Month: August 2020

Hey, nice to catch up once again… I hope life has been kind to you, if it has, well and good. If it hasn’t, don’t worry, the storm never lasts forever, sunny day are coming. Speaking of storms and sunny days, I think the Covid-19 storm is not as bad as it was initially. The fact that we are now registering recoveries, businesses are slowly opening up, we can travel internationally once again etc. that is a sign of our sunny days approaching.

If someone was to tell you that the pandemic would string along some positivity you wouldn’t believe them. Of course the bad side of the pandemic has been really bad because lives have been lost, however, there has been a positive side to the pandemic as well.

One can argue that Coronavirus has been a huge catalyst for digital transformation. Yes, we had digitized some processes and ways of working but COVID-19 took digitization to a whole new level. For example,

• -Most ventures have invested more in cashless transactions and remote shopping.
• -Our children are now home schooling and having online classes. This one in particular is very interesting since for most of us home schooling was a thing prominent with celebrity kids in the west, now all of our children have to study from home and parents have added a new teaching skill under their belt of skills.
• -Working from home and virtual meetings is the new normal. Most companies and employees are now heavily relying on the internet and virtual working solutions now more than ever before.
• -Telemedicine is now a thing! Isn’t it just so convenient how you can now access your doctor and his services from the comfort of your house!
• -Digital banking is now the way to go. In as much as this service existed pre-coronavirus, its usage has gone up ever since the pandemic hit us.

The pandemic came as a wakeup call to most governments when it comes to the state of their nation’s healthcare systems. We have seen more resources being pumped into the healthcare systems to enable them be able to provide to the much needed healthcare service. At least we can say in as much as most countries’ healthcare systems have experienced a strain during this period, most will be better post the pandemic in comparison to pre the pandemic.

Most private sectors have risen up to social causes. Aside from most company’s CSR activities, we’ve seen them donate money and other materials to help the government help its people during such trying times. Our first president was a strong believer of the Harambee spirit which means "all pull together" in Swahili and indeed the private sector has actually depicted this more in 2020 than they have ever done before. If Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was here he would be proud of us.

Our hygiene levels have really gone up. We are more cautious of what we touch and how we interact with other people. We are constantly washing and sanitizing our hands and our homes just so as to keep the virus at bay. The good thing is that as we do that, we are also minimizing the contraction of other diseases cause by germs and bacteria.

These are just but a few of the positive side of Covid-19, the list is much longer but I’ll end it here for now. They say an optimist sees a glass filled halfway with water as half full and a pessimist sees it as half empty. As I step away I’ll encourage you to adopt an optimistic approach to the pandemic, focus on the good and try to better the bad. Thank you for taking time to read. Adios!

Your bank buddy

IMBA

We Are On Your Side

Howdy, hope you’ve been holding up well. The Coronavirus pandemic is still here with us but hey, stay, positive I believe we will rise above it. All the other aspects of our lives have been challenged in bits over the years but 2020 has clearly been the year that our health has been greatly put to test.

We may not have all contracted the virus but we have all been affected by it in one way or another. For some the blow of the pandemic has got their backs on the ropes but we should try be strong, fight back and help others where we can.

They say our greatest wealth is our health but most people don’t value it until sickness sets in. Today I’ll wear a fitness coach hat and give you a few pointers on how to invest in the holistic health of your mind and body.

Let’s start with your inner self... I remember back in the days when I was taking computer lessons, we were taught about GIGO – Garbage In, Garbage Out. If you input wrong data you get wrong output. Our bodies are not so different from computers, if we feed it with unhealthy food it will give us unhealthy results. I am not saying that we shouldn’t enjoy our buggers and pizzas, once in a blue moon.. However, let’s eat more healthy and nutritious foods that boost our body’s immunity. Plug in regular detox to help remove impurities from our systems. I recommend you try Kreo Cleanse’s scientific detox. Your body will thank you for it.

Once you have your food in order and your detox ongoing, switch it up with some regular exercises. I know working out is not as easy as it sounds but try push yourself to do it. It doesn’t have to be an intense daily work out. Start small with simple exercises then graduate gradually. As you start your workout journey I recommend you get a professional trainer to walk you through. That way he will guide you on the exercises best suited for your body type. I started my journey by subscribing to a health membership club at Hilton Hotel. I got a good trainer, the gym facilities are the best and the group work out classes just gives me psych to keep on going since I get to work out with my friends.

Gyming has been proven to be therapeutic for the mind. There is that energy and psych one gets after a good work out session. In addition to that I would recommend you try yoga as well. It will help you calm your mind and focus on what you need to for that day. You can do yoga from your living room, all you need is a workout mat which you can get from Nairobi Sports House; You can get your workout clothes from there too.

For great results I would recommend you consistently practise these healthy habits. We may not have the cure for Coronavirus but you have the power to do what is necessary to boost your immunity and promote your general health. As you start your holistic health journey, you can visit Kreo Cleanse, VLCC, Hilton Health Club and Nairobi Sports House and enjoy great discounts if you are an I&M bank customer.

For more details on these discounts click here. As I take off my fitness coach hat, thank you for reading.

Your bank buddy

IMBA

We Are On Your Side

Ambition in business: An important intangible asset you need to keep your business going.

Ambition in business: An important intangible asset you need to keep your business going

This is not just one of those ‘I have heard it all’ blog pieces. Ladies and gentlemen, you just got into a rich content zone. Stay tuned to find out more about this particular topic. I understand that you have so many questions and if you are like me, you are seeking every probable answer to the uncertainty surrounding us. I don’t have all the answers but I can tell you for free that my aim is to ensure that you gain as much knowledge to apply in your business as possible. This way, you can adapt to the new normal and apply an informed approach in the way you conduct business. You have probably read one too many articles on how to sustain your business while maintaining competitiveness during these times. However, very few talk about those intangible assets in your business that do not necessarily come with monetary value but elevate your brand. In this blog, we are going to look at brand affinity as a crucial part of your business. Brand affinity refers to values that enable you to build that fundamental emotional connection with your customer, in a bid to boost customer loyalty in the long run.

Why is this emotional connection so important? This is why; If a potential consumer believes that a brand shares common values with him/her, chances are, the client will take the product or service up, repeat the purchase again and even refer several friends. If brand affinity isn’t a gem, I don’t know what is!

If you are still not convinced, let us jump right into a great example. Have you ever wondered why you keep purchasing a certain brand in your household over and over again? Think about it, why do you keep purchasing these items despite the availability of alternative brands that suit the same purpose? Most likely you have invested your emotions in the brand and their associated value proposition resonates with your needs.

That said, what do you think top brands both in the local and worldwide context have in common? They maximize on their ability to connect with their customers on an emotional level, as a matter of fact this bond is so strong such that it can be described as a ‘gut feeling’. This invaluable asset emanates from their ability to deliver mind blowing customer experiences. Imagine having such power to drive repeat purchase! I can picture you already naming a few brands in your mind.

Therefore, there is no gainsaying that brand affinity is the ultimate intangible asset you need to attract a loyal customer base, especially during this pandemic. So, the question is, how do you build brand affinity? Here’s how:

• Great customer service – Add that personal touch to satisfy the needs of your clients. Tend to their needs, listen to what is being said about you in the market environment and do the needful, based on the feedback you receive. A great way to get this feedback is through surveys. Remember your that they chose to do business with you because they believe that you are on their side, so work on retaining them. In other words, don’t preach wine and take water.

• Credibility – Trust is a universal key in every relationship. It all starts with a promise. Keeping a promise then builds relationships and ignites the emotional connection spark! Now that is trust. A great way to maintain credibility is to: delivering value propositions, be consistent in communication, share customer testimonials, use your logo in communications to customers for the purpose of maintaining your brand identity, etc.

• Quick complaint resolution - Resolve complaints within a reasonable timeline. Time and efficiency go hand in hand. A great way to get started is to invest in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems that are make it easy to retrieve customer information, therefore, resolving issues faster. Imagine having to wait for hours to have an issue resolved; not a great feeling.

• Easy access – Ensure that customers can purchase or consume the product/service conveniently.

• Great communication – It is important to keep clients updated regularly across relevant channels.

• Corporate Social Responsibility – Society is a backbone of any business. Giving back to the community really elevates the reputation of a brand. Acts of goodwill especially during this epitome will go a long way. Let us uphold that moral obligation and assist when we can.

• Customer centricity – ensure that the products and services you provide are customer driven. How can you do that? Foster positive customer experiences, personalize your messages to clients, offer after sale services, think ahead of the customer – this will help you to anticipate their needs, etc.

You are now set with the toolkit to take your business to the next level. Make good use of the indispensable assets to drive that necessary ambition in your business!

Thank you for choosing us.

We are on your side!