Denis Opudo
When in their final years, Olanipekun Tosin and Bodunrin Yekini developed a platform called Hovatek. The platform acts as an online tech support to Nigerians hence people do not have to visit computer village or hub to have their device problems resolved. The users obtain solutions from the platform by accessing online tutorials and videos.
During our recent interview with Yekini, he explained to us how the platform works and some of the setbacks they face. Yekini first clarified that the platform users can ask questions and access their materials without incurring any charges. He also said that the main reason for establishing the platform was to provide convenient services at a cheaper cost. Moreover, considering people in the market ranging from novice to tech savvies, they all have issues to fix. Besides, some people such as parents and students may have fixed schedules hence not having time to visit computer hubs. Therefore, Hovatek would often help such individuals at their own comfort.
The startup also has a global reach and Nigerians can trust their services since the company has been approved to offer their services by relevant authorities. Hovatek tries to educate users on how to fix their device problems provided one has access to the internet. Moreover, the online tutorials are straightforward and well explained that enables users to fix their problems while at home.
Moreover, when some users have complex issues, they can contact the platform support team who use Live Remote Assistance Service (LRAS) or Instant Messaging Service (IMS) for communication. Therefore, the team gets in touch with users in such extreme cases and helps in solving their problems without physical access.
Moreover, Hovatek has established a forum where they help users to fix mobile phones that can’t boot. The forum requires that the users connect the phone to a nearby PC and Hovatek Forum. In the forum, users have the liberty to post their device questions or related issues and a team helps in fixing the gadgets.
Additionally, many device problems can be solved by the owners provided they follow the outlined steps. According to the founders, presuming that an engineer with a workshop is the only one who can fix device problems is wrong. Instead, they advocate that the owners should fix their issues without paying.
However, the walk has not been smooth for the founders of Hovatek. The main challenge to them has been power consumptions. However, they are working to resort to using solar power which will consequently reduce their expenses. Besides, solar energy is environmentally friendly and will reduce the effects of global warming hence leading to sustainable development.
Concerning Hovatek’s future plans, the founders plan to launch an affordable pickup which will deliver repaired devices to their users. The move will, therefore, save users from stress and cost of visiting a computer village for repair. Yekini also said that people should change the mentality that funding is the most critical factor for beginning a business. He further admonished that the youths should stop claiming that what they want to begin requires huge capital. Instead, they should consider a solution that will help the society and ultimately provide revenues for them.
