06 Sep 2020

Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME)  should be empowered on the use of information communication technology (ICT), Leverage Point managing director, Mr Kenneth Setimela has said. 

Consequently, Mr Setimela said Leverage Point had rolled out a BusinessPoint software to address some challenges facing SMMEs in relation to use of new media.

Addressing the media in Gaborone on September 5, Mr Setimela said SMMEs were key to job creation and economic diversification.

However, despite its positive impact to the economy and livelihoods, the sector was faced with challenges, crippling activities under its fold. 

He said most of the businesses were still attached to the traditional way of doing business. 

“Some are still stuck with the use of manual record keeping system, which makes it difficult to properly track business activities,” said Mr Setimela.

He also said the COVID-19 pandemic was a wakeup call and showed need to use ICT.  

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause uncertainties, there is a need for sectors to adopt a culture that allows digital transformation,” he said.

Therefore, Mr Setimela said it was imperative to come up with innovative ways that would address some challenges facing SMMEs. He said use of the BusinessPoint software would enable SMME to digitally transform and conduct businesses in an advanced manner.

He said players in the SMME sector would have the pulse to track and know of activities taking place at their business even during their absence using smart phones. 

Mr Setimela noted that some SMMEs might be challenged to make use of the BusinessPoint Ssoftware due to constrained budgets.

As such, he said, SMMEs were accorded an opportunity to use the software as a rental service product and allowed to pay charges ranging from P200 to P400 depending on the chosen package. 

He further said the software intended to cover all SMMEs in different sectors across the country.

Furthermore, Mr Setimela expressed gratitude to government for making efforts to raise digital transformation awareness. 

He said activities in the digital world were centred on the use of improved ICT skills. 

He also acknowledged measures being undertaken in readiness of the country towards digital migration. Ends