{"id":286,"date":"2022-01-01T12:00:46","date_gmt":"2022-01-01T12:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kei-case-studies\/?p=286"},"modified":"2023-06-22T10:18:35","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T09:18:35","slug":"genspec-creating-apps-for-local-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kei-case-studies\/2022\/01\/01\/genspec-creating-apps-for-local-business\/","title":{"rendered":"GenSpec: Creating Apps for Local Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

Khawar Naveed Bhatti<\/a>\u00a0is a graduate from the\u00a0University of Kent\u2019s Business School<\/a>\u00a0who, along with his team, came up with an innovative idea to set up an online platform,\u00a0GenSpec Ltd.<\/a>, to support Canterbury\u2019s retail industry, especially for small and local businesses. With support from an\u00a0EIRA microfinance grant,<\/a>\u00a0he was able to perform market research into the value of such an idea, especially relevant for the retail sector post COVID-19.<\/p>\n

The Challenge<\/h2>\n

Collectively, Canterbury high street businesses all spend on digital advertisement, but the current mediums available are cost heavy and are often\u00a0<\/span>not very<\/span>\u00a0effective<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0On the consumer side, the lack of Wi-fi and network coverage across the high street is cited as a problem by visitors<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GenSpec\u00a0aims to counter these issues by<\/span>\u00a0provid<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0local businesses with a digital platform using an\u00a0<\/span>app<\/span>\u00a0to advertise and reach potential customers across the high street, whilst also<\/span>\u00a0providing a Wi-fi network on Canterbury high street for free to capture the user base.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The microfinance grant was used to\u00a0<\/span>gauge market response<\/span>\u00a0to the concept of this proposal<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0as well as<\/span>\u00a0learn more about consumer habits across segments. This included looking into issues<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>challenges faced by<\/span>\u00a0small and local<\/span>\u00a0businesses in Canterbury in reaching customers online and creating footfall<\/span>\u00a0in order to\u00a0support the development of the app.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Approach<\/h2>\n

The market research was mostly conducted by\u00a0<\/span>surveys\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0Smartsurvey<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0T<\/span>o spread awareness of the survey,\u00a0<\/span>Naveed<\/span>\u00a0also purchased ad space on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Result<\/h2>\n

There was a<\/span>\u00a0great response to\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0survey, which show<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0affirmative signals and has given key insights to continue development for the<\/span>\u00a0project.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0The project has helped find some key business types which can<\/span>\u00a0be<\/span>\u00a0use<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0as GenSpec\u2019s beachhead market. This is a small market with specific characteristics that make it an ideal target to sell a new product or service, in particular, charity shops & small niche independent stores. These stores can miss out on\u00a0<\/span>council-wide programs, so the research has highlighted that\u00a0<\/span>GenSpec<\/span>\u00a0should target these customers, for whom they c<\/span>ould\u00a0<\/span>provide\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>most value<\/span>. The survey results also informed<\/span>\u00a0the business about the pain points of consumers in their shopping experiences. This will help GenSpec formulate the\u00a0<\/span>development of the app.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next Steps<\/h2>\n

\"inUsing insights from this project,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the next steps are to apply<\/span><\/span>\u00a0for further funding to aid the development of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0in Canterbury\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/span>app.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Khawar Naveed Bhatti, Co-Founder & CEO<\/span>\u00a0of GenSpec said:<\/p>\n

“We maintain a firm belief that now more than ever the local and small businesses will need to adapt and use technology to extend their sales beyond their physical stores. We are in a good place to be able to provide a solution that allows just that as well as creating foot traffic (once lockdowns are over).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The 2020 and persisting lockdown period will possibly work to our advantage. The businesses that would not have adopted technology before are now more likely to do so. Councils are focusing on largescale projects to support high streets \u2013 We are in contact with the Council and contractors to try to be part of this recovery effort.<\/span><\/span>”<\/p>\n

Khawar Naveed Bhatti, Co-Founder & CEO of GenSpec<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n