Usability and Utility Needs of Mobile Applications for Business Management among MSEs: A Case of Myshop in Uganda

This paper discusses the usability needs of mobile applications for basic business management for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises (MSEs) in developing countries. This is based on results from a user study carried out in Uganda on 30 MSEs. The study was carried out on MyShop, an easy to use mobile business management application for cash transactions and book keeping designed for micro-entrepreneurs. The study investigated learning to use MyShop, the support MyShop gives to the user and its usefulness, and value addition to users. The study also covered the pleasure and stimulation MyShop gives to users. Results from the study show that MSE owners/shopkeepers would like an application that is easy to use such as have an intuitive navigation and a simple and clear language. They would also like an application that supports their unique context like multiple people operating a shop, selling goods on credit, ownership of multiple businesses, use of low end phones and regular load shedding. In terms of value addition, MSEs would like the application to assist them in managing the daily operations and developing the business in the long term such as marketing, time saving and control over business.