Title: Microenterprises marketing problems and technology prospective

Authors: Ishraga Khattab

Addresses: Sudan Academy for Banking and Financial Science, Al-gamma Street, Khartoum, 1880, Sudan

Abstract: The role of technology in supporting the poor communities and in conducting business has gained enormous popularity. Microenterprises has a significant role in eliminating poverty and creating new jobs. However these microenterprises are faced with many challenges, the marketing and promotion of their services is an obstacle that restricts their take-off. Besides, customers who are seeking skilled microenterprenuers or certain products struggle to meet their need. Better marketing practice can be delivered for microenterprises through the use of technology. This paper aims to ease the communication between microenterprises the existing and potential customers through a call centre that is expected to orchestrate the interaction between microentrepreneurs and customers which will benefit both parties. Workers at the proposed call centre will be able to create profiles for microentrepreneurs and link them through mobile phones with customers who are seeking skilled microentrepreneurs. This service is expected to help users and decision makers in their strategic planning for microenterprises.

Keywords: information and communications technology; ICT; information technology; microenterprises; marketing; poverty; entrepreneurship; call centres; microentrepreneur profiles; mobile phones; cell phones; strategic planning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2013.052450

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2013 Vol.12 No.3, pp.259 - 270

Published online: 10 May 2013 *

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