Expanding finances for businesses across key sectors of the economy, the company also plans to deploy about ₦500 billion over the next 18 months to support growth-ready businesses in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, logistics, and technology.

This was revealed at the 2026 edition of the Zedvance Business Roundtable, where business leaders, entrepreneurs, financiers and experts across the industry gathered to discuss how smarter financing models can strengthen businesses and unlock long-term economic growth.

The event, themed “Unlocking Growth: The Role of Smart Financing in Building Resilient Businesses,” reiterated a belief that access to the right capital, delivered through an accurate understanding of industries and business ecosystems, will be highly indispensable in bolstering Nigeria’s next phase of economic development.

In his welcome address, Adebayo Amzat, group managing director of Zedcrest Group, said the company’s focus on SMEs is rooted in their importance to the economy at large.

“Zedvance is here to do major business in the SME space across every vertical,” he said, adding that financing small businesses is one of the most effective ways to create economic impact because SMEs employ people, support local supply chains and drive activity across multiple sectors.

Amzat explained that Zedvance’s lending model is designed around ecosystems rather than isolated transactions, allowing businesses within different sectors to support overall portfolio stability.

“We don’t like transactions, we like businesses,” he said while encouraging entrepreneurs to maintain proper records, build sustainable value and operate businesses that can show track records over time.

Zedvance is directing capital towards productive sectors where financing can generate huge economic benefits, and the company plans to deploy ₦500 billion over the next 18 months in a bid to strengthen support for businesses that are ready to scale.

Amzat further explained that the objective goes beyond profitability. “Why are we doing all of this? We do not think profit is the only objective, or is the most important objective. We think that our work, first and foremost, is to increase the size of the pie,” he said.

He also highlighted the services within the Zedcrest Group, noting that businesses can access debt financing, private equity, wealth management and investment banking services through the group’s various subsidiaries.

According to him, the goal is to ensure that promising businesses can obtain the capital they need at different stages of growth.

One of the takeaways from the roundtable was that financing alone is not enough. Businesses also need trust-based partnerships, operational discipline and sector expertise.

During the agribusiness and healthcare session, experts examined the challenges businesses face in accessing timely financing and the role strategic partnerships can play in helping companies scale.

The conversation highlighted how responsive financing can strengthen supply chains, improve business confidence and enable companies to seize opportunities when they arise.

Speakers agreed that long-term growth is built on integrity, transparency and relationships that extend beyond individual transactions.

Attention later turned to the energy sector, where discussions focused on the increasing demand for financing solutions that can support renewable energy, electric mobility and decentralised power infrastructure.

Experts noted that access to capital will be critical to driving innovation across the sector, particularly as businesses and households seek reliable and cost-effective energy alternatives.

The session also explored how flexible financing models can reduce limitations to adoption by reducing upfront costs and making clean energy technologies more accessible.

With demand growing continuously, the panel pointed to significant opportunities for investment across the energy value chain, particularly in areas capable of improving productivity and reducing operating expenses for businesses.

Across both sessions, a key takeaway was that businesses thrive when financing is tailored to the specific dynamics of their industries rather than delivered through a one-size-fits-all approach.

From agriculture and healthcare to manufacturing, logistics, energy and technology, speakers stressed the importance of funding solutions that show the unique needs and growth cycles of each sector.

Zedvance is supporting businesses with the capital, expertise and long-term partnerships needed to build resilience and unlock growth through its SME lending scheme. This aligns with the needs of Nigerian businesses facing economic challenges in the sector.

With the right financing and the right partners, growth is still within reach.

Moniepoint’s 2025 Informal Economy Report reveals what most Nigerians already live, small businesses are earning more but gaining less.

Sixty-five percent of Nigeria’s informal businesses across the country reported an increase in revenue over the past year, but only 47% saw a growth in profit. At the same time, 79% said the cost of doing business had increased, driven mainly by higher supplier prices, transport expenses, and the relentless depreciation of the naira.

This contradiction, of higher earnings but shrinking returns, captures the state of the Nigerian economy today.

Growth Without Profits

The country’s informal economy looks alive. The markets are filled with activities, goods are moving daily, artisans are finding work, and service providers are busy, but look deeper, they are all exhausted. 

The report stresses how traders, among others, watch their margins evaporate, unable to keep pace with inflation. “The cost of doing business has increased for 80% of informal businesses in that same period. A goal for us in this report was to establish context like this: helping key stakeholders see and understand the effects of every decision made on informal businesses, and giving them a voice where they’ve previously gone largely unheard,” said Tosin Eniolorunda, founder and group CEO, Moniepoint Inc.

Unsurprisingly, 44% of Nigeria’s informal businesses make less than ₦20,000 daily in revenue, and most make profit of only ₦10,000 to ₦20,000 a day. Business owners skip meals to restock, workers forgo pay to keep their jobs.

And for women-owned businesses, 41% of women earn below ₦10,000 daily, compared to 34% of men. It tells us that Nigeria’s informal economy, while inclusive in appearance, still aligns with the inequalities of the formal one.

Survival Mode Economics

We see an economy built on individuals, isolated, unstructured and overstretched, highly fragmented. Eighty-five percent of informal businesses are sole proprietorships, usually run by one person who handles everything from supply to sales to bookkeeping. Only 40% employ labour, and when they do, it’s typically one to three workers. It’s not that they don’t want to expand, it’s just that they can’t afford to.

Record keeping is also informal. Seventy-five percent of business owners say they track their income and expenses, but 38% disclose they do so mentally, without written or digital records. Most lack a clear view of their cash flow, making them invisible to lenders and policymakers.

That lack of structure limits access to credit, planning, and long-term growth.

Credit access is also deteriorating as 51% of informal business owners have never taken a loan and have no intention to do so, compared to 30% in the last report.

Fear of debt, high interest rates, and lack of collateral keep them shut out of the financial system. Among those who borrow, only 6% have ever secured loans above ₦1 million, with digital lenders and microfinance banks emerging as their most common sources.

The result is a self-sustaining cycle of informality; low records, low credit, low growth.

Inflation and the Cost of Resilience

Inflation has become the most punishing cost of doing business in Nigeria. It’s the invisible tax that eats into every sale, every restock and every saving. 

Dr Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, technical adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, explained:

“With the removal of fuel subsidies and devaluation of the Naira by the monetary authorities, inflation rate increased from 22.41% in May 2023 to a climax of 34.8% by December 2024 according to the data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). In July 2025, inflation rate declined drastically to 21.88%.”

For informal businesses, that drop brings a little comfort. Inflation may have eased statistically, but prices are still suffocating. The report found that while 74% of business owners save money, 69% save less than ₦50,000 monthly, and 42% say their savings cannot last a month if their business income stops.

Even the much-celebrated digital transition has not fully arrived. While many businesses use transfers to restock, most still prefer to receive payments in cash, and only 16% say digital transactions account for more than half of their total revenue. The infrastructure may be modern, but consumer behaviour is still very traditional and survival rarely leaves room for experimentation.

Policy and Structural Limitations

For an economy that contributes around 65% of the nation’s GDP and supports over 80% of jobs, the informal sector is strangely underserved by policy. It sustains Nigeria, but without protection. 

Dr Chinyere Almona, director-general of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted:

“The most pressing challenge, therefore, is misaligned policy frameworks that inadequately balance revenue generation with sectoral resilience, inadvertently driving many players further into informality. What is needed is not merely regulation, but coherent regulatory empathy, a framework that recognises informality as a springboard for innovation, employment, and resilience, rather than a nuisance to be managed.”

Despite recent policy initiatives such as the Nigeria Consumer Credit Corporation (CrediCorp), the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), and small business registration campaigns, the report disclosed that formalisation is still out of reach for most small business owners, expensive, bureaucratic and unrewarding. 

“Although many informal businesses are unfamiliar with the process of registering their business, the assumption is that it is costly and complex. These assumptions make them unlikely to attempt the process,” said Zauro.

It’s not a lack of will, but a lack of trust. 

From Resilience to Reform

If there’s one thread that ties Moniepoint’s findings together, it’s that resilience is not enough. The informal sector needs access, not a round of applause.

In her commentary, Dr. Almona called for a shift in thinking. “Policies must pivot from punitive compliance models to incentive-driven, inclusion-focused strategies to effectively support growth and formalisation.”

That means simplifying registration, improving access to finance, expanding digital infrastructure, and providing targeted support for women entrepreneurs; all areas where private sector players like Moniepoint, SMEDAN, and IFC are already collaborating and this must continue in order to bridge the trust gap between the street and the system. 

Moniepoint’s report measures Nigeria’s informal economy, exposing its weaknesses and the fatigue of millions of businesses. Nigerians are counting coins under candlelight, calculating what can wait till tomorrow. Informal businesses are the backbone of the economy, but they’re carrying too much weight without support.

Until policymakers, financiers, and regulators begin to design for their reality, not their assumptions, Nigeria’s growth will stay uneven. The country’s entrepreneurs are doing their part. It’s time the system met them halfway.

Theiss, who has built his career leading marketing operations in technology and enterprise software, steps into the role with over 20 years of experience.

His mandate at Check Point is to lead global marketing efforts, boost demand generation, and position the company for continued leadership in cybersecurity.

Announcing the appointment, Check Point’s Chief Executive Officer, Nadav Zafrir, said: “Brett’s track record of building global brands and delivering measurable growth makes him an outstanding addition to our leadership team. As organisations navigate the complexities of AI, cloud, and hybrid work, Brett’s leadership will ensure Check Point’s story is told with clarity, impact, and vision.”

Before joining Check Point, Brett Theiss was Chief Marketing Officer at BeyondTrust and Anaplan, where he led innovations that translated into effective business expansion. 

He has also held senior positions at Xactly, Lumen Technologies, and AT&T, building a reputation for aligning marketing with both business outcomes and customer expectations.

In his own words, Theiss noted his commitment to the company’s mission: “Check Point is at the forefront of protecting enterprises against the most advanced cyber threats, with a powerful story to tell. I am thrilled to join this world-class team to further elevate the brand, deepen customer engagement, and help accelerate the company’s next phase of growth.”

Theiss holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Millsaps College and a Master of Law from Texas A&M University. He is recognised in the industry for building high-performing teams and establishing marketing strategies that deliver long-term impact.

Research shows that over 65% of companies are faced with inefficiency, ineffective collaboration and low productivity, among other issues resulting from language barriers. This further leads to poor communication, poor customer satisfaction and loss of business.

For businesses in Africa, where over 2,000 languages are spoken, these barriers are of high disadvantage, even for individuals.

CDIAL.AI, a Nigerian AI startup, is addressing this challenge head-on with the development of AI-powered solutions that break down language barriers and promote multilingualism.

In this Q&A, we speak with Yinka Iyinolakan, the CEO of CDIAL.AI, about the company’s mission, its innovative solutions, and its impact on businesses and individuals across Africa.

TE: Can you tell us about CDIAL.AI?

Yinka: In 2021, we started the company way before ChatGPT became popular, with a focus on addressing language barriers. My background in communications led us to recognize the importance of bridging the language gap. I was doing research and realized that beyond access to devices, many people face challenges with English, affecting education, internet access, and more. 

Leveraging advancements in AI, we embarked on creating systems that support African languages because, with that, we would be able to improve customer service, people’s learning, access to economic opportunities and others. So we started CDIAL.AI, and what it does is that over the past two years, we’ve developed language models and built apps facilitating internet use in various African languages. Our solutions include an app on the Play Store, enterprise solutions for translation and speech recognition, and hardware systems supporting African languages.

TE: Why African languages?

Yinka: Being Nigerian, I’m aware of the rich linguistic diversity in Africa, with over 400 languages in Nigeria alone. If you look at it, the highest-grossing movie in Nigeria is a multilingual movie where they spoke Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa. Even Afro beats and African music doing well across the world, one of the reasons it does so well is that they create a community because most of the songs are spoken in pidgin or an African language. Africans can do so much more if technology is available in their language.

We believe technology should cater to these languages to enhance customer service, learning, and economic opportunities, especially for those who don’t speak English. Based on the results and acceptance that we’ve got, it validates that people do need technology in their mother tongue and the language of their community.

TE: In what ways do you envision CDIAL.AI contributing to bridging the digital divide in Africa, especially in terms of ensuring access to the internet in native languages?

Yinka: There are various types of intonations across Nigerian languages, for instance, Yoruba has “e,” some with dots, and an “a” with additional marks. These unique characters, and even in the Ghanaian language tree, showcase linguistic diversity that many may not have encountered before. Unlike English with 26 alphabets, African languages, such as Igbo, have around 32 to 34 characters. To address this diversity, we developed a keyboard that supports 880 characters, including English and French. So we are not trying to discourage the use of English or French but to emphasize the importance of using one’s language, be it ESA or Duma. Whether it’s for church, personal use, or any other purpose, individuals should have the ability to write and express themselves in their native language. 

However, we acknowledge that not everyone is proficient in writing their language. To bridge this gap, we have created technologies such as the indigenous keyboard. This keyboard supports typing in various African languages and also assists in preserving and promoting these languages.

Moving forward, our focus extends beyond typing. We aim to enable people to speak to their computers or mobile phones using automatic speech recognition, similar to how Siri operates. This includes developing APIs for fintechs and promoting financial inclusion by allowing users to inquire about their balance or conduct transactions in their preferred language.

Currently, our efforts are concentrated on 10 languages, including Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Pidgin Swahili, Tosan, Zulu, Shona, Chokwe, and several other African languages. As we make strides in typing (180 languages) and speech recognition (10 languages), our goal is to expand further, recognizing the linguistic richness of the continent, encompassing at least 30 million speakers for the languages we prioritize. While we cannot cover all 2000 languages, our commitment is to cater to the spoken languages and gradually extend our support to more, contributing to linguistic inclusivity and accessibility.

TE: Other companies like Google are notable for similar solutions; how do you think you are going to compete?

Yinka: Before now, there was Google Translate. Why was it not able to fully help some people use it contextually? It wasn’t a fully efficient solution. Why? Because some things are lost in context. There’s a word in Yoruba “Ogun”. It means almost 10 different things, drugs, property, etc. You know, Google Translate will make mistakes with that. Why? Because our language is gonna show an audience that if you google translate all the languages they were able to work on were no more than 20 African languages. 

The key point is that foreigners won’t develop technology that precisely fits our needs because it may not make economic sense to them, and they may lack the passion and firsthand experiences of our people. This underscores the importance of Nigerian and African startups taking the lead. While platforms like Google Translate may appear supportive, they often lack contextual accuracy.

In our journey, we’ve fine-tuned our technology over the past few years through collaboration with linguists and collective intelligence. This involves gathering people who truly speak the language to ensure contextual correctness. While Google and similar systems may provide 100% translations, captions, and speech recognition, our focus is on contextual accuracy, currently at 85%, with ongoing efforts to enhance it further. Our commitment extends to supporting generative AI, empowering individuals to create content in their local language.

TE: How does CDIAL.AI tailor its AI systems to accommodate linguistic diversity across different regions and communities in Africa?

Yinka: There’s a lot of technology that we’re working on but can’t be put out immediately. As a social enterprise, we are mindful of ethical considerations and what we put in our applications available on Google Playstore. What this accomplishes immediately, and quite seamlessly, similar to utilizing GPT, users can now, with a simple click of a button, translate Yoruba text into English or other languages, including Pidgin.

Our app, CDIAL, also empowers users to generate content. You can request it to write a book, compile a list of questions for an interview like this, or even draft a heartfelt letter for a birthday celebration. However, this is just the starting point of our journey. We aim to expand our reach to accommodate users on various platforms they commonly engage with, such as WhatsApp. Whether you’re conversing in a family group chat or your father playfully teases you about not speaking a particular language, our app allows you to type in English, click a button, and seamlessly translate or input it in the desired language.

In the next quarter, we plan to introduce five additional languages across Africa, continuously incorporating new languages each quarter. This means that whether you are a fluent speaker or just starting to learn a language, our app encourages multilingualism. You can effortlessly switch between languages, including French or English, and translate to any language you can type. This multilingual capability fosters diverse conversations, even when two individuals speak different languages, as they can type in their preferred language and seamlessly translate it into three other languages. Our goal is to facilitate multi-level conversations across the African continent.

TE: Could you elaborate on the impact you hope CDIAL.AI will have on businesses and information accessibility for individuals who speak various African languages?

Yinka: Partnerships with companies are important to us, garnering significant support from the Lagos State government. Collaborating with various government entities aligns with our focus on essential policies, including the current local language policy.

Recognizing challenges in schools where English isn’t prioritized, CDIAL.AI aimS to support multilingual education through our enterprise API. Our focus extends beyond corporate collaboration; we actively engage with schools, notably in Kaduna, Bauchi, and Lagos State Agile Institute. Installing our solutions in these institutions empowers teachers and students to utilize AI for translation and understanding complex subjects in simpler terms, fostering a bridge to education.

We have secured the top position in the Future Perspectives competition hosted by former VP Osinbajo and UNICEF, as well as collaborated with global organizations like Echoing Green and GIZ. Notable businesses, including Nigeria Economic Summit Group, and Stanbic IBTC, have embraced our APIs, showcasing the potential for local language customer service. We aspire to onboard more businesses, ensuring widespread access to information and education in local languages.

TE: What specific challenges have you encountered in promoting digital literacy across Africa languages and how CDIAL.AI addresses these challenges?

Yinka: That’s a good question, and we’ve encountered multiple challenges, primarily a technical one. Creating this kind of technology, specifically within the past two years of embracing GPT and transformers, demanded top-tier global talent. While some talent exists in Nigeria, acquiring them is a considerable struggle.  So we had not only paid a lot of money but did a lot of work in the United States, with ongoing projects aimed at fostering local talent and generating employment opportunities in Nigeria.

Scaling through the tech ecosystem proved challenging, despite claims of openness to innovation. Acceptance for ventures like ours has been an ongoing struggle until we achieved significant milestones. So, I believe that if we were creating a fintech, we would have been better accepted, because people understand, the money model of the house and fintechs will make money. So I’m thankful for the journey because it has been great and there’s been a lot of validation processes. It has helped us become a genuine company.

Finally, is that over the years, we’ve not done a great job with our local languages, there are barely any dictionaries, and there are barely any policies that support them. We’ve met so many people, both in Nigeria and in places like Houston, who are ashamed that the next generation of their family cannot speak a sentence of their local language. But Chinese people do it, Indians do it no matter where they live. So why not carry on? You know, that language, that culture, and many people are hoping that our technology and other technologies can support the next generation to not only learn the language but create content in it and do good stuff.

TE: Are you for investment? Have CDIAL.AI secured some funding already? – What are your sustainability plans?

Yinka: We’ve gotten investments from different sources. We are a social enterprise and our business model is in multiple sectors, we’ve got investments, grants and support from some of our partners. 

Sustainability for us is in two ways — sustainability is being able to create a self-sustaining company and one that can create jobs which is why we don’t run after every time of investment so we can create a sustainable company.

Most importantly, is that some of the languages that we have to digitize are not big enough to be financially sustainable because they are spoken by less than 500,000 or 1 million people. That’s why Google and others have not done it. For us on our side, that’s why we are a social enterprise, to be able to make money off the languages that are sustainable and are large enough for our customers to buy our products, but also to use some proceeds of our profits to support other languages that are spoken by less people across the continent. So it’s not just about making money, and for our investors and shareholders but also being able to support underserved communities. Finally, we are preparing for the next level of our raise in 2024.

TE: Do you think enough is being done to make digital literacy inclusive for all African languages?

Yinka: So little is being done. Less than 10% is being done and it’s two ways — it’s because of colonialism. Some people argue as to why we all need to learn these local languages; how about we just learn English and French and just cut out this problem, with things just simple? But if you look at the conflict that often arises in our community and also the successes, it happens in our local languages. So our diversity is a strength and not a weakness. The only reason we are angry about it is because of a certain inferiority complex or self-hate that makes you feel like you’d rather be a more proficient English speaker than be proficient in your language. But also, because of technologies that have not supported it. Once we can bridge the gap, and we don’t expect that we will do it alone, other competitors will come and once we can the gap of technology accessible in local languages will be able to do more and create more. 

Ultimately, our vision is to enable a billion people on this continent, through this AI system,  and our focus is on three things — education, healthcare and trade. Suppose people can learn, live well and access economic opportunities. In that case, we have done our jobs and we believe that we are on our way there, already making some impacts and in the next one year, we will be able to help more than two million people.

Earlier this year, CDIAL.AI received investment from Pharrell Williams, whose investment company is called Black Ambition. He listened to us and gave us a grant. Interestingly, people from halfway around the world who do not speak the language can support this initiative, much more than the people who speak the language, make money and have become billionaires in those areas, I believe they can do more and give back to their communities.

However, simply collecting data is not enough; the true power lies in leveraging big data analytics to extract actionable insights and drive significant business growth. In order to get informed on the transformative power of data and how harnessing big data analytics can unlock new opportunities and fuel success for businesses, let’s explore these points:

Understanding Big Data Analytics

Before delving into its potential, it’s crucial to understand what big data analytics entails. Big data analytics involves the collection, processing, and analysis of vast amounts of structured and unstructured data to uncover patterns, correlations, and insights that can guide informed decision-making. It encompasses various techniques, such as data mining, predictive modeling, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, to derive actionable intelligence from data.

Uncovering Customer Insights

One of its most significant advantage is its ability to provide businesses with deep customer insights. By analyzing customer behavior, preferences, and purchasing patterns, businesses can gain a comprehensive understanding of their target audience. This knowledge can help tailor marketing strategies, personalize customer experiences, and optimize product offerings, resulting in enhanced customer satisfaction and increased sales.

Improving Operational Efficiency

Big data analytics can also drive improvements in operational efficiency. By analyzing internal data, such as supply chain logistics, production processes, and employee performance, businesses can identify bottlenecks, streamline operations, and optimize resource allocation. This not only reduces costs but also enhances productivity, allowing businesses to achieve operational excellence and gain a competitive edge in the market.

Predictive Analytics for Better Decision-making

The power of this analytics lies in its ability to predict future trends and outcomes. By leveraging predictive analytics models, businesses can make data-driven decisions and anticipate market changes, customer demands, and emerging opportunities. This foresight enables proactive decision-making, minimizes risks, and enables businesses to stay ahead of the competition.

Unlocking Innovation and New Revenue Streams

It can also serve as a catalyst for innovation and the creation of new revenue streams. By analyzing market trends, customer feedback, and external data sources, businesses can identify untapped market segments, emerging trends, and potential areas for expansion. This can drive product innovation, the development of new services, and the exploration of new business models, ultimately leading to growth and increased profitability.

Enhancing Customer Experience

In the age of personalization, customer experience plays a vital role in business success. Big data analytics enables businesses to deliver highly personalized experiences by leveraging customer data. By analyzing customer interactions across various touchpoints, businesses can anticipate individual needs, personalize marketing messages, and offer tailored recommendations. This level of personalization enhances customer satisfaction, fosters loyalty, and drives repeat business.

Conclusion

The power of data and big data analytics cannot be understated in today’s business landscape. By leveraging the wealth of information available, businesses can gain a competitive advantage, fuel growth, and unlock new opportunities. 

From customer insights to operational efficiency, predictive analytics, innovation, and personalized experiences, this kind of data has the potential to transform businesses across industries. Embracing the power and investing in robust data analytics’ capabilities will undoubtedly pave the way for business success in the digital era.

So, why don’t we explore practical applications of AI and ML that businesses can leverage to achieve success? Let’s dive in:

1. Enhanced Customer Experience

AI and ML technologies can significantly enhance the customer experience by personalizing interactions and predicting customer behavior. By analyzing vast amounts of data, businesses can gain insights into customer preferences, purchasing patterns, and sentiment analysis. This enables them to deliver tailored recommendations, targeted marketing campaigns, and proactive customer support, ultimately fostering customer loyalty and satisfaction.

2. Intelligent Automation

Automation powered by AI and ML can streamline business processes, reduce manual labor, and improve operational efficiency. Tasks such as data entry, report generation, and repetitive workflows can be automated, freeing up valuable time for employees to focus on more strategic initiatives. Intelligent automation also reduces errors and enhances accuracy, leading to higher productivity and cost savings.

3. Predictive Analytics

AI and ML algorithms excel at analyzing data and identifying patterns that humans might overlook. By leveraging predictive analytics, businesses can make data-driven decisions and anticipate future trends, enabling them to stay ahead of the competition. Predictive analytics can be applied to various areas, such as demand forecasting, inventory management, pricing optimization, and risk assessment, empowering businesses to make informed choices and optimize outcomes.

4. Fraud Detection and Security

AI and ML algorithms are adept at detecting anomalies and identifying fraudulent activities. These technologies can be employed to detect patterns of fraudulent transactions, cybersecurity threats, or unauthorized access attempts. By continuously monitoring and analyzing data in real-time, businesses can strengthen their security measures and protect sensitive information, ensuring a safe and secure environment for both customers and internal operations.

5. Intelligent Data Insights

The ability to extract actionable insights from vast amounts of data is a key advantage of AI and ML. These technologies can process and analyze structured and unstructured data from multiple sources, enabling businesses to uncover hidden patterns, trends, and correlations. This valuable information can guide strategic decision-making, drive innovation, and identify untapped market opportunities, leading to business growth and competitive advantage.

6. Smart Resource Allocation

AI and ML algorithms can optimize resource allocation by analyzing historical data, market conditions, and operational constraints. This enables businesses to make informed decisions regarding budget allocation, workforce management, and inventory optimization. Through optimization of resource allocation, businesses can minimize costs, improve efficiency, and maximize return on investment.

In conclusion, AI and ML technologies offer immense potential for businesses seeking growth and success. By embracing these technologies and applying them in practical ways, such as enhancing customer experience, enabling intelligent automation, leveraging predictive analytics, strengthening security measures, gaining valuable data insights, and optimizing resource allocation, businesses can gain a competitive edge and thrive in today’s digital era. 

Embrace the power of AI and ML, and unlock new possibilities for your business’s growth and prosperity.

Despite this, some markets continue to flourish even during tough times. These industries are often considered to be recession-proof, as they tend to remain stable and even see growth during periods of economic uncertainty. 

With the increasing number of layoffs and job losses, people are looking for safe investments that will always flourish, regardless of economic downturns. Hence, not limited to these, they are:

1. Healthcare

Healthcare is an essential sector that remains resilient during economic downturns. Projected to be worth $75.1 billion by 2026, from $27.4 billion in 2022 according to MarketsandMarkets, people will always require medical attention, regardless of the state of the economy.

In fact, during tough times, people may become more cautious about their health and seek medical attention more often. This increased demand for healthcare services makes it a recession-proof industry. Additionally, advances in technology and medicine continue to create new opportunities in healthcare, making it a constantly evolving and growing sector.

2. Food and Beverage

With Statista revealing that this industry is expected to show an annual growth rate – CAGR 2022-2027 – of 7.14%, resulting in a projected market volume of $1.10 billion by 2027, and The Business Research Company projecting $9,225.37 billion market size in the same year, the food and beverage industry is another sector that is considered recession-proof. 

The need to eat is an ever-increasing one, and this demand remains relatively stable during economic downturns. While people may cut back on luxury items, they will still need to purchase basic necessities like food and beverages. In fact, during tough times, people may even choose to eat out less and cook more at home, leading to increased demand for groceries and cooking supplies.

3. Education

Education is an industry that remains stable even during times of economic uncertainty. In fact, during a recession, many people may choose to go back to school to improve their job prospects or to learn new skills. This increased demand for education leads to job growth in the education sector and Statista’s research revealed a projected market volume of $10.50 billion by 2027. 

Additionally, advances in technology have created new opportunities in online education, making it more accessible and convenient for people to pursue their educational goals.

4. Utilities

ResearchAndMarkets disclosed that the global utilities market is expected to grow from $4230.3 billion in 2020 to $4534.38 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. While The International Energy Agency estimates that $7.2 trillion will be invested in the sector in the decade to 2025, The Business Research Company projected the market to reach $8,314.78 billion by 2027.

Utilities such as electricity, gas, and water are essential services that people cannot do without, regardless of the state of the economy. These services are typically provided by government-regulated companies, making them a stable and reliable source of income. Additionally, many utility companies offer essential services to businesses, making them even more recession-proof.

5. Pharmaceuticals

The pharmaceutical industry is another market that remains relatively stable during economic downturns. Statista’s research agrees that individuals will always require medication for various health conditions, and this demand remains relatively constant, with results showing that the market is projected to reach $1,163.00 billion in 2023 and revenue expected to show yearly growth rate – CAGR 2023-2027 – of 5.39%, resulting in a market volume of $1,435.00 billion by 2027.

Again, advances in medicine and technology continue to create new opportunities in pharmaceuticals, making it a constantly evolving and growing sector.

6. Renewable Energy

Globally, renewable energy has been on steady growth for several years now and the market size by 2025 has been projected to reach $2.15 trillion worldwide.

Renewable energy is a growing industry that is already proving to be recession-proof. As the world becomes increasingly focused on sustainability, the demand for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power will only continue to grow. In addition, renewable energy projects often create jobs, making them a valuable investment for local economies.

7. Technology 

Technology is constantly evolving, and people will always seek to adopt new technologies that improve their lives and businesses. 

Oberlo explains that statistics on smart homes showed approximately 29.5 million households were utilizing smart home gadgets in 2018, this is only half of the current number. However, this trend is anticipated to persist and escalate in the forthcoming years, with an estimated 64.1 million households expected to use these gadgets by 2025. Similarly, the percentage of households using smart home devices is predicted to rise in the same period, more than doubling from 23.1% in 2018 to 48.4% in 2025.

In Statista’s opinion, revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate – CAGR 2023-2027 – of 6.86%, resulting in a market volume of $1,570.00 billion by 2027. 

In fact, during times of economic downturns, people may even prioritize technology expenditures as a means of increasing efficiency and productivity. This is why the technology industry remains stable and continues to thrive, regardless of the economic climate.

In conclusion, while economic downturns can have a significant impact on certain industries, some markets remain relatively stable and even see growth during tough times. These industries provide essential services that people cannot do without. If you are looking to invest in a stable and secure industry, these top 7 markets are an excellent place to start.

From healthcare to finance, AI has revolutionized the way businesses operate and interact with customers. Now, e-commerce businesses are embracing the power of AI and using it to drive their growth in today’s digital economy. Here, we’ll explore how AI can be used as a powerful tool to boost business growth in the e-commerce space.

The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to help e-commerce businesses grow is immense. AI can help e-commerce businesses make smarter decisions that are based on data-driven insights and analysis. This technology can help businesses identify trends, better understand customer behavior, and improve operational efficiencies.

By using AI to analyze customer behaviors, e-commerce businesses can determine which products and services are most attractive to their target customers. This enables the business to create more effective marketing campaigns and optimize its advertising budget.

AI can also be used to automate customer service operations and customer review

By leveraging AI technologies, businesses can respond to customer inquiries in real-time and provide personalized customer service. This helps businesses reduce customer wait times and improve customer satisfaction. AI can also be used to automate customer feedback surveys, allowing businesses to gain valuable insights into customer needs and preferences.

Nigeria’s E-commerce Adoption and Growth: A Case Study of Jumia

Data-driven Insights 

One of the most important ways AI can help businesses grow their e-commerce operations is by providing data-driven insights. AI technology can help businesses analyze large amounts of data to uncover customer insights that can be used to make better decisions. For example, AI can help identify customer segments, predict customer behavior, and uncover new growth opportunities. AI can also be used to provide personalized recommendations for customers, helping to increase customer engagement and loyalty.

AI can also help businesses make more informed decisions by providing insights into customer behavior. This trending technology can be used to track customer journeys across multiple channels, helping businesses understand how customers interact with their products and services. This can help businesses optimize their marketing strategies to better target customers and create more effective campaigns. AI can also be used to analyze customer reviews, helping businesses identify areas that need improvement and take appropriate action.

AI can also help businesses improve their operational efficiency

AI technology can automate certain processes, such as inventory management, customer service, and order processing, which can help businesses save time and money. AI can also be used to monitor customer interactions, helping businesses identify areas for improvement and take appropriate action.

Understand customer behavior and identify trends

Finally, AI can help businesses grow their e-commerce operations by helping them better understand customer behavior and identify trends. AI can be used to analyze customer data and provide insights into customer segments, helping businesses tailor their marketing strategies to better target customers. AI can also be used to analyze customer reviews, helping businesses identify areas for improvement and take appropriate action.

By leveraging the power of AI, e-commerce businesses can take their operations to the next level and realize their full potential. AI technology can help businesses better understand customer behavior, identify trends, and improve operational efficiencies. In the end, AI can help businesses grow their e-commerce operations and achieve success.

Don’t expand too rapidly

One of the most important things to keep in mind when expanding your business is that you should not grow too rapidly. This can be harmful to your company, as it will make it harder for you to achieve financial goals and keep up with competitors who have already established themselves in their markets.

If you want to grow faster than others, have it in mind that it’s not just about taking on more employees or opening additional locations, this will happen with time. When one plan fails, it’s not the end, reconsider the steps that might work best.

Create a data-driven business plan

Data-driven business plans are crucial to the success of any company. The more you know about your competition, the better chance you have at beating them.

To create a data-driven business plan, first take a look at other companies in your industry that are doing well and why they’re doing so well. What makes them successful? What makes their strategies different from yours? Use these insights as inspiration for creating new strategies that can help boost sales and profits while keeping costs low.

It’s also important to keep track of how much money each employee spends on average per month (including benefits), because this amount may vary depending on what kind of job they have or which company they work for—you might find that higher salaries mean lower productivity rates when compared with employees who receive less compensation but still manage some sort of healthcare coverage through their employer’s insurance plans or those offered by third parties.

What Great Startups Do Differently

Share your story with the world

The most effective way to grow your business is by sharing your story with the world. The first step in this process is making sure that you’re telling it in a friendly and relatable way.

You can do this by:

• Using language that’s easy for people to understand, such as “I want to share my story so that other people will know how I feel about my business.” This makes it clear why you’re telling the story and what value it has for them (i.e., why they should care).
• Being honest about where you started out and how far along your journey has taken you today; don’t try too hard or act like everything was always perfect!

Build an audience first, then build your brand

Building an audience is important before building a brand.

• You can build your own audience by creating content that’s relevant to people and engaging them with stories, ideas, and information they want to hear from you—the way a customer would talk about the products or services he or she uses.
• You can also use social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter as part of this process: Share posts about things you enjoy (like cooking), share interesting things others have said about certain topics (like politics), or simply engage with other users who might be interested in what you have to say.

Plan to scale up and down in phases, rather than all at once

When you’re just starting out, it’s tempting to try to grow your business as quickly as possible. You want to reach the point where you can comfortably handle everything at once—but this is a bad idea.

When you scale up too quickly, sales fall off and customers get frustrated by slow service or poor communication. And if your company grows too slowly, people may start losing interest in what they’ve invested in so far! Instead of rushing into growth mode (or trying not to grow at all), take time before implementing any changes that require long-term planning or implementation efforts:

• Do some research on what other companies are doing well for new strategies or tactics; this will give you ideas about how others have successfully grown their own businesses over time

Focus on user experience first, then product features later on

You should focus on user experience first, then product features later on.

As a startup founder or business owner, you have one goal: to build a successful product that people will love using. Your first thought may be “but I need to make sure my product is good enough before I can focus on marketing it” or something similar.

This is true—but only if you’re starting out with an idea for a new app or website that doesn’t already have users (and thus no data). If your company has already launched its first product and started collecting user data from existing users, then it’s time to start thinking about how those metrics will affect what type of features you put into future releases of their products; otherwise known as “feature creep.”

Conclusion

Growth is a key part of any business. It’s not just about making money, it’s about growing your company into something even greater than you could have imagined. The best way to do this is by following these business strategies: start small and build up your user base slowly; focus first on the customer experience before worrying about product features; be aware of how quickly things can change in tech fields; don’t forget that you’ll need patience along with hard work!

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This revolutionary technology is poised to transform businesses from the very point they desire growth — customer patronage and revenue growth — allowing them to quickly and accurately answer customer queries, provide personalized experiences, and ultimately help businesses scale.

Here, we’ll explore how OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI can help your business grow and take advantage of the opportunities presented by this revolutionary technology.

ChatGPT AI is an AI-powered chatbot that can understand natural language, generate conversation, and even respond to customers in real-time.

It is designed to act as an intelligent conversational assistant that can understand the context of customer conversations and provide helpful information and advice to customers. With ChatGPT AI, you can provide an enhanced customer experience and increase customer satisfaction.

The deep learning-based application can understand and respond to customer queries, with the ability to emulate human conversations and generate answers to customer inquiries. This technology has the potential to revolutionize customer service and provide businesses with an effective way to interact with their customers, leading to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The AI is also able to help businesses with sales and marketing efforts. The system can identify potential customers and help businesses target them more effectively. By using ChatGPT AI, businesses can increase the ROI of their marketing efforts and identify sales opportunities.

This model has been trained on a large dataset of conversations, which allows it to generate meaningful answers to customer queries. The model has also been designed to understand the context of conversations, which helps it to provide accurate answers.

ChatGPT AI can also be used for other applications, such as providing customer feedback, understanding customer sentiment, and providing targeted marketing messages. The technology can also be used to automate tasks, such as data analysis and customer segmentation.

It could be said that ChatGPT can be a great tool for businesses, with the advanced AI system helping businesses improve areas that would lead to increased revenue and customer loyalty.

In conclusion, ChatGPT AI can provide an enhanced customer experience, identify sales opportunities, and improve customer service, all of which will lead to increased business growth.