Comments on: Kencall: Blood, Sweat, Tears & Bureacrats (Part 2)

By: Young Mogul

Young Mogul — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:26:40 +0000

I really agree to what you are saying, the success stories we often hear are just the cover page of what really happens. I personally have experienced a lot of short-comings as an entrepreneur.kencall despite being a great company that has managed to rise through the years, the naked truth could make a lot of people opt out of entrepreneurship. Great piece, awaiting part3.

By: kimaani

kimaani — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:42 +0000

This story about Kencall is so worrying. The local media should investigate and let the general public know about it. How can they hire and yet they cant pay?
And perhaps you did not know, for about a month now, Kencall has been training new staff. The training was supposed to take ten days initially but a month later its still on going.

That’s how I came to know about your blog after googling for about an hour for any tangible thing about Kencall. If they can’t pay their employees, them why the hell should they be hiring in the first place? if anything, they should think of wrapping up their business.

Before you do a part three on Kencall, please take time and interview a trainee or an employee of Kencall. It seems a great deal of fraud to me.

By: kenyanentrepreneur

kenyanentrepreneur — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:10:23 +0000

Before going into any business, DO THE NUMBERS. If the gross profit margin is not 40% or more, don’t waste your time.

The problem with this analysis of “doing the numbers” is that it’s based largely on theory. Until you actually execute, you won’t really know what’s happening.

That’s why I don’t believe in business plans. When your starting a business you have to just go with the flow and adjust accordingly. How do you calculate the numbers before you’ve even gotten one sale?

I was supposed to do a third post on this series, which was going to include an analysis of why they kept saying that sales were not their priority. They were concentrating on the operational aspects of the business. With a business like that, shouldn’t sales be everything? especially since the operational aspects of the business are not that complex.

By: Qarimi

Qarimi — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:03:53 +0000

Before going into any business, DO THE NUMBERS. If the gross profit margin is not 40% or more, don’t waste your time.

I wonder if KenCall has made back all the money it had invested

By: Working Stiff

Working Stiff — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:08:19 +0000

Sijui,
ssssh!! Stop giving away the secrets The working under the radar is something I had to learn painfully. It is why, I don’t attend big “Let us plan how to improve Kenya” functions. It is amazing the amount of work that can be done if you get 2-5 committed Kenyans outside of the limelight. So much gets done!!

Another thing from the case study that I think many should heed, when going into a negotiation, bring along people who “can read” people if you can’t.

By: kenyanentrepreneur

kenyanentrepreneur — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:03:51 +0000

Actually, page 3 is missing from the case – it would be great if you could add that. This is great stuff though and I look forward to your third post on this.

okay, I’ve added page 3.

I think I need to get a better scanner.

By: Sijui

Sijui — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:55:20 +0000

First and foremost, Hongera! to Marty Nesbitt for being on the vanguard of the new Kenyan economy and literally sticking his neck out and putting it on the line.

I never paid any mind to the ‘Kencall is not paying its employees’ meme because I figured there were two sides to the story and probably some legitimacy on the company’s side….moreover it sounded suspiciously like the typical and tiresome kneejerk reaction of Kenyans in response to mzungus getting paid…in short playahatin’.

To the substance of the case study, I agree how aggravating it is to read about the ‘connections that feel apart at the last minute’ of course a staple of doing business in most parts of Africa. However I think it is illuminating for the micro/SME entrepreneur in that it highlights the dividends that can come from operating below the radar as opposed to Nesbitt who by necessity had to go big because of the nature of his venture, in a fast changing telecoms market in Kenya. It perhaps should also spur some enterprising Kenyans to think of providing support services to these call centers e.g. outsource their training of call agents, transport provision for employees, hardware maintenance etc

Anyway, another good beat the odds story in Kenya…..wish him the best of luck!

By: noni

noni — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:54:57 +0000

Have heard of this one KE

http://www.horizoncontactcenters.com/

By: moc

moc — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:36:47 +0000

Actually, page 3 is missing from the case – it would be great if you could add that. This is great stuff though and I look forward to your third post on this.

I have the same concerns about starting a business in Kenya – the wheeling and dealing is too much.