Do you really need IT in your business
💻 Do You Need IT in Your Business? (2025 Edition)
💡 Technology is no longer a luxury or a departmental choice — it’s the invisible infrastructure behind every successful business in 2025.
🏢 The New Reality of Business
A decade ago, small business owners often asked me:
“Do I really need IT in my business?”
Back then, the question made sense. Technology felt expensive, complicated, and optional — something only large corporations could justify.
But in 2025, IT is no longer an option. It’s the foundation of modern business, connecting your customers, operations, and data into one ecosystem.
Whether you run a local bakery, design studio, logistics firm, or retail brand, your company already depends on technology — the only difference is how strategically you use it.
⚙️ What IT Really Does
IT (Information Technology) isn’t about servers or complex systems — it’s about efficiency, automation, and insight.
When applied correctly, technology helps you:
- Eliminate manual processes and repetitive work.
- Centralize business information so you can make informed decisions.
- Collaborate seamlessly across time zones and teams.
- Protect customer data and company records.
- Scale faster without adding unnecessary overhead.
In short, IT allows you to spend more time building value and less time managing chaos.
🧩 The Baby Food Business — A Real Example
Let’s take a practical example.
A small company produces organic baby food and supplies local supermarkets.
Their founder keeps track of sales and inventory manually — spreadsheets, notebooks, and WhatsApp messages from sales reps.
Every week, her team visits stores, counts stock, and sends updates by phone.
By the time she types the numbers into Excel, some products are already sold out.
Now, imagine that same business with a simple cloud-based management system:
- Sales agents log sales from their phones.
- The system updates stock and expiry dates automatically.
- Invoices are generated instantly after each sale.
- Payments sync with QuickBooks or Zoho Books.
- AI dashboards summarize which stores perform best.
The result?
No missed opportunities. No stockouts. No stress.
That’s the power of digital transformation in action.
🌐 From IT to Digital Transformation
In 2025, the term “IT” has evolved into digital transformation — the continuous process of improving business performance using digital tools, data, and AI.
You no longer need a full IT department to operate smartly. Affordable, cloud-based solutions give every business access to enterprise-grade capabilities.
Here are a few key categories that define digital transformation today:
| Function | Modern Tools | Benefit |
| Collaboration | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Notion | Real-time file sharing and teamwork. |
| Customer Management (CRM) | HubSpot, Zoho, Pipedrive | Track leads and automate communication. |
| Accounting & Invoicing | QuickBooks, Xero, Wave | Instant invoicing and cash flow insights. |
| Marketing Automation | Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, HubSpot | Automated customer journeys. |
| AI Assistants | ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude | Smart data analysis, writing, and reporting. |
| Project Management | ClickUp, Asana, Monday.com | Organized delivery, timelines, and accountability. |
🤖 Automation in Practice
Every hour you spend doing something repetitive could be automated.
Here’s a simple real-world example:
When a customer places an order online, your system can:
- Generate an invoice automatically.
- Update your stock levels.
- Add the client to your CRM.
- Send them a thank-you email or WhatsApp message.
- Notify your logistics team for delivery.
All of this happens instantly — without you lifting a finger.
Automation doesn’t remove people from your business; it frees them to focus on creativity, relationships, and growth.
📊 The Rise of Data & AI Analytics
Today’s IT systems don’t just store data — they learn from it.
AI tools like Power BI, Google Data Studio, and Tableau Cloud can analyze business performance in real time, helping you predict demand and optimize operations.
For example, AI can now tell you:
- Which products sell fastest in certain seasons.
- When your stock will run low.
- Which customers are likely to reorder soon.
This is what makes modern business data-driven — not guesswork, but insight.
🔒 Collaboration, Security & Scalability
Cloud computing has revolutionized how teams work.
Your staff can now collaborate securely from anywhere, using shared documents, chat tools, and real-time notifications.
You can grant role-based access, maintain data privacy, and recover lost files instantly — all without on-site servers or IT technicians.
Security is now baked into the software you already use.
Scalability, once a challenge, is now a checkbox.
Need to add 10 new team members or open operations in another country?
Cloud infrastructure lets you expand in minutes, not months.
💡 The True Purpose of IT
IT isn’t about replacing people — it’s about empowering them.
When used intentionally, technology:
- Simplifies processes.
- Improves decision-making.
- Builds transparency across teams.
- Creates space for innovation.
It helps you work on your business, not just inside it.
🧭 Final Thoughts
In 2025, technology is no longer a competitive advantage — it’s a baseline.
The businesses that succeed aren’t necessarily the biggest or the most funded — they’re the ones that adopt and adapt.
The question is no longer “Do you need IT in your business?”
It’s “Which technologies will help your business grow next?”
By using IT as a strategic partner — not just a tool — you can operate with the same clarity, precision, and impact as any global enterprise.
📞 Let’s Talk Digital Transformation
If you’re ready to modernize your business or explore what automation and AI can do for you, reach out at femiashiru.com.
Transform your operations. Simplify your workflow.
Let’s build technology that works for you — not the other way around.
A Website That Gives You Value
A Website That Gives You Value
If you’re an entrepreneur or business owner, you’ve probably spent a lot of time thinking about your website — the design, the “About Us” page, the products, the contact page, and maybe even a gallery or blog. You might have worked closely with your designer, insisting on all the “standard” pages everyone seems to have.
And then, when the site finally goes live, you sit back and wait for the world to notice. You tell a few friends, post a link on WhatsApp or Instagram, and expect traffic to roll in. Days pass. The only messages you receive are from bots or random people trying to sell vitamins or “SEO services.”
You quickly realize that having a website doesn’t automatically mean having visibility, engagement, or customers.
Why Many Websites Fail to Deliver Value
Most business owners treat their website as an online brochure — static, rarely updated, and disconnected from their daily operations.
They post a few pages, list their services, and wait for magic. But a website’s true value isn’t in its existence — it’s in how it attracts, engages, and converts visitors into customers.
In 2025, this has become even more important. Your website is your digital storefront, your data source, and your AI training ground. Social media (Instagram, X, TikTok, Threads, LinkedIn, and Facebook) drives discovery, but your website remains the one channel you fully own — your content, your analytics, your customer data.
Defining “Value”
Value depends on your type of business:
- E-commerce: Direct sales, repeat customers, and basket value.
- Consulting or Service Firms: Enquiries, quote requests, or bookings.
- Media Companies: Views, shares, comments, and returning readers.
- Fashion & Retail: Walk-in customers who discovered you online.
- Clubs, Events, or NGOs: Registrations, donations, or community sign-ups.
The real question is: Does your website generate measurable outcomes that contribute to your goals?
How to Create a Website That Delivers Value
- Get Found (Visibility)
Search engines, social media, and AI-driven recommendations are your discovery tools. - Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategically — tools like Yoast SEO or Surfer AI help you write optimized articles.
- Use keywords and natural language people are likely to speak into AI assistants or voice search (“Hey Siri, best tailor in Lekki”).
- Create useful, searchable blog content. AI and search engines now prioritise “authentic expertise” over keyword stuffing.
- Consider AI-generated summaries, short “how-to” videos, and voice-friendly snippets that help you appear in rich search results.
- Leverage AI & Automation
- Integrate AI chatbots (e.g., OpenAI Assistants, ManyChat, or Tidio) on your website to answer FAQs, schedule bookings, or route customer queries automatically.
- Use AI-driven analytics tools like Hotjar, Google Analytics 4, or Microsoft Clarity to watch real customer behaviour.
- Automate repetitive updates — sync your website with your Instagram catalog, Shopify, or Google Business profile to keep information consistent.
- Integrate Social Media Intelligently
In Nigeria and beyond, most retailers rely heavily on Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok — but that doesn’t mean the website is obsolete. - Link your social posts back to unique landing pages — e.g., “/promo/friday-special.”
- Track engagement by using UTM links in your bio.
- Use embedded social feeds and automated posting tools (Buffer, Later, or Hootsuite).
- Create short, mobile-first landing pages that convert traffic from your posts directly into leads.
- Create Landing Pages That Convert
Every page should have a purpose and a clear call-to-action (CTA): - “Book a Table,” “Download Catalogue,” “Chat with Sales,” or “Order Now.”
- CTAs convert attention into measurable value.
- Use automation tools (HubSpot, Zoho CRM, or Mailchimp) to follow up with visitors automatically.
- Invest in Design & User Experience
- A slow, cluttered website loses 60% of visitors within seconds.
- Use modern, lightweight frameworks like Next.js, Framer, or Webflow.
- Prioritize mobile optimization — 85% of Nigerian web traffic in 2025 is mobile.
- Ensure your visuals match your brand tone; if you’re in fashion, show your products on real people, not just flat fabrics.
SEO, Hashtags, and Discoverability
The principles of SEO haven’t changed much — but now they include AI discoverability and social graph visibility.
- Use hashtags like keywords for your brand, but choose ones that align with trends in your region (#MadeInNigeria, #LagosFashion, #NaijaTech).
- Combine your own branded tag with trending ones.
- Use AI content assistants (like ChatGPT or Jasper) to suggest trending topics and improve readability.
- Invest in backlinks — collaborations, features on reputable sites, and guest posts.
Voice search, AI chatbots, and Google Discover have replaced the old idea of “rank #1 on Google.”
In 2025, it’s more about “appearing where your customers already are” — whether that’s in their TikTok feed, AI assistant answers, or mobile searches.
Measuring Success
Value isn’t just about sales — it’s about conversion and retention:
- Did a visitor subscribe to your newsletter?
- Did someone download your guide or book a consultation?
- Did your site collect data that helps your business make better decisions?
If the answer is yes, your website is doing its job.
Designing for Conversion
Web design in 2025 is guided by behavioural data and AI-driven personalization.
Your website can now adapt to each visitor: showing a discount if they’re a returning user, or changing content based on their location or previous visits.
That’s the future of conversion — relevance and context.
Use heatmaps, A/B testing, and predictive analytics to improve performance continually.
The Modern Marketing Mindset
Building a website isn’t the end — it’s the beginning.
The real work happens in content creation, analytics, and iteration.
Successful entrepreneurs today use a mix of:
- Regular blog posts (AI-assisted or human-authored).
- SEO monitoring dashboards.
- Integrated CRM + newsletter tools.
- Automated social content pipelines (TikTok Reels → Instagram → blog snippet → LinkedIn post).
Your website should sit at the centre of your digital ecosystem — the anchor between your social presence, AI bots, and customer database.
Conclusion
A website in 2025 isn’t just a place to “show who you are.”
It’s your 24/7 digital sales agent, AI content engine, and data hub.
Whether you’re a fashion brand, consultant, or retailer, your website must integrate content, automation, and customer intelligence to stay relevant.
The goal hasn’t changed — it’s still about value.
But now, value means visibility, conversion, and insight — powered by data, amplified by AI.
Conferences - to attend? or not to attend? That is the question
So a few weeks ago whilst going through a backlog of emails after some time away on holiday. I saw three emails from the KNect365 group for the recently concluded NigeriaCom 2018, AfricaCom 2018 and Fintech Africa 2018 and all I could think of was hmm so many conferences but “to attend? Or not to attend? That is the question!”
It all took me back to when I first started ‘conferencing’. About four years ago, a friend in the industry Ugo Okoye asked me if I was going to the Mobile Web Africa conference (2012 edition). I told him I knew nothing about it and even if I did, what was the point? At the time I had over 11 years experience in the software industry in multiple countries across two continents, what could the conference possibly teach me that I didn’t already know? Yes, a very arrogant assumption on my part but thankfully I had an open mind.
He advised me to look beyond that because there was always so much to learn from what people in the Startup world were doing, the experiences, challenges and breakthroughs. So after deliberating I decided to go for my first conference “Mobile Web Africa 2012” in Johannesburg, South Africa.
There’s a first time for everything
I remember being nervous about what to expect, would it be full of high end professionals? Would it be a shambles? Would it be relevant? Would it be well organised? What should I expect? In the end I was pleasantly surprised, there were a lot of talks and panels about whether to build a mobile web app or a mobile app, about how to monetize these solutions, how to target and educate consumers and most especially whether to go with a B2B solution or a B2C solution.
At that point in time, the more interesting players were the likes of Eskimi, Mixit, 2go, IRocking and a host of other Social Media/B2C focused apps and solutions e.g. Saya. It was truly exciting as at the time we planned on building similar platforms as I thought they were the best ways to scale in Africa. However I got discouraged from the experiences of the founders, even though they had built successful companies and I gained a lot of tips about what tech platforms to use/not to use. I didn't like that fact that most of them were not directly monetizable i.e. consumers would not pay for services and instead they relied on traction to build a large product base which they would then monetize via advertising or other means.
The different strategies had a profound development on my psyche and business approach ie: what solutions are right for Africa, the cost of building and maintaining a platform and how to monetize. From this event I made it my mission to go to at least two conferences a year, to know what was new in the startup/tech space, meet and network with founders and possible clients, and to validate the ideas and solutions my company was working on.
The journey begins
Since that time I had visited Mobile Web West Africa 2013, Mobile Web West Africa 2015 Tech4Africa 2015, AfricaCom 2017, TechPoint Nigeria, Global Blockchain Congress 2018 and a few Hackathons.
All with exciting agendas and keynote speakers promising insights into the latest Tech revolutionising the industry, exciting start-ups and lots of networking. I would say that many delivered to my expectations but some did fall shy of my expectations. You always learn something new but the question is, did you learn enough to justify the expense of the trip and disruptions to your schedule at home? So i came to summarise the most important things for me, in this priority:
- Ability to meet potential new clients and partners for collaboration
- Opportunity to learn from Industry leaders and startups engaged in areas/sectors that i found interesting from a business point of view
- Discover and learn about key new technologies and trends that my company should get involved with in future as part of our Africa expansion strategy.
In practice my second and third objectives were typically met but the first one not so much, as so far in my experiences the conferences have tended to attract more like minds (tech founders and industry players) than potential customers. It's been interesting to observe the tech trends over time and to see where they are now;
- 2012 - 2014
- Digital Marketing
- Mobile Music & Streaming Apps
- Messaging Apps
- Social Media Apps and many Facebook like "me too’s "
- 2014 - 2016
- eCommerce Platforms
- 2017
- FinTech
- IoT
- AI
- BlockChain
- Drone Tech
As a whole going to these conferences has helped me in my career and development of my company. It's allowed me to learn from people in the industry at different stages of growth and also share my experiences and expertise as well.
This year’s agenda
The AfricaCom 2017 event was by far the best conference I have attended. It had the widest range of industry sectors from the major Mobile Network Operators, FinTech Utilisers and Players to digital media firms, startups and new technology enthusiasts. Last year's event truly exposed me to the opportunities in BlockChain Technology and how they could be utilised to revolutionise businesses and key sectors in Africa.
I also met many key players in the Tech industry in Nigeria and some other African countries who I’m still in touch with and have developed growing business links and opportunities with.
Based on this experience I finally decided to go to the AfricaCom 2018 Conference. My major port of call shall be the AHUB and AfricaCom 20/20 sections, these are the areas at the conference that tend to focus on startup software firms as well as new technologies e.g. Blockchain, AI and IoT.
This year I will be looking forward to meeting interesting individuals and businesses that we can work with next year and so yes I will be judging the success of the conference based on how many leads I can convert after the speeches and drinking is over :) .
I’ll also be interested to see how the tech that was pioneered last year as the next big thing in Africa specifically AI, IoT and Blockchain have taken off and see what opportunities we as a company could take advantage of in those sectors.
Final thoughts
I would recommend attending tech conferences as a must for anyone in the industry, depending on the stage of development of your career or company, you could either:
- Find out about new technologies and business opportunities across the continent
- Learn from founders about what techniques they used to manage their teams and grow their business.
- Learn how to pitch to raise funding for your platform or to scale up after the initial MVP stage.
- And finally to network and meet exciting people that you can continue to build links with.
Personally I’ll recommend the Knet365 Africa focussed group of events anyday!
Ps: this isn't a sponsored post, its just my humble opinion :)