Digitization is need of the hour for SMEs: Bhartesh Chhibbar

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Vaneeta Punchvedi | 25 Mar, 2015
As the world is fast moving towards becoming a global village where information are available digitally and people are connected through digital platforms, it is need of the hour for SMEs to digitize themselves. Consumers today are brand-aware, tech savvy and quality-conscious. They are keen on gathering information, doing research or want a real time solution before they buy a product or service. All the factors create a pressure among SMEs to be innovative and technology-ready, said Bhartesh Chhibbar Founder, HeyBiz in an exclusive interview with SME Times.

Excerpts of the interview...

Please tell us something about Heybiz.co.
Bhartesh Chhibbar : HeyBiz is messaging and engaging mobile application for users and businesses. User can connect, follow, chat and get query answered from nearby businesses or services without sharing mobile number.
On the other hand, business owners have powerful tool to create and maintain mini business profile on their Smartphone. They can update users with latest upcoming sales, promotions ornew service launch in just few clicks. It is an innovative way to do Sales-Marketing-Support (SMS) of business on Smartphone anytime and anywhere.

HeyBiz is FREE mobile application available on Android and IOS platforms.

Will you please tell us how Heybiz.co is useful for SMEs? What kind of response your application is getting from the day it started?
Bhartesh Chhibbar : Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Indian economy. It is the sector that has the maximum number of players. SMEs are always the quickest to adapt to changing scenarios.Over the last five years, India has seen the rapid adoption of digital gadgets and its widespread use. India has 130 million smart phones users along with 350 million Internet users and the numbers are increasing rapidly. Consumers today are keen on gathering information, doing research or want a real time solution before they buy a product or service. Websites of companies, product profiles etc are popular information sources. HeyBiz is providing the Businesses and customers the quick and easy tool through which they can connect with each other in real time and provide or get the quick service or information about the product.
HeyBiz Messenger App(Product of Techlites Solution) is getting very good response from the businesses. We have seen 85% adoption rate of businesses. Along with local businesses we have seen great interested from brands likeApnaGhar,Bonton Holidays, Snap Fitness, The Chocolate Room, Little Millennium, Axis Dental etc and enjoying the benefit of mobile presence and reaching out to customers.

What is the USP of the Heybiz.co?
Bhartesh Chhibbar :HeyBiz is a powerful tool to create and maintain mini business profile on mobile by small and young businesses. SME can publish profile on HeyBiz and user can easily search and get to know about the business with just one click. Owners or staff can do Sales-Marketing-Support (SMS) of business right on mobile. It is a unique platform to build a strong Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

Mobile application for SMEs( Small and Medium Enterprises) when and why you felt the need of it?
Bhartesh Chhibbar :We have noticed that Small Business generally shy away from online marketing due to lack of knowledge or they find it expensive. They don't have any easy way though which they can showcase their business sales, new promotions etc to locals or nationals. HeyBiz has provided cost effective digital presenceand grow their business economically and efficiently over their smartphone. Hey Biz application will surely become a boon in mobile marketing for Small and medium Businesses.

Very few SMEs are technology driven, do you take this as a drawback for SME sector?
Bhartesh Chhibbar :As mentioned earlier, SMEs are the quickest to adapt to changing scenarios and so does accustomed to latest technologies. SMBs are accepting the fact that being a technology driven is very important for their business growth and its productivity. Successful companies that are able to foresee changes in themarketplace and shifts in customer preferences are those who lead the advance of technology and new ventures. The ability to innovate is not necessarily coupled with huge investments and advanced technologies, but is considered more as a mind-set and ability to acquire the changes as opportunity.
As we are moving towards a global village where informations are available digitally and people are connected through digital platform; it is need of the hour for SMEs to digitise themselves.
Consumers today are brand-aware, tech savvy and quality-conscious. All the factors create a pressure among SMEs to be innovative and technology ready.
Eventually HeyBiz aim to take this as an opportunity and help small and medium business to provide the Digital presence.

Do you think SMEs are in undernourished conditions and are not getting what they want and deserve as a second largest employment generator in India?
Bhartesh Chhibbar :SMEs are surely due for their share of success and contribution in Indiaâs economic growth.Lots of factors are still need to be clarified in terms of policies, funds, due credits, technology adaptation etc.
With globalization and digitization, SMEs have been passing through a transitional phase. With growing competition, SMBs are oflate been facing a tough time in handling the outcome. However, those SMEs who had a strong technological base, global business approach, competitive spirit and willingness to adapt have been withstood the current challenges and came out successful to make their own contribution to the Indian economy.
Being a tech startup and tech savvy myself, I believe SMBs stronglyrequire the access to ongoing technology. I also believe rather than waiting for things to be happen and we have to now learn modern trends to get out of this impending scenario. SMEs have to put in more effort on research and development (R&D)& marketing and on ways to use technology at par with the international standards.

What do you think that the government must do for the development and growth of SMEs?
Bhartesh Chhibbar :Recognizing the importance of skill development and entrepreunership in the country, government has first time appointed a dedicated ministry which itself is a first step in developing the sector.With government's Digital India concept, there is no doubt that trends in small businesses in future will be impacted by the change- in -technology process, especially in mobility and e-commerce.
The three aspects of a small and medium business - Sales, Marketing and Service will be dependent and impacted by this. With more of technology induction,further growth of small businesses will surelyboost in India.

Are you happy with the budget allocation for SMEs in this fiscal?
Bhartesh Chhibbar :In 2014-15, India has emerged as the world's fourth largest destination for start-ups as reported in the Economic Survey presented by Finance Ministry as over 3,100 technology startups came up during the period.
The Union Budget has announced a Rs. 1000 crore fund for supporting startups in the country and the government would like to create an environment conducive for the growth and sustenance of startups especially the ones in technology sector.
Itâs been a mixed reaction on an announcement of startup fund in this year's budget. While it's a boon for cash strapped technology companies and individuals but somehow the clarification is still needed on the allocation of the fund.
India is one of the tough countries for doing business due to its archaic and unclear tax laws, unfriendly business environment, number of days it takes to start a business and the giant effort it takes to close a business. Government should focus on streamlining the processes and making life easier for entrepreneurs.
Though the overall budget for SMEs has proven as Business friendly budget but the real challenge would be in terms of implementation of these policies. It is true that in today's scenario the only form of risk capital available for SMEs and startups is in the form of debt from family, friends or self. I highly expect from the government to fill this gap effectively.