Tech firm unveils SMS platform to boost MSME growth

Mr Lowell Ufot, Chief Product Officer, Parrotica, has urged Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to leverage bulk Short Message Service (SMS) platform to drive customers engagement for accelerated business growth.

Ufot said this during the virtual launch of Parrotica, a web-based bulk SMS platform, designed to simplify business communication.

He said that Parrotica, a brain-child of Adela Technologies Nigeria Ltd., aimed to help businesses succeed through cost-effective and seamless connection and engagement with their customers.

Ufot explained that the product helped to simplify communication between business owners and their customers, enabling them to stay connected, informed, and engaged.

He said that the development of the product stemmed from the need to provide a service that addresses the communication challenges businesses face.

According to him, these include inadequate infrastructure, a diverse customer base with varying preferences, and strict regulatory environments.

“Research shows that businesses lose significant revenue due to poor communication. Ineffective communication can cost businesses up to 20 per cent to 25 per cent of their annual revenue.

“Businesses across sectors experience common communication gaps, including delayed responses, inconsistent messaging, and fragmented communication channels.

“These communication gaps can lead to customer dissatisfaction, lost business opportunities, and reduced operational efficiency,” Ufot added.

He listed the benefits of the platform to include increased engagement with target audience

These, he noted, include cost-effective communication solution; time-saving with automation features; and enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty.

“Effective communication leads to improved customer satisfaction, increased sales, and enhanced operational efficiency. It helps businesses build stronger relationships and foster loyalty,” he said.

Ufot stressed the importance of the product, particularly to the growth of MSMEs, saying, “they are the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to gross domestic product (GDP) and employment”.

He said that MSMEs often operate with limited resources, making it challenging to invest in advanced communication technologies.

“Most MSMEs struggle with communication such as a small retail store unable to inform customers about promotions or a local service provider missing out on customer inquiries.

“Out of all the business communication strategies, SMS has been regarded has being effective with high success rate.

“This was why it was important for us to leverage this as it ties strongly with our goal of simplifying communication for businesses,” he said.

According to him, the platform’s interface is easy to navigate for users while its mobile application is expected to come soon.