October is the month of the Entrepreneur and, more than an opportunity to celebrate the date, it is a reminder that entrepreneurs always need to be connected with their business and with what happens in the market.Themes such as the development of AI, the remnants of the pandemic and the disruption of production chains have been impacting the business world and need to be fully understood by company leaders.

As a fintech founder and basketball player, Rodrigo Tognini, CEO of Simple Account, Brazilian platform for expense management and corporate credit card, points out that the sport helped him to reinvent himself several times as a leader.“Be on the court or in the executive chair, the skills needed to win involve a lot of training and sweat, failure and overcoming. A captain, whatever the team is, should seek to take the team ahead, knowing its composition and needs”, he says.

To inspire other entrepreneurs, the executive listed five essential tips for those who want to start a business. Check:

1. Vision 360o

In an increasingly technological and data-rich reality, the operations of companies demand an integrated and comprehensive look, which provides a grounded decision making. Tognini compares this 360-degree view to the point guard in basketball, which is an athlete who needs to know exactly what is happening in the game, predict movements and execute winning plays. 

“In a match or in the volatile business world, having accurate information and the right statistics is no longer an option, but an impossible need to dribble”, he reinforces. “It is simply what defines whether your team will advance to the next phase or fall out of the championship, whether your startup will survive the 'Death Valley’ or become a unicorn, he adds.

2. Innovation & creativity

Because it is increasingly competitive, the market requires entrepreneurs to escape from the standards and create unique and personalized products and services, which really solve a market's IORECTOR.In this sense, the CEO equates the role of these professionals to that of the warder, citing great names from both universes:

“As well as this player, the entrepreneur needs to think differently if he wants to create new moves. This is always how he goes down in history: we are talking about Jordan and Kobe Bryant, Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos”, he says.

3. Adaptation power

Adjusting strategies is another key characteristic for those who want to undertake, since technological advancement continues to change consumption habits around the world. As Tognini points out, “the degree of adaptability in entrepreneurship dictates how much the person is able to seek new opportunities”.

He adds: “In a match, the power forward is who will try to create gaps where there does not seem to be any. It shows how important it is to be decisive and take advantage of what each context can offer, a reference that works both for the regulation time of a game and in a startup”. 

4. Reference point

Factors such as empathy and listening skills are being more valued by teams in their leaderships. The new generations of professionals have been compacting this management style by the simple fact that they see a good example to be followed, reproducing their attitudes in everyday life. 

“No one is born leader, but, yes, becomes leader”, emphasizes the executive of the Simple Account. “As a pivot, which is a reference point for the team on the court not only for knowing how to observe, but also for knowing how to listen, the manager needs to understand that collaboration and close communication with their followers create a network of trust and efficiency unequaled”, he adds.

5. Resilience

Finally, the way a leadership overcomes the impending adversities of a business is also a decisive aspect.The ability to continue even in the midst of difficulties is what ensures that the company reaches unprecedented levels of success.

When the final whistle sounds, few remain standing”, reflects Tognini.“In basketball, giants like LeBron James often advance in strength, even with hard blocks.This is a daily exercise for entrepreneurs: whenever they fall, raise”, he concludes.

Black Friday is one of the biggest sales opportunities of the year, but it also poses a major challenge for companies that need to deal with high volumes of traffic, data processing and increased demand for products and services.  

Last year, there was a 15.1% drop in sales compared to 2022, according to the survey conducted by Neotrust and ClearSale, with the final result reaching the R$ mark 5.23 billion sales in e-commerce. “Expectations for 2024 are high and companies are increasingly preparing in advance, with the aim of ensuring good results with security, stability and credibility to customers, always promoting a satisfactory experience, which is part of the buying and loyalty process”, punctua Stenio Viveiros, Keeggo's Quality Consultant.

The event, which officially takes place on November 29, already has a good perspective, whereby 39% of consumers have demonstrated that they intend to buy on the date, according to a survey made by PiniOn for Globo. In addition, the National Confederation of Shopkeepers (CNDL) and the Credit Protection Service (SPC Brazil) say that the number of interested should grow until November, since in 2023, 87% of Brazilians only showed interest from October.

Anticipating market demands in order to avoid possible future problems, Stenio presents strategies to help companies optimize processes, improve performance and make the most of the promotions season.

Performance testing and process automation: an essential step to success

Before Black Friday it is essential to perform performance tests to assess the responsiveness of systems under a giant volume and ensure that e-commerce platforms do not suffer drops or failures. “It is important to offer robust testing solutions, identifying bottlenecks and optimizations that ensure a fluid shopping experience for the end consumer, avoiding abandonments in the” cart, Stenius.

Automating processes is an efficient way to ensure that internal operations flow seamlessly. Operation success lies in working with the implementation of tools that optimize the process completely: from customer service to inventory management, enabling teams to focus on what really matters: driving sales.

By integrating data analytics technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, companies are able to offer personalized promotions and more assertive predictions of” buying behavior, Stenio points out that more targeted campaigns and smart strategies increase the chances of conversion and more customer retention time in e-commerce. 

Security & scalability

With traffic increasing during Black Friday, data security and platform scalability are priorities, especially for consumers who need to feel safe. “The recommendation is that security audits should be carried out, offering solutions that guarantee the integrity of information, as well as supporting the growth of access without compromising the user experience”, concludes Jonathan Arend, Keeggo's Chief Cybersecurity Consultant. 

A cryptography it is highlighted as a resource to protect the privacy of data on the internet, both from companies and consumers. If there is any attempt to invade, the system protects the personal data of users, maintaining the confidentiality of information and ensuring that no data is accessed by an unauthorized third party. 

“Technology is critical to protecting sensitive data from e-commerce transactions, ensuring that it remains confidential and inaccessible to unauthorized third parties.This involves end-to-end encryption, both in transit and at rest, with robust algorithms and secure encryption keys.In addition, the use of digital certificates and security protocols such as TLS (Transport Layer Security) ensures the integrity and authenticity of communications between the client and the”erver, explains the executive.

Generate one site backup it also brings peace of mind for the discount season. A backup is like an INSTANT” “copy of all the main elements of your platform, such as files and codes, database, images, videos, among others. The security mechanism stores the information and facilitates the recovery of data in case of fraud. 

“Finally, it is strongly recommended to maintain a well-trained incident response team with well-defined security protocols to effectively respond to potential threats during Black Friday.This involves assigning clear roles and responsibilities, creating detailed contingency plans, and conducting regular incident simulation exercises to ensure that staff are prepared to deal with any security scenario. Collaboration with cybersecurity vendors can also be beneficial for staying up-to-date on emerging threats and the best security practices”, says the expert.

The fourth quarter, filled with holidays like Black Friday and Christmas, is one of the hottest shopping seasons of the year. According to Forbes Brazil, this season generates 30 to 35% of annual retail sales. During this period, demand for consumer goods can skyrocket and the GoDaddy it can help small business owners prepare to benefit from this increase in sales.

With a set of easy-to-use tools, GoDaddy simplifies online business creation and management, ensuring entrepreneurs are ready to take advantage of the opportunities the New Year season brings.

With customers browsing and shopping online, maintaining a strong digital presence means more visibility and better engagement, which can help attract sales. A well-built website and active social media can help businesses stand out from the competition, reach a wider audience, and deliver the convenience modern shoppers expect.For small businesses, digitalization can be the key to unlocking new opportunities, staying competitive, and thriving during this critical time of year. These GoDaddy tools can help:

·       Domain name search . In the online world, a domain name is equivalent to the physical address of a store. With the simple insertion of the company description or keywords, users are given creative and unique domain name options that align with their brand identity and vision. GoDaddy uses generative AI to provide users with personalized and brand name suggestions based on their company description, idea, product or service.

·       Website builder GODaddy Website Builder enables business owners to create free, mobile-friendly websites and manage all parts of their online presence in a single dashboard, with built-in tools*, including: online appointments, social media channels, email marketing including email automation, SEO and more.*premium features require a paid plan.

·    GoDaddy Studio Using artificial intelligence, GoDaddy Studio creates professional-looking content for a business or personal brand. A business owner can enter information about his business and GoDaddy Studio quickly produces compelling content without the need for advanced design skills.This free tool is available to enhance a company's online presence with professional and beautiful images and leverage branded content for use on social media channels, website, email communications with customers and more.

·    Digital Marketing ^^This multifunctional GoDaddy tool is designed to manage marketing efforts and increase the accessibility of tools like SEO, social media, and email marketing, with the added benefit of a unified inbox to simplify customer message management for deeper engagement with them.

“Our goal is to empower entrepreneurs by offering an integrated set of online tools and resources that simplify the creation and management of their online business, allowing them to focus on what really matters: serving their customers well to enjoy the sales season”, says Luiz D’Elboux, Country Manager at GoDaddy in Brazil.

As Black Friday approaches, the retail landscape requires companies of all sizes to prepare for high demand strategically, with the aim of avoiding errors and ensuring the success of consumer purchases.In 2023, Procon-SP registered more than a thousand complaints related to Black Friday, with 36% of these complaints linked to non-delivery or delays, with a total of 363 occurrences.

Zoltan Schwab, executive of vhsys, a company specialized in management solutions for micro and small businesses, highlights that the numbers may be related to poor inventory management and reveal the importance of a robust system to ensure customer satisfaction.“One of the great challenges for Black 2024 will be the efficient management of products. It is a determining factor for the final evaluation and customer satisfaction. The retailer must, from now on, with the support of an ERP, identify possible failures in the operation, such as lack of products, to have control of its sales when the big DAY” arrives, says the specialist.

For 2024, 39% of consumers intend and already plan to make purchases on this date, as shown by the Consumption Panorama 2024 Black Friday.This further highlights the need for an effective management strategy, capable of monitoring and organizing the flow of live products.

“With the integrated inventory control platform, the entrepreneur can manage his operations in the palm of his hand, monitoring inputs, outputs and replacements in real time, automating processes that could be manually subject to” errors, explains Zoltan, who closely monitors the movements of customers of the company vhsys on this date.“A good software should offer several features that add to the business, such as control of multiple deposits, product categorization, automatic generation of purchase orders, detailed reports and integration with sales systems and issuance of electronic invoices”, he adds.

The executive details that these resources allow not only an accurate monitoring of product movements, but also ensure that replacements are made quickly, avoiding stock ruptures during high demand.And he already anticipates plans for the holidays. “When the retailer dominates the stock, it is possible to project demands for other high-volume commercial periods, such as Christmas, using historical data from Black Friday and other dates, as well as business intelligence to predict future needs”, he concludes.