Small Business Vs Technology

(This post is about what a small business can do to use Technology the right way)

Can all small business embrace the power of Technology ?

Well, before answering this question, I guess we all unanimously admit that — All business must embrace the power of technology, as a basic survival instinct.

With that agreement in mind, and taking up the role of a small business owner such as a Pizza restaurant, here is what my current technology adoption is like.

• I have my own website (not sure how many people visit the website though)
• I also list my store with Eat Now, Menulog, Deliveroo and Uber Eats (3rd party channel/ market place).

Is listing under a 3rd party channel a technological advancement for my business Lets see.

It is expected that any technology use in a business should increase the profit — Simple. Listing in the 3rd party channel is sure bringing me new customers, however the commissions that I pay makes me wonder, if its even worth it. Just ask any of your local cafe, restaurant owner and he or she might agree strongly with this.

Like many businesses, I run my business by making great product and exceptional customer service. I use every opportunity to make the customer feel happy. And, if sometimes when things go wrong, I take the full blame (regardless of who caused the error) and look after my customer by offering discounts, free items etc affecting my profits. The reason I do this is to make the customer my regular, loyal customer. Yes, it is hard work to get someone into your community (community — loyal customers who love what you do).

With all my (and my teams) hard work, after making someone a happy customer, I simply have to give them back to the 3rd party channel. Even though my customer orders regularly with me, I have to pay commissions each time from thereon, purely for one simple reason — the convenience of ordering online.

Technology is taking up all my hard work, and charge me for it.

Introducing Zagl — Using Technology the right way.

Zagl is the worlds 1st e-Shopping Mall. For clarity, its not a market place like Menu log or Uber eats where you are listed among many other restaurants.

So, whats the difference between Zagl and other 3rd party channels.

3rd party channels: Customers search by suburb (location) which then lists all the restaurants nearby based on some logic written by the relevant 3rd party channel.

Zagl: Customers search by your store name. Note: No nearby shops or other businesses shown to your customer. See below for an ideal working scenario of a store listed on Zagl (Zagl store a.k.a Zstore).

• Just imagine Zagl as a virtual shopping mall, and that you have set up your store in it.
• Instead of sending your customer who wants to order online to 3rd party channel, you send them to your store located at Zagl.
• All your customer has to do is to download Zagl, and search for your shop. Note: They don’t search by suburb which shows every shop/ restaurants there. They only search by your business name. This is one of the main difference between other channels and Zagl. Here you have your own identity and Zagl wont show other businesses to your customers.
• Once the customer visit your shop in Zagl, your shop remains on their Zagl App home page for future use.
• From thereon, each time they want to order online, they go to your store located at Zagl shopping mall.

More to come on Zagl — stay tuned.