The role of technology when incorporated into business is very vital. Even more recently, it has been discovered that businesses cannot function effectively or perform optimally in the absence of technological inputs. This is seen in the dependence of businesses on technology, so much that numerous business operations have been digitalised from research and development, production, through to delivery. Almost all businesses and organisations around the world are using computers ranging from the most basic ones to the more complex ones to perform business transactions.
Small- and large-scale businesses depend on technology to meet their dailyneeds and targets ranging from Information Management Systems, which covers a vast range of activities, including employee profile and payroll, client profile,accounting and tracking, points of sale systems, automation systems, marketing, communications, transportation, order and delivery of goods among others.
Similarly, almost every aspect of business is heavily influenced by technology. Without technology, the ease with which these activities are carried out will be eliminated.
Technological input in business is a growing necessity. Technology helps businesses in a number of ways that revolve around doing things faster and easier than they would ordinarily be done. The different businesses, companies and industries in existent rely on technology indifferent ways, and the benefits of technology are numerous and includes improvement on work efficiency, production optimisation, effective marketing, efficient record keeping and tracking, inventory management, improved communication among others.
With this growing dependence and need for technology, businesses that want to maintain that competitive edge are harnessing technological resources for innovation and development. It is on this premise that the Women Economic, Leadership and Technological Initiative has, for four years now, organised the ‘Business meets Technology’ event.
Although WELTI is primarily aimed at women empowerment in general, utilising prospects in technology remains a core part of its agenda. Business meets Technology is aimed at empowering young female business owners on the need to incorporate technology with business activities to ensure business growth, encourage innovation, engender development, boost sales and increase profitability.
WELTI is an organisation dedicated towards channelling the prospects of women for self-development and advancement in different aspects such as business, technology and education. The innovative ‘Business meets Technology’programme is an impressive opportunity to impact the lives of women in business and enlighten them on the significance of technology for business growth. The programme is organised annually and in different states across Nigeria. In the past four years, various partnerships with renowned bodies have been made to ensure that participants fully benefit from the programme. Such partnerships include Microsoft, Bluechip technologies (Paystack), SystemSpecs (Remita), Plateau State government and a host of others.
This year, the event will be holding virtually to ensure participation of a larger group of participants, while also taking cognisance of the Coronavirus Disease. The events for the programme, though virtual, will be as impactful as they had been in the past four years. However, WELTI is partnering with Total E&P Cooperative Nigeria Limited and has lined up several fabulous speakers for the event. The speakers at this year’s event include Vanessa Kisowile from Tanzania and Hadassah Louis from Zambia. The theme of the event is ‘Women and Business Digitalisation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,’ where digitalisation strategies, processes and application will be foregrounded, practised and exemplified on how it has aided business growth and development.
‘Business meets Technology’ is undoubtedly an impactful programme that a number of businesswomen benefitted immensely from. According to the organisers, the goal of the programme is to “improve the wellbeing of women entrepreneurs by increasing their capacity, literacy and adoption of new technology in their daily lives, career and businesses.
“Considering advancement, we believe that women who do not apply technology to their businesses tend to face barriers and so the need for technological resources to aid processes and systems cannot be over-emphasised.”
