President of the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) Michael Lecky has welcomed the initiative by communications and entertainment provider Flow to deliver dedicated, customised, smart ICT solutions to small businesses.

Flow Business recently launched its new business segment that will provide dedicated support as part of a major transformation that will empower small businesses with better connectivity, smart solutions, improved product options and around-the-clock client support.

“This is something that the Small Business Association of Jamaica has longed for,” Lecky told the Jamaica Observer in a response last week. “We would welcome the intervention by Flow and would really love to have a conversation with the company to determine the way forward,” Lecky stated.

According to the president of the SBAJ, who assumed the position last October, digital technology, a digital direction, and digital membership is included among the steps forward that the organisation wishes to take.

“In this regard, Flow would be a good [fit] for our plans,” Lecky stated. “We also want to train some of our members and this would also contribute to that.”

Stephen Price, country manager of Flow Jamaica, stated at the launch, “Flow Business Jamaica is being launched to create an enabling environment for small businesses. We want our hairdressers and barber shops to have the same chance of success as large enterprises. And the only way to achieve that is by providing the right support and tailor-made services to meet their needs,” Price said.

Sharing that the company’s support of this critical group had steadily increased over the years to include an array of solutions, an expansive partner channel, webinars and workshops, Price referenced the rapid digitisation over the past year and its impact on small businesses as a pivotal moment to enhance its support.

“Small businesses are reeling from the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Many are not able to quickly adapt to the changing marketplace, transform their business to digital — including the creation of an online presence — and increase efficiencies to grow.”

“We know that entrepreneurs want the best for their business and sometimes having the best requires them to change the way that they operate. Business transformation isn’t just an initiative for large companies but small businesses too. This allows small businesses to focus on the changes that they need to make to overcome challenges, facilitate financial growth and engage customers,” he continued.

Dwayne Walters, senior manager, SME & Partner Channels, Flow Business Jamaica also highlighted the need for small businesses to transform.

“The novel coronavirus pandemic has produced a leap in digitalisation and for local small businesses and start-ups, in particular, it presents an opportunity for them to retool using tailor-made technologies and to rethink their digital strategies,” said Walters.

“We have seen first-hand a surge in the past months, with regard to the demand for capacity and bandwidth, along with the need for a reliable ICT infrastructure. We introduced these new smart solutions to support this critical sector that is the lifeblood of our economy,” he continued.

Stating that a review of its suite of products led to the simpler, more affordable and tailored ICT solutions being introduced, Walters shared, “We understand the pain points and challenges that these businesses face and so we are excited to provide solutions and services that will increase efficiency in their day-to-day operations.”

According to Price, Flow Business Jamaica is here to help these businesses to transition seamlessly in the digital era with simplicity and affordability by providing the best solutions to supercharge their growth.

The company will also provide 24/7 customer support, new and improved broadband and mobile offerings, as well as free access to collaboration tools including professional e-mail, Microsoft Teams, LinkedIn and WhatsApp.

Additionally, the new smart solutions from Flow Business Jamaica includes bespoke website creation delivered in less than a week with the option to add an online shop, plus a Digital Helpdesk – 24/7 technical and digital assistance beyond products and services to include digital tools, hardware and software. The company will also provide a professional e-mail service, up to 10GB of cloud storage for each account and security features including advanced spam filters.

Once clients are set up with their own website, Flow Business Jamaica can create personalised e-mail campaigns to access up to 10,000 customers, plus additional digital marketing support via Google Ads and search engine optimisation.

Against a backdrop of rising customer expectations, the need to manage health and safety concerns, and working in a time and cost-conscious sector, small business owners can level up their online presence with smart solutions from Flow Business Jamaica.

“As we continue to adapt to the new reality, there’s no doubt that the demand for online engagement will continue to grow. While for some small businesses this pace of change may seem impossible, their very survival depends on it and we are committed to supporting them in realising their full potential,” Walters noted.

“Flow Business Jamaica is meant to empower barber shops and salons, cafes and eateries, community shops, contractors, entrepreneurs and all self-starters to achieve growth. The contribution of these small businesses to our way of life can never be underestimated. It is our goal to help connect potential customers with their brand, lead them to share their positive experiences and upsell and increase their revenue per interaction,” he reiterated.