App will boost business in Bay

PUNTED as a way to foster business relationships and partnerships in Nelson Mandela Bay, a new mobile app was launched last night at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Summerstrand.

Developed by software company AppyTown, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC) App offers support for businesses in the Bay and allows for businesses and ordinary citizens to connect through technology.

Speaking at the launch of the NMBBC App, chamber acting chief executive Prince Matonsi said the app would extend the reach of the chamber to further areas within the Bay region and beyond.

“The business-to-business app encourages local business interaction between big and small businesses,” he said.

“The app offers an exclusive platform for smaller members to market themselves, which is affordable and user friendly.

“Big business, which is feeling the pressures of the new B-BBEE codes and other local procurement legislation, can make use of the app to find an array of diverse, local suppliers.”

Chamber president Thomas Schaefer told business owners at the launch that the NMBBC App was a starting point to get into the new digital era which embraced and encouraged the use of technology in business.

“Remaining relevant is crucial for not only business organisations such as the business chamber, but for all businesses operating in the current challenging economic conditions in Nelson Mandela Bay,” he said.

Schaefer said supporting fellow businesses in the Bay was essential to grow the local economy.

“I encourage all members to do business with one another via our app,” he said.

Business chamber communications manager Cindy Preller said many businesses had asked for the chamber’s database, which was published in hardcopy yearly, but with the NMBBC app this would be freely available.

“This is only phase one of the interactive process of growing the NMBBC app,” she said, encouraging those in attendance to download it at the launch.

Available for free to download in the Apple Store and Android Play Store, a listing on the NMBBC App is exclusively available to business chamber members. The paid-for listing offers additional exposure to their entire database of members.

Additional free functions include the latest events hosted by the business chamber and the latest business news of what is happening in the city.