Timely Innovation Key to Business Success: Experts at India Skills Kerala

KOZHIKODE:
Any enterprise becomes successful only when ideas embrace product innovation standards at the right time and follows it up with perseverance, according to industry experts participating in a discussion at India Skills Kerala 2020.

Speaking at the open forum on ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship’, they emphasized that the current digital age has prompted customers to look for innovation in every product, instead of reposing sustained faith in any specific brand.

U Noushad, Managing Director, VKC Group of Companies, said customers always look for better products with the best price. “The secret of our success is that we could learn well the need of the customers in the beginning itself,” he noted at Sunday evening session, moderated by Bangalore-based Zocio’s founder-director Aparna Viswanathan.

“A consistent quality improvement is vital to sustain growth. For instance, when we ventured into rubber chappals market, we learned that there are umpteen players. So, innovation was the sole alternative before us, and it obviously paved the way for the success of our entrepreneurship,” Noushad said.

N Sasidharan Nair, Chairman of Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants (ODEPC), said innovation and brand image make an entrepreneurship perform well. “We have to instill entrepreneurial interest among children by making the entrepreneurs as their role models,” he added at a discussion on ‘Essentials of successful startups’, ‘Basic entrepreneurship lessons’ and ‘Role of Innovation in building up successful entrepreneurships’.

Kerala Small Scale Industries Association President M Khalid, while noting that branding is an important factor, said product innovation and attractive packing have helped his brand to make a strong presence in the markets of pickles, vinegar and jams among others. “I would like to see each contestant here converting their skills into entrepreneurial activities.”

PM Riyaz, Project Director, Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), noted that entrepreneurship and startup are different. “In a startup venture, there should be a technology element. KSUM is offering various supports to startups with innovative ideas. It ranges from financial support, mentoring and incubation support to investor connect. We are aiming at taking the startups to the global arena,” he said. “It is not necessary to differentiate startups by terming them as social entrepreneurship.”

Nisari Mahesh, CEO, Hubwords Media LLP, sharing her experience of starting a career as a freelance writer, said there are a lot of skills that can be developed without investment.

KK Manu, Secretary, Malabar Chamber of Commerce, said organizations have a major role in consolidating different startups. “We have chalked out strategic plans for the growth of startups in Malabar,” he added.

Linsha K, Deputy Manager (SME), State Bank of India, said, “When an entrepreneur approaches us, we will assess their passion for the startup, knowledge, and integrity.”

India Skills Kerala 2020is being organised by the Industrial Training Department and Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence, both under the State Labour and Skills Department.

The February three-day event gave contestants an opportunity to participate at the national competitions, where the victors get a chance to represent the country at World Skills 2021 at Shanghai in China.