New Business Idea: Cloud Call Center Solution

Traditional call center setup required high start-up capital and equally high maintenance costs as well as logistical complexity. Phone systems, computer hardware and software, data servers, routing systems, network infrastructure to name a few had to be setup before you could approach prospective clients to pitch your services. The lead times for setting up a call center solution center were as high as the cost. This made it difficult for smaller players to enter the industry and compete with established call center solution providers. Well, not any more. The business scenario has changed. A cloud call center can be setup within a few hours and there are no significant hardware, software or maintenance costs.

How does cloud technology help call center solution providers?

The availability of call center technology as software as a service (SaaS) enables service providers to start small with as small as one seat or agent. There is no huge start-up expense for buying or leasing servers, ACD, expensive phone systems etc. Almost all cloud based call center systems can easily connect to smartphones and provide multiple channels for communication - calls, email, web chat, SMS. 

Small Business Idea for Fashion Entrepreneurs (#IdeaTuesday): Ecommerce Solution with Personalized Tips from Designers

Rahul wanted to surprise his wife on their first wedding anniversary. He was looking forward to gift a nice dress however was confused with the abundance of choices available and also was not quite sure what would look best on his wife. He knew he did not have a great taste selecting and buying gifts for women and did not want to put a wrong foot forward on their first anniversary.

Rahul for sure needed expert advice. Where does he get one?

The time is apt for fashion entrepreneurs, designers and stylists to provide a personalized online apparel shopping experience to customers. The first step is to launch your e-commerce store. You could sell your own designs as well as collections from other designers on your e-store. The key here would be to offer a personalized and customized shopping experience.

Small Business Idea: Online Garage Sale (#IdeaTuesday)

Ecommerce has redefined the customer shopping experience. From ease of shopping, multiple brands and options, easy returns and refunds, cash on delivery options to new technology innovations, there are enough reasons to get you addicted to online shopping. Hyperlocal ecommerce business model has now ensured the participation of brick and mortar stores and it seems to be the way forward ensuring express delivery and reduction in inventory costs.

Online sale of goods has boosted the buyer confidence in buying used products. Like never before, we are more comfortable and confident purchasing used mobile phones, laptops, furniture, toys, books and other stuff. There are several classified websites that let sellers list their used or new goods and buyers can easily contact and complete the purchase.

Startup Business Idea for Food Entrepreneurs: Campus Food Truck (#IdeaTuesday)

In the last few years, food trucks have become very popular in the US offering a twist of taste along with quick service and cost effectiveness compared to restaurants. The phenomenon is catching up in India too. De3 (Bangalore), Eat n’ Run (Mumbai), The Spitfire BBQ Truck (Bangalore), EGGJactly (Delhi) are some of the popular food trucks in India and the number of food trucks is on the rise.

Starting a Campus Food Truck Business is a lucrative idea for food entrepreneurs. Find a niche that suits the taste of college students and young professionals in your city, get a customized food cart or truck and spread the message on social media. Let students and professionals follow the truck schedule on social media – which day of the month will the truck be parked in a particular college or business center? Once the food truck gains popularity, let college and office groups invite your team for a campus food party.

Spend some time on your business plan. The name of the food truck, menu, pricing, design of the truck are all very important. You would be competing not only with budget restaurants in and around campuses and business centers but also street fast food vendors. Plan if you think you would need a business loan or financial assistance from friends and family.

And this comes with a bonus – it is much easier for the team to take a day or two off when you plan to unwind on a weekend holiday.

Startup Idea: Online platform for renting and sharing

Findings from a research done in 2004 done by the The Center of Future Studies, UK states:

• our need to own everything from a home to all its contents will have to change
• we are moving into an age of renting and sharing from one of buying
• in the coming years, it will be far more acceptable to rent anything from property and cars to electrical equipment and computer hardware

10 years since the research and the prediction seems to be coming true. There are a number of factors driving the need and acceptability of renting:

• A smaller world: the wide reach of social media and internet connectivity
• The younger generation has different attitudes to renting. They do not measure people's worth on the strength of their possessions alone and are more open to the idea of renting, sharing and lending.
• The growing desire to use and access everything available from technology, cars to high end products and services
• Sustainability: if we rent more, we would consume less and hence the need to produce less. Thus, renting leads to better utilization of resources (raw material, finished products, infrastructure etc.)
• A growing realization that we can't own everything we want