Service platforms making a difference in Nigeria

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A new business model is emerging for providing services in Nigeria. Its a business model that makes services, previously only accessible offline, now accessible online (i.e. on the internet) Its the platform business model (to know what a platform is, read my previous post on platforms here) This business model is not entirely new , as it is quite the norm in developed countries, but it is at the nascent stage in the Nigerian market. Platform business models enable creation and exchange of value between service providers and the end-users, with the company acting as an infrastructure enabling users to interact. Platforms offer convenience and access by enabling interactions between users. These interactions are typically more business and transaction focused than social. The end-users and service providers vary widely from young professionals looking for a side gig to entrepreneurs offering a service or working mothers who need convenient access to some of these services. Each platform's ecosystem depends largely on the services offered on the platform and what problems they solve. In no particular order, here are the service platforms...   Accounting hub  If you've ever had issues with keeping your  accounting records or getting a hold of your numbers in business, then you need to check out this service platform.   Accounting hub brands itself as Nigeria’s No. 1 small business accountant. Born out of the need to grow healthier Nigerian businesses, it offers extremely affordable, fast and easy access to accounting services and financial consulting tasks. Accounting hub is passionate about small business as we should be because they offer the path to real economic growth required in Nigeria and every other developing country. Basically, they connect small business owners with talented, trusted accounting and tax professionals. Check them out today if you need these services.   Ride bliss As its name implies, this service platform indeed offers bliss. Bliss from traffic, traffic and more traffic. Daily commute definitely gets easy with this platform. You can book a seat in a user's car to get a ride to your destination conveniently at an affordable cost. Now, if you are worried about security, I understand. I was too. The founders, aware of the reservations on security, went the extra mile to ensure all users are verified and approved before they make any interactions on the platform. All users; those who provide their cars and those who board the cars, are required to go through the verification exercise before they are allowed to provide any service on the platform. That said, I'll advice you to still do your homework. If you're tired of spending hours on end in traffic on a daily basis with the fuel burn and stress that comes with it, maybe you should give ridebliss a try.   Donate-ng  The first time i came across this platform, i was excited. So many times, I get inundated with charity requests from unverified sources on social media, radio and newspapers. It's one thing to want to give to a good cause and it's another to trust that your giving will be directed to the right party and not a fraud. Donate-ng offers a solution to the concerns i had when i want to give to a good cause. This platform offers anyone the opportunity to raise funds in any capacity with four easy steps: 1) Register.  2) Create portal.  3) Receive donations via platform  4) Go ahead and make an impact. It's also a great way to give to causes. I made a donation on the platform and i found payment process very easy and stress free. In the spirit of the season, please take a moment to donate to a good cause or raise funds for a good cause on the Donate-ng platform today.   My food warehouse This is not a platform per say. Its more like an e-commerce site on the front-end. However, back end activities include sourcing and aggregating inventory from local farmers. The platform is basically the infrastructure that enables the sale and purchase of the local produce conveniently. Trust me, it's a huge relief to be able to order all my groceries on this platform and have it delivered the next day. I have made quite a number of purchases on this platform and on every occasion, my experience was really good. and I've got great news. Wait for it...  As a regular user, i was given a customized code to share. This code gives a 20% discount to anyone who makes a purchase over seven thousand Naira (N7,000). This should come in really handy for shopping, this season i.e. Christmas and New year celebrations. Please leave a comment below or send me an e-mail and i'll send you the code right away. You can share the code with friends and family too. What are you waiting for? Be remarkable Tomie