Bangladesh, a country known for its bustling economy and rapid growth, has been emerging as a hub for young, innovative minds keen to offer cutting-edge solutions to businesses around the world. Utilising their skills and passion, youths are eager to create a mark in the global arena, innovating technology and web-based solutions that transform the way businesses operate.
A key avenue where young Bangladeshi tech consultants are making a pivotal impact is the development of web-based solutions for companies spanning across industries and varying in size. While many businesses may not yet recognise the importance of having an organised digital presence with a functional and user-friendly website, it is clear that a well-designed website is integral to the modern business ecosystem. High-quality websites not only highlight the brand identity of businesses in terms of mission, vision, and product offerings but also serve as an interface enabling seamless consumer interaction, which is crucial in driving sales and revenue. On this onset, let us delve into how the web team of SELISE Digital Platforms, comprising passionate youngsters with complementary skills, caters to international and local business problems with customised tech solutions.
"Organisations opting for web-based solutions have increased brand visibility and a competitive advantage over others who don't have upgraded websites," says Anika Tasnim, the head of SELISE Web. As technology consultants, they rigorously perform needs analysis, consider industry-specific variables, and develop over-arching methodologies keeping the end goal in mind before designing solutions. "When businesses consult us wanting to use web tools to optimise their digital presence, we analyse client needs and explore their key problems. We address their pain points effectively by building solutions that work best for them considering their requirements," she elaborates.
As Bangladesh is undergoing a digital transformation, local enterprises are propelled to automate their processes, monitor performance, and foster growth by utilising technology and web-based tools. However, many businesses in Bangladesh continue to operate with outdated and rudimentary websites. This not only fails to impress potential consumers but often results in negative first impressions that are difficult to overcome.
What exactly are the roadblocks encountered by companies on their way to adopting web-based solutions? "A major barrier is the mindset of business owners, who may not fully understand the benefits of web-based solutions. Another barrier is the cost associated with implementing/maintaining web-based solutions, especially for small businesses with limited funds" explains Asif Mojtoba Kabir, a business analyst at SELISE Web. "Whether mindset or money is a bigger barrier depends on the specific business and its circumstances. Some may be focused on cost and see technology as a luxury, while others may recognise the potential benefits but struggle to alter their culture to fully embrace it," he states.
Plagued with slow loading time, poor searchability, and inadequate content, arcane websites are largely difficult to navigate for end users. At times, the lack of adequate filtering-and-sorting options makes it tough to find the needed information on the website. These factors lead to companies missing out on the enormous potential that high-quality websites can bring for their business goals.
Fortunately, there are accessible and cost-effective solutions to these issues, and the motivated team at SELISE Web is at the forefront of offering such solutions to address these very pain points for businesses globally. "A growing e-commerce business, reached out to our team to help them create a new website that could handle their increasing volume of online sales. We conducted extensive research on the client's business, industry, and target audience and then worked closely with the client to identify their specific requirements," says Anika Tasnim.
Having sorted the requirement list, the team created a detailed project plan that included timelines, milestones, and deliverables, as well as roles and responsibilities for team members. "Using user-centred design approaches, we developed a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate custom website design. We also integrated new features, such as a personalised product recommendation engine and a streamlined checkout process, to improve the customer experience," Anika Tasnim describes. Owing to the team's hard work, the new website saw a significant increase in online sales and revenue. The personalised product recommendation engine led to a 25 per cent increase in average order value, and the streamlined checkout process led to a 15 per cent increase in conversion rates. The website was also well-received by customers, who appreciated the improved user experience.
The team's problem-solving abilities are currently being utilised to address the requirements of diverse industries globally. Recently, they revitalised the website of a Swiss company that specialises in creating off-the-shelf 3D content for creative industries that require 3D environments for work. The client wanted to cater to the needs of industries including advertisement, simulation, video gaming, and visual effects. "We developed a seamless system for managing product information, allowing for easy updates and maintenance from the backend," says Asif Mojtoba Kabir. "Our focus on streamlining user access management, developing a user-friendly front-end, and an SEO-friendly URL structure led the client to boost their 3D content creation ventures and reach new heights," he explains.
As more youngsters work as part of such agile teams, they acquire technical mastery as well as experience a learning curve in developing, tracking, and managing timelines, resources, and budgets effectively. "Aside from hard skills and project management expertise, teams building technical solutions should also possess soft skills such as collaboration, attention to detail, and agile thinking," says Farhan Ishmam Sikder, product manager at SELISE Web. Innovation and solution development can be dynamic and unpredictable, so team members should have the mindset to adapt to changing circumstances and pivot when necessary while leveraging each other's strengths to implement solutions. "Again, to attract and retain young talents, tech companies in Bangladesh must actively build a growth-oriented, diversity-friendly, and positive culture," he emphasises. Giving youths the platform to generate positive impacts while normalising amenities such as work from home, training and skill development programmes, and flexible working hours would help tech organisations attract employees. Promoting an inclusive work environment and recognising employee contribution are also crucial in this regard.
It is no longer a dream that Bangladeshi youths, only in their early to mid-twenties, have achieved the expertise to design, dictate, and deploy premium web-based solutions for global businesses. If more tech enthusiasts join the industry and strengthen it, it is only a matter of time that Bangladeshi companies would develop a culture of adopting leading-edge solutions to improve their processes.
The writer has completed BBA from Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka.
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