Shezartech

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I handle the People’s Initiative in the corporate social responsibility department for my company, including training and employability programs. I focus on intersectionality surrounding general life skills and the empowerment of women.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shezartech?

We’d had a substantial growth of women we’d worked with who were all our students, reaching close to 100,000 in the last year. We work with partners, non-profit organizations, and a considerable amount of goodwill has been created as a result of the program.

We wanted to create a mobile based alumni network that would engage users and foster a willingness to upgrade their own skills, as well as pull them towards some of our other initiatives. We created an audio-visual curriculum, which is on a capsule and mobile in nature, so anybody can learn on their own. Shezartech is our digital partner when it comes to alumni engagement and interface between curriculum and our target audience in remote areas.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we worked together to create an audio-visual learning component for our training module. We started creating more technical tools because they had new ideas we could explore, including a low-cost LED for learning modules that can be loaded and dispatched to training centers. We moved on to social media from there, and then to creating the entire alumni engagement app for iOS and Android.

The app has multiple functionalities, including a chat room, learning nuggets, and games. The e-learning options are in the apps, but we’ve also created a web backup for it in case network issues arise. This is a very different kind of project that involves gender, so in the learning nuggets, we have incorporated learning tools about POSH [Prevention of Sexual Harassment] in the workplace. They implement everything using plans I’ve created.

Shezartech created our entrepreneurship based program games where users can learn different tricks and trades, including how to push their own sales. Along with an online game that helps build networking skills, Shezartech also creates microsites for us and our nonprofit nodal agencies. They manage our digital network as well.

They manage all of our social media, including article creation, engagement platforms, and partnership opportunities for multiple mediums. This includes our Facebook page, where we are now working with feminist ezines in India. There are also videos, tools, and infographics that sync with these channels. We gather a lot of information about issues through social media, including information about women participating in the workforce.

They’ve been invested in understanding our project, and haven’t taken on any others due to this.

What is the team dynamic?

I lead their team of two people who work full time, and they’ve really been central to the success of the project. Their sense of humility and the deep engagement they’ve brought to this project are both things we cherish.

How did you come to work with Shezartech?

Shezartech had created part of our sales learning nuggets, so I was referred that way.

How much have you invested with them?

Our annual investment is ₹50-₹90 lakh rupees [$78,000-$140,600].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2015, and the relationship is ongoing. The project has continued growing over that time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

It’s still in the development stage, but we’ve just launched a beta version and the pilot. The social media reach has been quite wide, and since February, we’ve reached more than 2,000 followers organically due to the constant creative engagement from their team. The app is going to reach 100,000 users, but our first launch isn’t expected until the end of September. We should start with 5,000, but we expect to reach 30,000.

Most of the learning nuggets have been in consultation. We have very active live skills and women empowerment centers, and many of them are using these as a part of their curriculum. The prevention of sexual harassment, menstrual health and hygiene education, and reproductive rights education are all very crucial and reinforced by our programs. It’s great to see them become learning nuggets.

How did Shezartech perform from a project management standpoint?

The project was never slowed down if they had attrition on their end. It helped to have a dedicated team to work with, and we communicated through emails and in-person meetings once a month. There’s one person who takes care of social media with our team 3 days a week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve done a comparative analysis of other organizations in this space when it comes to budget, understanding, and customization, and they’re impressive. Trying to understand the corporate social responsibility is not a main function, and all the things I require are extensive. They did with the budget what wouldn’t have been possible with any other agency. They are ready to work within that budget, and still give the best creative input.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There is always room for improvement in project management. There were certain efficiency and copy issues, and sometimes I found the proof was not read well.