Mayowa Okegbenle, CEO of PressOne Africa, shares insight into cloud-based phone systems and how the company leverages AI technology to analyse and interpret customer calls in real time in this interview with BusinessDay’s Chisom Michael.
Small businesses are moving towards cloud-based phone systems to improve customer experience, how has PressOne positioned itself as a leader in that space?
PressOne is a provider of cloud-based phone systems for small businesses that offer a range of features designed to give visibility into all communication, improve customer experience, and boost growth.
The company leverages AI technology to analyse and interpret customer calls in real time. The PressOne Call helps businesses to quickly spot and resolve customer issues, preventing churn and encouraging repeat business, which is essential for long-term growth. This technology enhances the customer experience by delivering timely and relevant insights during the call.
Creating a seamless communication experience for businesses can be challenging. What was your biggest hurdle while developing the PressOne Professional Business Line, and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges we faced was ensuring the reliability and scalability of our system to handle varying volumes of business call activities. To overcome this, we invested in robust infrastructure and improved our platform to adapt to the dynamic needs of business owners. Additionally, we engaged closely with our business owners for feedback and continuously refined our solution
Recently, the company launched its developers’ program to drive innovation in voice communication solutions, how does this support developers in utilising your platform to create customized solutions?
The PressOne Africa Developer Program offers developers access to our API, SDKs, and comprehensive documentation. It provides tools and resources to build and integrate customized voice communication solutions into apps and websites tailored to specific business needs. Our APIs support a wide range of industries, including financial services, healthcare and telemedicine, logistics, e-commerce and more. Additionally, we offer technical support, training, and a collaborative community to help developers succeed in creating innovative applications on our platform.
Supporting developers is crucial for fostering innovation. How do you ensure that developers who join your program have the support they need to succeed?
The company provides various support resources, including dedicated technical support teams, detailed documentation, and community forums. Our program also includes regular webinars, workshops, and mentoring to help developers navigate challenges and leverage their use of our solutions.
The telecommunications industry is evolving rapidly. How do you envision the future of business phone solutions, and what role do you see the company playing in shaping that future?
The future of business phone solutions will be defined by increasing demands for flexibility, scalability, and enhanced customer insights. PressOne Africa is committed to being at the forefront by continuously innovating and delivering solutions that drive efficiency and improve how businesses communicate with customers.
Partnership and collaborations help businesses achieve growth, how has this contributed to supporting the Nigerian entrepreneurial ecosystem?
Our partnership with various stakeholders supports the Nigerian entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing access to business phone solutions that enable entrepreneurs to scale their operations, enhance customer engagement, and drive growth. This contribution strengthens the overall Nigerian entrepreneurial ecosystem.
PressOne recently participated in the Lagos Startup Week, how has this been beneficial in terms of networking, visibility, and fostering innovation?
Participating in Lagos Startup Week has significantly enhanced our networking opportunities, allowing us to connect with key industry players, potential clients, and partners. It has increased our visibility within the tech community and provided valuable insights into emerging trends and customer needs. This exposure helps us stay ahead of the curve and drive innovation in our offerings.
What projects or innovations should we expect in the future?
The company will be introducing new features to help businesses make the most of every customer interaction, whether it’s for sales, support, or operational efficiency. Additionally, we’re expanding our developer ecosystem and exploring strategic partnerships to broaden our solution offerings and address emerging market demands.
Looking ahead, are there plans for expansion outside Nigeria?
PressOne Africa is actively exploring opportunities to extend our services beyond Nigeria and enter key markets across Africa where there is growing demand for business phone solutions. We plan to adapt our platform to meet the specific needs of these new markets and build partnerships with local businesses and stakeholders to ensure successful integration. Additionally, we are focusing on enhancing our business phone solution and scaling our infrastructure to support international operations. Our goal is to bring our innovative solutions to a broader audience and contribute to the growth of businesses across the continent.
