With more and more emphasis being laid on the need for Nigerians to startup their own business and end the reliance on importation for many goods, the business of starting businesses is thriving.
However, as most entrepreneurs will attest to, probably the biggest problem of an entrepreneur after seeking capital is finding enough time to do everything that needs to be done. The early stage of startups mean few full-time employees, if any at all, meaning that the burden lies heavily on the entrepreneur.
With the digital age and soaring smartphone penetration in Nigeria have come an influx of apps which can help relieve some of the stress entrepreneurs face. According to Deep Patel, author of A Paperboy’s Fable: The 11 Principles of Success, dubbed the best book for entrepreneurs in 2016 by Entrepreneur Magazine, these 5 apps are the best of the bunch in their respective categories when it comes to assisting entrepreneurs.
Slack (Communicaton)
Price: Free (with options for paid upgrades)
This communication app makes getting in touch with team members a stroll in the park. With options allowing users to create groups with specific members, private chat messaging and cloud based collaboration, Slack makes information instantly available and searchable from anywhere you are. What is more, you can be a member of several teams simultaneously.
Buffer (Social media publishing)
Price: Free (with paid upgrades)
Social media has become a major force for getting businesses out there in the public, with several social media sites easily passing the billion-user mark. For entrepreneurs wondering how to harness the potential all their social media accounts, this app is a must have. It streamlines the process of reaching potential customers by allowing you to schedule content while ensuring that you get the best out of each post. Another appeal is the convenience of posting to the most popular social media sites with just one click. On its small business plan (which is not free), you can include up to 5 team members who can also manage social media content. It currently has over 1 million downloads and a 97% score on Google Play Store
Toggl (Human Resource Management)
Price: Free
Need to track how much time you spend working for a client online? Say no more, Toggl will do it. With its simple layout and flexibility, this app allows you to forget the era of timesheets in a hurry. What is more, its availability in web versions, desktop version and even an Android watch extension means that you can track and keep time wherever you are.
Trello (Project Management)
Price: Free
Simply put, this app allows entrepreneurs to know who, where, what and when their projects are. It organizes projects into boards, lists and cards, allowing the user to easily access the status of projects currently being worked on. With this app, you can also track which projects are time-sensitive and prioritize them. It also allows you to invite others you may be collaborating with and assign them tasks on the project. Its cloud-based format means that you can attach, upload and download project related files on-the-go.
Newton Mail (Email Management)
Price: $15 after a 14-day free trial
The only thing more cluttered than the schedule of most entrepreneurs are their email boxes. Thus, getting the required information from them at times is a hurdle. In comes Newton Mail, which is an email management application is known for its searching capabilities, cross-platform capabilities and user interface. With support for multiple accounts and other services like Evernote, Pocket, Trello, Salesforce and Microsoft OneNote, you can manage everything mail with this app.