ICT FOR SMEs Improving Productivity Application of ICT

ICT FOR SMEs Improving Productivity Application of ICT in Marketing Presented by : Hebron Mwakalinga Business Information Services December 13, 2005

Objective n n n Raise awareness on how ICT can be applied in marketing To increase understanding of opportunities brought about by ICTs To share strategies on effective use of ICTs

ICT for Marketing n n n Client/customer management Promotion of business image Client Prospecting and Management (Internet) Inventory and sales management u The case of MTOs for many things

……ICT for Marketing n n n Pricing strategy Market Analysis Inventory and sales management

Client Management n n n References for contact information (Detailed) Client profiles for analysis Alert for prompt follow up and delivery of services

Promotion of business image n In-house designed and printed promotional materials letterheads, u flyers, brochures, u catalogues, business cards, etc. u n Electronic catalogues

Prospecting for Clients n Internet search and communication u Querying u Expression on interest u Business Communication

Inventory Management n n Instant inventory level esp. if MTO* is common practice Breakdown of orders u By n type, size, etc. Important for business dealing in assorted goods *Manufacture to order

Pricing n Analysis for pricing u n Especially if cost-plus Comparing with competition Similar products u Close substitute u

Market Analysis n n Collecting client data Processing of client data based on segmentation by many variables Location attributes, climate, infrastructure, etc. u Personal attributes, age, sex, income, behavior u n Understanding competition by processing competitors data

ICT Tools n MS Office Database for contacts u Database for inventory u E-mail – Outlook Express u n Most Accounting software have client Management Features u n Location, contact information, automatic dialer, etc. A number of Open Source Applications

Case n Client Management in MS Access

Conclusions n n n There a number of tools found in a basic computer that if put into use can help very much The Internet has enormous free software we can tap We need to walk on two legs