Engr. Roberta Edu, tech enthusiast and founder of Moppet Baby Formula, a leading indigenous baby food company, has spoken on the importance of digitization in modern business practices. In a recent discussion, Edu highlighted how even small neighborhood businesses can benefit from integrating digital tools, emphasizing that digitization is not only for large enterprises or those targeting global markets.
Edu shared an inspiring example of a woman in her neighborhood who sold high-quality stockfish, pepper, egusi, and other foodstuffs part-time. The seller, a young mother balancing her career and family life, initially struggled with theft by sales assistants and eventually had to stop using them, managing the shop herself whenever possible. However, this approach severely limited her operating hours, leaving her customers waiting and her business stagnant.
“One day, while we were out for an early morning walk, she told me she had to stop the business because she couldn’t find trustworthy help and her schedule didn’t allow her time to manage it. I laughed and asked her, ‘Why not digitize it?’” Edu recalled.
Initially, the businesswoman dismissed the idea, believing that digitization was only relevant for larger, more complex businesses. However, Edu offered a simple and cost-effective solution that didn’t require a website or expensive infrastructure – just optimizing her business through WhatsApp for Business, aided by AI tools.
Edu set up an automated system where the seller’s customers could view a list of products, complete with images, through WhatsApp. Payments could be made via bank transfers or linked to Paystack for card payments. Delivery details were added, and once orders were placed, customers received confirmation and could pick up their goods from a neighboring shop where the packages had been sealed and prepared for collection.
With this system, the shop operated more efficiently without requiring full-time supervision. The business owner could manage orders, track inventory, and ensure deliveries without having to be physically present, allowing her to balance her business and personal life.
Now, the once-struggling businesswoman is seeing a surge in orders and is considering hiring a sales assistant to manage deliveries and customer pick-ups.
Edu concluded, “Stop doing business like it’s 1970. Innovate or give excuses. Digitization is real, and it’s here to stay.”
Her success story demonstrates that even the simplest digital tools can revolutionize small, local businesses, enabling growth and sustainability without compromising on personal time. Edu’s approach is a powerful reminder that digitization is not limited to the global market; it can transform even neighborhood-based enterprises.
Anthony Emeka Nwosu
