. General liability insurance 
  1. Business income insurance 
  1. Vehicle insurance 
  1. Home-based business insurance 

We discuss them below: 

  1. General liability insurance

General liability insurance covers a wide range of claims against your company, including personal injury, bodily injury, property damage, and product defects. It’s a broad coverage for general business risks. 

Every business in Edmonton should have some form of general liability insurance as there’s a good chance of running into one of the myriads of liabilities it covers. Since the policy will vary depending on your business features and the tendency for liability, you should ideally get in touch with an Edmonton Insurance Broker. They can help find the most affordable liability policy that at least matches your business needs. 

  1. Vehicle insurance

If your company has a fleet, those vehicles need to be insured to protect your business against liability in the event of an auto crash. At the very least, businesses should insure against third-party injuries during a car accident. In that case, your business won’t have to pay for the injured party’s medical bills and losses from your company account. Notwithstanding, comprehensive auto insurance will also cover damages to the company vehicle. 

Granted, employees who use their own cars will be covered by their personal insurance during an accident. But the stakes are different if they’re delivering goods or services for your business when the accident occurs. 

  1. Business income insurance

Suppose a natural disaster occurs, destroying a commercial property, the company and its employees would be unable to work and make an income. 

Business income insurance covers loss of income suffered when there’s damage to the commercial property, leading to suspension of business operations. With the insurance payout, you and your employees may be able to weather the storm. Business income insurance is also known as business interruption insurance. 

  1. Home-based business insurance

If you operate a home-based business, note that your homeowners insurance provides very limited coverage, and that’s if it provides at all. Some homeowners insurance policies do not cover business property or equipment stored in the home. 

So if you work from home with valuable office equipment, it’s wise to purchase more comprehensive coverage through a homeowners policy endorsement or an in-home business policy. Otherwise, ask your home insurer to cover your equipment and inventory at an added cost to you. An insurance broker can also help you navigate the options and determine what’s best for you. 

Final thoughts 

Other business insurance policies are available, including Business owner’s policy, Professional liability insurance, and Product liability insurance. But as a startup or SMB, having the four major insurance policies discussed above are enough to get you up and running with peace of mind. Of course, nothing stops you from buying more coverage as your unique business requires. No two businesses are the same. Better still, talk to an experienced insurance broker to know the options best suited for you. 

Eric Wong: Making Healthcare Accessible for Everyone

Meet Eric Wong, the Chief Marketing and Partnerships Distribution Officer of Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad (PAMB), a Malaysia-based leading and innovative insurance company, serving the savings, protection, and investment needs of Malaysians by offering a full range of financial solutions through its branches, agency force, and bancassurance distribution partners network across Malaysia.

Prudential’s purpose is to help people to get most out of their lives by making healthcare affordable and accessible, protecting people’s wealth, growing their assets, and empowering them to save for their goals. Founded in 1924, the organization has been around for nearly a century and is looking forward to being around for many more years to provide value for its customers- as a relevant, accessible, and inclusive insurance protection to all Malaysians. Prudential takes pride in itself as the most trusted life partner for health and protection solutions, the two key pillars that help its clients to live confidently.

With Malaysia facing 12% medical inflation, Prudential is actively educating Malaysians on the importance of medical and critical illness protection. In order to help Malaysians navigate through this, Prudential provides the best medical coverage that grows with the customer to ensure they get adequate protection throughout their lives. The organization also rewards its clients who have a claim-free year with a no claim benefit feature.

The Steadfast Leader

Eric completed his graduation from University Malaya with a major in Accounting. He started his career with a global FMCG brand, where he had the opportunity to hold both local and regional senior roles, covering the APAC market. Later in 2011, he moved into banking and started working with one of the world’s premier consumer banks.

Presently, as the Chief Marketing & Partnerships Distribution Officer for Prudential in Malaysia, Eric is responsible for the equity of the Prudential brand, ensuring in-depth understanding of our customers by delivering best in class products and services in various customer segments and driving the bancassurance business in Malaysia, in partnership with UOB and Standard Charted Bank in Malaysia.

A Customer-Centric Organization

“If I had to list my greatest accomplishments in Prudential, it would be how we truly understand our customers and use this insight to design our solutions and services that are centered on their needs,” Eric explained. “This purpose, to help people get the most out of life, also drives our CSR commitment to ensure underserved families and children can achieve financial resilience and peace of mind.”

  • Understanding Customers and Delivering on their Needs: As a forward-thinking company, Prudential knows that technology is the future and launched its AI-powered health and financial well-being app- Pulse by Prudential, in 2019. This app is crucial to Prudential’s multi-channel strategy to make healthcare more accessible and increase financial inclusion. It provides users access to services like health check, online doctor consultation to help them better manage their health needs, and digital wealth tools to make financial decisions simpler.
  • Products and Solutions Designed Around Customer Needs and Interests: Financial protection is not a top priority for most in Malaysia. Young Malaysians between 25-34 are least covered for health emergencies or the death of a partner, as they claim insurance is difficult to understand. This prompted Prudential to find compelling ways that resonate with young Malaysians on the need for financial protection. It eventually led to the launch of Prudential’s first standalone critical illness solution, PRUMy Critical Care, through which the organization wanted to raise the fact that critical illness protection is becoming more prevalent, and starting your journey on CI protection when young is essential. It deep-dived into specific challenges that young Malaysians were facing, their needs and wants from critical illness protection, and ways to articulate the content, which sparked their curiosity to find out more. It eventually prompted Prudential to take a bold step and collaborate with local influencers, who are also cancer survivors, to share their stories light-heartedly. This message instantly captured the young generation’s attention, as they could relate to the influencers, who they view as everyday people just like them.
  • Building Financial Resilience for Underserved Families and Children: Prudential also takes pride in its community investment to help Malaysians Building Financial Resilience for Underserved Families and Children: Prudential also takes pride in its community investment to help Malaysians.

Putting Customers at Heart

Prudential’s solutions and offerings are designed to keep customers’ best interests in mind. It is one of the first insurers to offer protection from 14 gestational weeks to medical solutions with auto increasing annual limit and a critical illness plan that covers mental health.

“We are one of the first insurers who launched a Total Pandemic Protection plan, so customers had enhanced protection during the pandemic. Today, customers will automatically enjoy Total Pandemic Protection when they sign up for any medical plans so they can live confidently during turbulent times,”- Eric said. “We recently launched a comprehensive 5-in-1 protection plan – PRUFirst that is tailored to Gen Zs who seek simple and easy-to-understand solutions. This solution provides Medical, Accident, Life/ Total Permanent Disability (TPD), and Payor benefits to protect Gen Zs against the financial impact of unexpected life events.”

Beyond providing the best-in-class protection plan, Prudential also started its digital transformation journey several years ago. When the pandemic first hit the country, it immediately pivoted its services to digital platforms to stay operational with minimal disruption. This includes facilities like e-claims, e-endorsements, and e-submissions. Additionally, the organization has launched the NextGen Underwriting Engine to perform a real-time risk assessment to shorten the policy application processing time. It constantly engages with its dedicated and committed agents, who are at the forefront as they continuously engage with current and potential customers.

Increasing Awareness

Eric believes although the awareness regarding the importance of insurance is rising, the take-up rate has remained the same for the last five years. As a member of the industry, Prudential will play an active role in educating its audience and developing more solutions and offerings in line with the market needs to protect more Malaysians.

It also intends to empower Malaysians with the knowledge to make informed financial decisions. In order to achieve that, Prudential has made concerted efforts to increase financial literacy through its financial education programs that start with children and are extended to youth and adults from underprivileged communities.

Looking at the Future

“By living our purpose of helping people get the most out of life – we remain steadfast in our commitment to making healthcare affordable, protecting our customer’s wealth, and growing their assets.”- Eric said.

In the future, Prudential will continue to provide the best health and protection solutions to meet its customers’ changing needs and to offer seamless customer experience through its new digital capabilities.

Redbot Security: Simulating Real-World Attacks Before they Become Real

Based in Denver, Colorado, Redbot Security is a boutique penetration testing firm with a Sr. Level Team of cybersecurity experts. The entire team of Redbot Security is passionate about delivering cost-effective solutions that consider customers’ goals and priorities first. Redbot’s innovative penetration techniques and strong knowledge of evolving security trends allow the company to effectively identify exploitable vulnerabilities in even the most complex systems. Each member of the engineering team has a wide range of system knowledge and skills, which enables the boutique firm to deliver unparalleled service. Redbot’s immensely expert team of engineers has the ability to test applications, IoT, IT networks, and OT networks, helping their clients secure and protect their critical systems and data. Redbot Security serves a wide range of clients, from Utilities to Manufacturing.

The Inception Story

Redbot was founded by developer Brian Stearns, who also created and launched the hospitality’s first connected VRML virtual tours in 1997. It included exclusive partnerships with some of the largest hotel brands. The pioneer product was the industry’s first 3-party virtual display platform, making it onto Travelocity and Expedia and changing how people booked hotels. Throughout his career, Stearns was instrumental in marketing and deploying various structured, aligned campaigns that have increased brand equity for multiple firms. Eventually, in 2016, Stearns recognized that the Penetration Testing Industry had a primarily legacy company-dominated mindset focused on ‘churn-and-burn’- style engagements, while many organizations leveraged inaccessible engineers outside of the U.S. So, in 2018, Stearns launched his own boutique penetration testing firm, Redbot Security.

Solving a Few of the Most Complex Issues

Brian Stearns developed his product and brand from the ground up to solve some of the industry’s most complex issues. Under his leadership, Redbot Security has achieved 200% growth during the last few years. The company has helped several fortune 500 companies and critical infrastructure clients while still servicing and supporting the SMB market.

Stearns is a hands-on entrepreneur who tirelessly works on finetuning the machine and ensuring that customers receive the industry’s best experience. Additionally, he focuses on keeping his team healthy and happy so they can enjoy the dynamic nature of work. A family-first environment is a priority, and the Redbot team continues to exceed expectations.

Now with the promotion of Andrew Bindner as Redbot Security’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), the organization has created industry-leading manual penetration testing. Andrew has developed Redbot Security’s team, helping to define new standards that will drive the next generation of security. He holds over two decades of hands-on security experience leading teams on highly technical engagements for a wide range of commercial and government organizations in IT and OT security, starting from network and web application security to reverse engineering of embedded devices and vehicles.

Andrew is also skilled in developing policies, procedures, and communications plans that have transitioned into new service offerings. He is an active security community leader/member who has developed Redbot Security’s penetration testing methodologies, security policies, attack tools, social engineering tactics, and application and IoT testing guidance.

Keeping Employees at the Forefront

In contrast to the cyber security industry, which struggles to find and retain top cybersecurity experts, Redbot Security has actually grown, creating an internal culture that prioritizes employee health, well being, offering competitive pay, flexible PTO, Full Medical and Auxiliary Benefits on start date, dynamic work, and most importantly, an opportunity to learn from the industry’s top engineers. Considering a very crowded, demanding calendar, Redbot Security’s culture has been designed to mitigate burnout. The organization offers flexible schedules so workers can prioritize their personal lives without worrying about losing their jobs or getting bad reviews when they experience life events, family crises, or health-related concerns.

Arivuvel Ramu: Spearheading Asia’s First Next-Gen Financial Experience Platform

Any conversation about South-East Asia is incomplete without talking about the blue-collar or gig workers. Every year thousands of workers and laborers migrate from countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Srilanka, Philippines to other countries in the Middle East and South- East Asia for a better livelihood. Once getting their job in those countries, these blue-collar workers send a part of their earnings in the form of cash or goods to support their families back home. These transfers are mostly known as migrant remittances, which are multiplying over the past few years, and now represent the largest source of foreign income for several developing countries.

However, it’s tough to estimate the amount of remittance flow each year, as most of them occur in unofficial channels. In most cases, unofficial channels don’t provide real-time funds transfers, and the amount gets settled periodically through a commercial bank. In several poor households, remittance may buy essential goods, healthcare, and education. In wealthier families, remittance may provide capital for starting a business. Sadly, most of these Blue Collar workers are either unserved or underserved by most of the legacy banks, which makes it impossible to improve their standard of living.

So, Arivuvel Ramu, a serial entrepreneur, founded Inypay, a Singapore-based fintech startup, to shake the digital transformation for the financial service industry by providing the best-in-class, API-driven, cost-effective, cloud-native, next-generation financial experience platform, and digital banking as a service platform over a Managed SaaS model.

Micro-lending, domestic payments, e-wallets, remittances, micro insurance, and customized group savings are the primary areas of concentration for Inypay. Presently the fintech startup employs over 30 employees in Singapore, Vietnam, and India and has plans to expand across five countries in South-East Asia.

The Steadfast Leader

Inypay’s CEO and Founder, Arivuvel Ramu, is a veteran industry leader with over two decades of tech industry expertise. He has led digital transformation programs for banks across South-East Asia, the Middle East, and North America. Arivuvel has spearheaded projects with DBS, UOB, Maybank, OCBC, Axis Bank, Citi India, Union Bank, China Bank, Bank Danamon, MAB, and NDB. He is also the mastermind behind Tonik Digital Bank, Philippines’ first neobank. During his time at Tonik, Arivuvel was responsible for concept and implementation, managing both the group and local banking entities and enabling Tonik’s growth to more than a billion USD.

Establishing the Company

Being a serial entrepreneur, Arivuvel recognized that none of the current solutions in the market cater to the needs of blue-collar workers, foreign domestic workers, and micro-SMEs in Southeast Asia.

“Inypay is Asia’s first next-gen financial experience platform (Neobank) which improves the underserved and unserved people in SEA and empowers women and micro SMEs.”

So, he decided to create a financial institution that could help improve the lives of the underserved and unbanked in South East Asia with a next-generation digital platform providing them with hyper-personalized financial experiences and digital-only products & services, which led to the inception of Inypay in December 2021.

Path Breaking Services

Under Arivuvel’s leadership, Inypay is entirely focused on three segments (Retail Mass affluent and emerging affluent, Blue-collars, and MicroSMEs). For Retail customers, the fintech company provides Digital Onboarding and eKYC automation, Micro Lending, Payments, Micro Insurance, Personalized savings and communal Savings, Cards, Wallets, and Realtime Remittance. For tourists, it provides Wallets and Cards, Seamless remittance/payments services. And for SMEs, Inypay provides Working Capital and Invoice financing services.Inypay’s lending process is driven through its state-of-the-art in-house intent-driven alternate credit scoring to tab the underserved/unserved markets with its unique decision engine algorithms.

Asian Business Environment

Arivuvel believes the Asian market desperately needs a reliable place to save and access their money, quickly send money to a loved one in their home country, get emergency cash in real-time, access reliable insurance and working capital, and invoice financing for Micro SMEs.

Looking at the Future

Inypay is now all set for the Inypay Singapore pilot launch in Q2 2023, Inypay Philippines pilot launch (Rural bank) in Q4 2023, and SME (invoice financing / digital onboarding) in Q2 2024.

“We are targeting to launch a neobank in Dec 2023. It will generate USD 200m revenue by 2026 with an 8m customer base and a USD 2b valuation,”– stated Arivuvel.

 

Signs You Must Invest In TikTok Marketing Strategy

TikTok is fast emerging as a popular social media marketing platform for young brands and established players alike. With millions of active global users, it is definitely a great venue to promote your products and business. But you may have some qualms about joining the bandwagon as it may increase your marketing spending. However, the move can serve immense benefits to your business in the long run, provided you time it well. Here are a few signs you must invest in a video marketing strategy sooner than later. 

Sign #1- Your ideal customer is actually there 

Ideally, a brand marketing plan should focus on the target audience to invest effort at the right places. So you must include TikTok into your social media strategy if your ideal customer is actually there on the platform. Start by researching your audience to identify your buyer persona and the platforms they frequent. It is surely a worthwhile investment if you find an audience match with TikTok. 

Sign #2- Your competitors are there 

Besides the presence of your ideal customers on TikTok, your competitors being there is another sign to consider it an ideal promotional platform. Check their strategies and understand how they are benefitting from their efforts. If your competitors are getting excellent results from TikTok marketing, you are surely missing out. Waiting any longer means they will already have a stronghold by the time you join the platform. 

Sign #3- Your product is the right match 

Another surefire sign to embrace TikTok marketing sooner than later is that the platform is an apt match for your product. Check whether your niche and products have a good selling potential on the platform. You can collaborate with a tiktok advertising agency to design a campaign and unlock the best results from the strategy. A creative campaign can help you reach your buyers, sell your products, and generate brand awareness.  

Sign #4- You feel an authentic connection 

You must absolutely integrate TikTok into your marketing plan if you feel an authentic connection with it. An authentic connection implies suitability for your message and brand. For example, your campaigns should resonate with the target audience to create an emotional rapport. You can even experiment with a small campaign initially to decide if there is a real connection, good enough to go full throttle. 

Sign #5- You can commit for the long haul 

Gauge your commitment level to the new platform before integrating it into your marketing plan. TikTok campaigns require consistent effort, from creating good content to posting regularly and tracking results. You cannot expect to grow your following and build a community unless you are willing to invest the effort for the long haul. Alternatively, you can outsource expertise to run your campaigns and unlock the opportunity for your business. 

TikTok marketing is an excellent addition to brand promotions. However, you may feel apprehensive about diving in as a first-timer. Follow these signs, and join the bandwagon sooner than later if you see one or more of them.

How to train your team to be better at sales?

Building a sales team can be a challenging process, especially if you’re working with freshers or contracting professionals. This can be due to their varied backgrounds or processes. However, it is a sales manager’s responsibility of bringing them together into a cohesive unit to bring the organization more leads and conversions. This may take a while to get around, but building a training process for your sales team can be more fruitful as a continual process rather than a one-time initiation. Investing in the right methodologies to streamline their sales pitch, lead generation, and conversion tactics can make all the difference in becoming the best business in town. If you want to know the five elements of good sales team training, read below to know all about it. 

  1. Make their training customized and simplified: One of the biggest contributors to sales professional attrition rates is the organization’s complex training. The line of sales is extremely competitive and full of aggressive poachers who would be happy to take away your talent if you don’t offer them good training. As a salesperson, honing their professional skills is one of the primary drivers of their work apart from commissions. Create a streamlined and simplified training process for all your teams. This should focus on building their individual strengths while building unity among the members to close deals as quickly as possible.
  2. Hold regular mock sales pitches: Having professionally drafted pitches for multiple situations that the sales executives can use to walk a lead through the sales funnel can help heaps! Imagine having the right words for every kind of customer and being prepared for multiple questions and curveballs. This puts the sales executives in a position of control to handle stressful and easy conversions alike. 
  3. Help them with modern tools: There are several technological advancements in the world of sales, such as a sales enablement tool. But what is sales enablement? This refers to a process that uses certain tools to improve the efficiency of your sales team. It also reduces the burden of redundant processes, report-making, and KPI tracking, as all these processes are automated. Try a sales enablement agency to help your team perform better. 
  4. Research customer pain points: If your team understands the gap between the customer’s needs and the market products, they will be able to make the perfect sales. Help them research and understand customer pain points to augment their pitch and strategy to develop a plan that captivates the ideal client in the least amount of time. 
  5. Make them work the field: No matter how advanced we become, nothing can beat the good-old method of getting your hands dirty in the field. Assigning your team some groundwork will help them see the reality of the situation than just across the screen. Hold regular field visits for them to see what the product does so they know what they’re selling and to who. 

Wrapping Up: 

The formation and refinement of a sales team can look like a beautiful transformation of individuals bonding together as a unit. Both individually and as a team, your members can be formidable professionals capable of bringing great business to you- when trained right. We hope this blog encourages you to tighten your buckles and get to work! 

Dr. Aspi N. Patel: A Steadfast Leader Pioneering Innovation

Dr. Aspi N. Patel is an accomplished leader with over three decades of international experience leading various technical, manufacturing, and tech marketing functions in the global textile, chemical, and flooring markets, building products, filtration, and aerospace industries. He has held leadership positions in organizations like GE, DuPont, and Invista and is the present CTO of Aditya Birla Group Mumbai. During his three-decade-long career, Dr. Patel has demonstrated his ability to lead and mentor cross-functional teams with the responsibility of research, development, and commercialization of new products, processes, operations, quality, and customer technical services.

He has developed a reputation for excellence while dealing with various stakeholders thanks to his ability to lead and mentor international cross-functional teams with responsibility for technological development and commercialization of new products, processes, engineering, and manufacturing. Dr. Patel is proficient in developing technology, vision, and strategy, recognizing emerging industry trends, and identifying competitive threats and acquisition opportunities.

Dr. Patel has received several awards and accolades during his long and illustrious career. In 2015, he received the Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Leader; most recently, in 2019, he received the prestigious Aditya Birla Group’s Leader of Leaders Award for his immense contributions to shaping the organization’s technology strategies and for the lasting impact of his leadership.

The Leading Textile Manufacturer

Grasim Industries Limited, a flagship company of the global conglomerate Aditya Birla Group, ranks amongst the top publicly listed companies in India. Established in 1947, Grasim started its journey as a textile manufacturer in India. Now, it has evolved into a leading diversified player with a presence across several sectors. It is a leading global producer of Viscose Stape Fibre and Viscose Filament Yarn, the largest Chlor-Alkali, Epoxy, Linen Yarn, and Fabrics in India.

Recently a team of fiber experts at Birla Cellulose, a unit of Grasim Industries Limited and Australia-based leading research and development company, Nanollose, has filed a joint patent application for a high-tenacity lyocell fiber made from bacterial cellulose.

The patent application, titled ‘High Tenacity Lyocell Fibres From Bacterial Cellulose and Method of Preparation,’ represents a significant advancement over Nanollose’s previous viscose versions of nullarbor™ and nufolium™.

It is potentially a path-breaking innovation that can replace some of the current MMCF feedstock with microbial biomass developed from food and agricultural waste. Birla Cellulose filed a joint patent with Nanollose, where we successfully converted microbial biomass to a high-tenacity lyocell fiber. We are now exploring pathways to scale up this technology from food and agriwaste streams,“- said Dr. Patel.

Pioneering Environmental Control Technologies

Birla Cellulose’s approach involves the development of innovative solutions to increase circularity, resource efficiency and minimize environmental footprint. For example, Birla Cellulose’s work on chemical recovery from waste streams has led to the development of a new membrane distillation process that can use up to 50% less energy than the existing process, which has a significant impact on lowering GHG emissions. There is also a new process in development for recovering low-concentration zinc from waste streams and recycling it back into the process. Over the past few years, the organization’s intense focus on recycling has reduced chemical consumption by an annualized rate of 5% to 7%.

Birla Cellulose is the first manmade cellulosic fiber (MMCF) producer to have achieved Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) in the viscose and lyocell process. Although MMCF manufacturing is water-intensive, Birla Cellulose has become a global leader regarding the lowest water consumption per ton of cellulosic fiber. At one of its plants, Birla Cellulose recently completed a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) project that essentially eliminated all liquid discharge. This is an entirely new development, as no existing ZLD technology was available to treat viscose and lyocell effluent along with high organic and inorganic content, dissolved solids, and hardness. Birla Cellulose has also developed and commercialized the process in a way that the salts extracted from ZLD are of sufficient purity for reuse in industrial applications.

Building a Sustainable World

Grasim and Birla Cellulose’s business strategy and organizational culture are both fundamentally based on sustainability. They have a long-term commitment to building a sustainable business that is in line with their sustainability model, which is based on identifying risks and opportunities, mitigating risks, inclusive growth of all their stakeholders, building transparency in the process, and public disclosure of commitments.

Future Aspirations

As a global conglomerate, Aditya Birla Group is governed by a robust set of unifying values with a vision of creating value for all stakeholders. The organization seeks to be a leader in the industries it serves, with a focus on the following;

  • Excellence in Quality
  • Sustainability across the value chain – Implementing measures to continuously improve consumption ratios, reduce water usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Customer centricity- Understanding customer expectations and obligations to convert them into meaningful long-term partnerships for shared benefits and goals.
  • Responsible governance- Creating sustainable employment, stimulating economic growth, and creating positive value for all our stakeholders, including investors, customers, employees, surrounding communities, and society at large.

“In today’s globally connected world, new ideas and innovations come from all corners of the world at a continually accelerating pace. Scientists and engineers need to be open and flexible in absorbing new knowledge and learning to apply it in different ways to develop new products and more efficient processes. I believe in Edison’s motto of not inventing or developing things that won’t sell since “sale is proof of utility and utility is a success,”– said Dr. Patel.

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