The road of failed tech deployments in the informal market.
The informal economy typically consist of small, independent retailers who may not have a formal business structure or access to the same resources as larger organizations. Deploying technology in these environments can be challenging as it often requires a significant shift in the way these retailers operate. For example, introducing point of sale systems, inventory management software, or digital payment systems may require changes to the way retailers track and manage their products and finances.
Technology deployments into the informal retail sectors can be challenging to say the least. We understand as M4Jam the challenge of deploying technology into this parallel economy where there is a blend of:
- youth and elderly,
- local and foreign national;
- geographic, psychographic and cultural nuances
In these environments, deploying technology alone is not sufficient, and organizations need to understand that this economy is built on relationships and connections. A world where technology deployments ignore customer service and connection will unfortunately learn an expensive lesson.
How we have learnt to maximise our adoption of technology at a retailer level in the informal market is by following these steps:
1
Regular engagements
2
On-demand access to online support channels
3
Regular training and engagements
4
On-the-ground technical support service
5
In-depth analytics to identify adoption laggards
This sector is in rapid transition from very traditional practices to more innovative and advanced technologies and it’s through this journey that we need to support and nurture this market if we want any long term loyalty. Change management does come at a cost but returns are realized long term. This can be solved through a internal salesforce or through crowdsource solutions.
Finally, it’s important to recognize that deploying technology in informal retail sectors is not a one-time event but a continuous process. Organizations need to be prepared to adapt and evolve their solutions over time based on feedback from retailers and changes in the market.
In conclusion, deploying technology in informal retail sectors requires a focus on customer service to ensure successful adoption of the technology. This means providing ongoing support to retailers and designing solutions that are tailored to their unique needs. By taking a customer-centric approach, organizations can overcome the challenges of deploying technology in these sectors and unlock new opportunities for long term growth and success.