It is no news that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to job creation and economic growth. In 2020, SMEs accounted for 99.7% of all businesses in Nigeria and employed 80% of the workforce.
In this ever-evolving world of technology, leveraging the right tools can be a game-changer for your small business. The following are five free tools that can help Nigerian SMEs streamline operations, enhance productivity, and drive growth for their business:
Wave Financial:
Wave Financial is a robust accounting and financial management software perfect for Nigerian SMEs looking to keep their finances in check. According to a study by the National Bureau of Statistics, 60% of SMEs in Nigeria do not have access to formal financial services. Wave Financial can help these businesses track their income and expenses, manage their cash flow, and generate financial reports. [Source: National Bureau of Statistics, “Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria: An Analytical Report”, 2021.]
Trello:
Trello is a versatile project management tool that can help business owners organize tasks, collaborate with team members, and monitor project progress. A survey by the Project Management Institute found that 75% of SMEs use project management tools. Trello is a popular choice for SMEs because it is easy to use and affordable. [Source: Project Management Institute, “Pulse of the Profession: 2022 State of Project Management”, 2022.]
Canva:
Let’s face it, for any business to thrive, a strong brand presence is crucial. Are you looking to save money on graphic designs and other content creation, Canva does the job just right!
Canva is a user-friendly graphic design platform that helps businesses create professional-looking visual content without the need for design expertise.
From social media posts to marketing materials, Canva offers customizable templates and an extensive library of images, fonts, and graphics, helping you craft compelling visual assets that resonate with your target audience. According to a study by Adobe, 89% of businesses use visual content for marketing. [Source: Adobe, “The State of Creativity 2022”, 2022.]
Also Read: Financial Hacks For New Entrepreneurs
Zoho CRM:
Customer relationship management (CRM) is vital for SMEs seeking to establish and maintain strong customer connections. Zoho CRM provides a free version that offers contact management, lead tracking, and sales automation features.
With this platform, business owners can manage customer interactions effectively, track sales opportunities, and nurture leads, ultimately driving customer loyalty and revenue growth. A study by Salesforce found that 80% of SMEs use CRM software [Source: Salesforce, “State of the Connected Customer”, 2022.]
Google Workspace:
Formerly known as G Suite, Google Workspace is a suite of productivity tools that can greatly benefit small businesses. It includes Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more.
These tools facilitate seamless collaboration, document sharing, and real-time editing, enabling you to boost team productivity and efficiency.
That’s not all, Google Workspace offers reliable cloud storage, making it easy for businesses to access and back up their important files. According to a study by Google, 62% of SMEs use Google Workspace. [Source: Google, “Google Workspace for SMBs”, 2022.]
The Rosabon App:
Without proper financial management, it will be difficult for small businesses to grow. The Rosabon App is a free, secure, and rewarding financial tool that helps business owners invest and earn mouthwatering interest to channel back into their business.
The Rosabon App has various investment options that business owners can choose from depending on their business needs at every point in time. Fitted with various tools and features to improve your finances, the Rosabon App is your best bet to achieving your business goals seamlessly.
By incorporating these FREE tools into your workflows, you can harness the power of technology to streamline processes, enhance productivity, and drive growth in a cost-effective manner.
