Telkom’s Yep introduces AI to the platform to boost SME efficiency

Telkom’s Business online marketplace for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Yep, has revealed that it now has infused artificial intelligence (AI) on its platform.

This AI tool is set to accompany two new digital solutions to assist SMEs with reputation management and social marketing. Yep is described as a digital marketplace where customers can search and purchase from small businesses.

Yep is a transition from Telkom’s 70-year-old Yellow Pages business that was launched in 2020. Telkom recently revealed that each new tool will come in a standard version, while the pro version comes with the added AI functionality.

The CIO of Telkom Business, Keneilwe Gwabeni mentioned that the tools provide SMEs with the ability to refine their online presence, for them to be able to grow their businesses. “The online world is the best way for SMEs to reach new customers and grow their brands, but it is an unforgiving environment that requires a lot of time and energy to get right,” – she said.

The telecoms company says the standard version of the social marketing tool allows users to plan, schedule and publish content and respond to comments on various social media platforms.

The normal version allows up to 20 posts to be managed for Facebook and Google Business, with post-performance and social audience analytics, then the pro version allows an unlimited number of posts to be managed on the same platforms, as well as Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Telkom also reveals that the pro version also offers link tracking, customer posts, leads, RSS feeds, tagging in posts and a clickable bio for Instagram. The built-in AI that is available on the pro version helps users creates content rapidly and also delivers deep analysis of data. Gwabeni also noted that one of the major benefits of the pro version is the built-in AI that assists users to craft effective content. Content is everything in the cluttered social media space, and next-generation AI is a powerful tool to make generating compelling content quicker and easier.

Gwabeni added that the reputation management tool gives a way for SMEs to pin point problems on all platforms so they can be addressed. The standard version of the reputation management tool provides SMEs with a way to manage reviews on Facebook, Google and MyListing, respond to reviews in-line and analyse sentiment and stats. It will also generate a daily digest e-mail and executive report for the business owner.

The company has also pointed out that the pro version extends the functionality of the reputation management tool by including citations, listings stats, competitor analysis, mentions, social monitoring and use AI to deliver analysis of the data collected.