Why Gulf businesses buy software and keep using paper

In many small shops across Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, you will still see a notebook used for transactions. Despite purchasing software for inventory and sales, these businesses continue to rely on paper. The software often remains unused or minimally utilized. The article by Matthew Truth, Co-Founder and Product Lead at Octabiz, suggests that this gap presents an opportunity for software companies to improve their offerings and gain trust.

Paper has three advantages: simplicity, trust, and reliability. Software must match these qualities to replace the notebook. However, simply being more powerful is not enough. Companies in the Gulf typically have two main objectives: product development and establishing a culture of product use. Simply developing a product is not sufficient; companies must also foster a culture that promotes the use of the product.

The author spent time inside a customer's shop, observing inventory processes and interacting with staff. This hands-on approach revealed that simplifying the steps from ordering to accounting can make the software more user-friendly. The key factors for software to succeed include simplicity in data entry, accessibility of information from various devices, and accurate data representation.

Once the software meets these criteria, it can begin to build trust with users through features that help decision-making, such as providing timely financial advice based on historical sales data. For software developers targeting small businesses in the Gulf, the notebook serves as a benchmark. Simplifying data entry, ensuring easy access to information, and presenting accurate data are crucial. Patience is also essential, as building trust in software takes time.