As a business owner for Naija, you sabi say things dey happen. Sometimes e dey like say anything fit burst your market. Maybe light go comot for days, fuel scarcity come dey vex everybody, or even government policy change quick quick. All these wahala fit make your business take brake.
Why Your Business Need To Stand Strong
Many small and medium businesses (SMEs) for Nigeria no dey plan well for these kind wahala. Them dey operate like say nothing fit happen. But when trouble start, dem no fit manage am well. This na why business continuity planning important. E no be just about recovering when something bad don happen; e be about making sure your business fit continue to run, even when unexpected things come.
Understanding Continuity Planning for Naija Reality
For countries wey infrastructure dey steady, continuity planning dey focus on big disasters like earthquake or flood. But for Nigeria, continuity planning na about planning for everyday problems wey dey happen. This one include power outages wey dey common, fuel scarcity wey fit appear anytime, staff wey fit no fit come work because of traffic or flooding, and even vendors wey fit no deliver goods on time. Small business owners sabi say dem fit improvise when problem dey, but businesses wey get proper continuity plan go fit respond well. Them go fit continue to serve customers, protect their money, and show say dem serious.
How To Build Continuity Plan Wey Go Work
Building business resilience no be rocket science, but e need serious thinking and planning. Here some steps wey you fit take:
Step 1: Know Your Business Inside Out
First, you need to understand which parts of your business na very important. Which services or products you dey offer wey your customers no fit do without? If one of these things stop today, how long you think your business fit survive? This na called Business Impact Analysis (BIA). E no need to be too complex. Just list your key products, services, staff, and processes. Then ask yourself: if this thing stop, how long I fit stand?
Step 2: Prepare For Wetin Fit Happen
For Nigeria, you sabi say power no dey steady. So, e good make you get alternative power supply. This fit be generator wey dey working well, or even solar power if you fit manage am. Also, for internet, e good make you get more than one provider. If one no dey work, the other one go save you. For transport, make sure you get relationships with different logistics companies, no dey rely on only one.
Step 3: Diversify Your Money and Your Hustle
No put all your eggs for one basket. If your business dey rely on only one product or one customer, e dey risky. Try to offer different products or services. Or find new customers. Make sure you sabi how to receive money from different ways – cash, bank transfer, USSD, maybe even payment links. This go help you if one payment method no dey work well.
Step 4: Make Your Team Ready
Your staff na very important. Make sure dem sabi wetin to do if problem happen. Train them well. If possible, make some staff sabi wetin other staff dey do. This way, if one person no fit come work, another person fit cover am. Also, make sure everybody know who to call and wetin to do when disruption dey happen. Document your processes well so e no depend on only one person.
Step 5: Get Your Money Ready
Na common sense say you need money to run your business. But when wahala dey, e more important. Try to save money so that you fit use am for emergency. Aim to have at least enough money to cover your operating expenses for two months. This emergency fund go help you when sales dey low or when you need to pay for unexpected things.
Step 6: Use Technology Wisely
Technology fit help your business a lot. Use cloud services for your data so you fit access am from anywhere. Make sure you dey backup your data regularly. Use communication tools wey go help your team stay connected even if dem no dey the same place. This go help your business keep running smoothly even when things no dey as planned.
Common Mistakes Wey SMEs Make
One big mistake wey many Nigerian SMEs make na to think say continuity planning na for big companies only. Another mistake na to wait until problem don happen before dem start to think. E dey important to start planning now. Also, some businesses dey underprice their products because dem no dey consider the cost of generators, security, and other backup systems wey dem need for Nigeria.
Final Word: Make Your Business Chop Life!
Running a business for Nigeria na real hustle, but e dey possible to build a business wey fit stand strong. By planning well for disruptions, diversifying your operations, and taking care of your staff and finances, you fit make sure say your business no go just survive, but dey thrive. Make your business dey ready for anything, so e fit continue to chop life!
