The UK-South Africa Tech Hub forms part of the International Tech Hub network delivered by DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport), under the Digital Access Programme – a UK government initiative designed to build inclusive prosperity through capitalising on digital services and opportunities in partner countries, has been hosting a free, four-part virtual training programme that is powered by Loudhailer.
The programme focuses on assisting SA entrepreneurs, mainly women from under-resourced backgrounds, to become sales-ready by the end of 2020 and the programme’s focal point is to skill entrepreneurs in selling their products online.
Workshops were hosted for SA entrepreneurs focusing on a range of topics from, eCommerce and online sales, digital marketing, and showcasing to selling and shipping products online.
In an official press release, Shirley Gilbey, UK-South Africa Tech Hub Director, explained the purpose of the workshops and how it will assist SA businesses and entrepreneurs.
“The workshops are partly in response to COVID-19, which forced businesses to move online. However, for many entrepreneurs, this is an unexplored territory with many lacking the resources to ensure they adapt appropriately. These workshops aim to provide simple and easy-to-implement guidance on how to take their businesses online.”
The workshops
The workshops hosted by UK-South Africa Tech Hub provided participants with a thorough understanding of the sales value chain. This was done with a step-by-step guide on how to correctly list and market products digitally, process payments online, and transport goods to the customer via shipping.
During the first phase of the workshops, business owners were presented with a variety of ways to virtually showcase and sell their products. Options included a website, social media, and online marketplaces.
The second phase of the workshops discussed the benefits of online payments and helped business owners register their businesses and incorporate the payment process into their website.
The third phase focused on the delivery of products especially shipping through online services. The third phase focused on why and how businesses should integrate click and collect solutions into their platform.
During the workshops, experts in the related fields shared their expertise and experience with the attendees. Specialists included Ché Köhler the Co-Founder at Nichemarket, which is a free business-to-consumer (B2C) social marketplace and matchmaking platform, Shay Doran and Shabnam Osman of Yoco, which is an African technology company that develops tools and services to ensure small businesses get paid, run their business better, and grow, and Lars Veul, the Co-Founder and Director at Pargo, a smart logistics platform that makes delivery more accessible, affordable and convenient for Africans via a tech-enabled network of Pargo drop-off and pick-up points.
To ensure the longevity of the workshop, the UK-South Africa Tech Hub will create a playbook to be shared amongst attendees which will reiterate what was discussed in the workshops, allowing entrepreneurs who were unable to attend to have access to the information shared.
