Nigerian tech start-ups inspire revolution, innovation in business

Technology start-ups in Nigeria are inspiring innovation and revolution, while driving a re-think in the way business is done. Experts believe that those in business that refuse to change may either hit a brick wall or close shop in next to no time.

Nigerians can now get teachers and students via online.

In Tuteria, for instance, it is possible to  locate teachers close to you as well as students seeking tutors.

A firm known as EduRecords can track the performance of students and teachers, keeping records of students and teachers against loss, damage or alteration.

Few years ago, nobody expected that there would be anything like an e-hailing car service that would enable people to get taxis at the click of a button.

Today, one can, through Drop, which is an app, call taxi drivers at any time for transportation at rates lower than local cab services.

Through Afro, passengers can request rides through their smart phones and get instant response.

They can know their exact fares before their trips and are allowed to haggle the charges within specified limits.

Uber, which is the biggest player in the space, has employed hundreds of Nigerian drivers and even shows that taxi driving is no longer business as usual.

A transport analyst Joe Ijekewe told Start-Up Digest that the sound of the music is gradually changing in the transport sector.

“There will be more innovation in the transport sector that may see those that stick to old habits to quit the scene. You will notice that Uber and other have made so many drivers their employees. This shows you that a lot of innovation is needed in any business we do now,”  Ijekewe said.

The e-payment system is also changing. Through Aella Credit, a employees can borrow money responsibly and instantly. Aella enables Nigerians to have loan approvals without presenting collaterals or paper work. It enables workers to set up small businesses while in paid employment.

Loan seekers apply through the firm’s website and have low-interest loans approved for them without hassles.

Hence micro finance banks and smaller lenders may soon find fewer people on their desks, except they innovate, say Ajayi Oluyinka, a financial expert.

Supermarkets and ‘provision stores’ in Nigeria are increasingly feeling the pinch of the entrance of Shoprites. But they are increasingly being harmed by the entrance o tech start-ups such as Jumia.

Jumia, known as ‘African Amazon’ and owned by the Africa Internet Group, has multimillion-dollar backing from Summit Partners.

It has over 100,000 products, and has had  Innjoo and St. Genevieve brands were exclusively launched on the site.

Delivery Service now uses a physical hardware device installed on the vehicle toi dentify when goods are tampered with or when drivers are taking going beyond their specifications.

The start-ups also calculates the appropriate fare the vehicle should receive as well as the number of passengers on the vehicle.

ODINAKA ANUDU