From Simple Service Provider To Technology-Focused Company
Instantly.sg started in 2015 founded by Ewan Sou. He was working a full-time job and it was the time when Instagram was going viral and saw an opportunity to use the Instagram platform API to provide a service and tested the idea at free events, and was earning $0 out of it. This validated his business and showed that his service had a fit in the market. In 2016, Ewan quit his full-time job and officially started Instantly.sg.
At first, they were just a simple service provider and found it hard to differentiate from other companies. It was a challenge for them to stand out and Ewan wondered how could he make the company more appealing to customers compared to many competitors in the market.
By carefully planning and strategizing, he shifted the company to be more technology focused. As a result, Instantly.sg progressed and started to offer more innovative services and impressive features that other competitors were unable to provide.
Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic
The largest obstacle Instantly.sg encountered was the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it very difficult for the business as events were strictly prohibited. For a couple of months, the company had no income. Due to the lack of certainty and financial limitations, the business had to be downsized and put on hold. In order to keep the business afloat, the team began providing parcel and food delivery services and while they were aware that the pandemic would eventually come to an end, they utilized this period of inactivity to enhance their technological capabilities and innovate.
In spite of everything, Instantly.sg continues to keep in contact with its partners by regularly communicating with them and updating them on the latest developments concerning the impact of Covid-19 on their industry.
Ewan’s Approach To Leadership And Trust In Business
Ewan’s leadership style can be defined in three words – “lead by example”. He firmly believes that he should never ask his staff to perform tasks that he himself doesn’t believe in or cannot accomplish. This approach to leadership has been developed and refined over the years of managing the company. He has learned that trust plays a crucial role in leadership, and one of the best ways to establish trust is by leading by example.
Overcoming Challenges As An Entrepreneur
Being an entrepreneur can be challenging, and it can be difficult to maintain motivation and resilience, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ewan felt so helpless for the first time. Fortunately, he is naturally an optimistic person and tried to stay positive by focusing on the brighter side and reminding himself that things would eventually improve and get better. He sets daily goals for self-improvement with the belief that he would emerge from this experience as a better individual, ready to lead his business through transformation and growth when the pandemic subsides and is over.
Instantly.sg As Creative Innovators
Instantly.sg distinguishes itself from other competitors in the market through its emphasis on technology. Their focus on innovation and research and development enables them to offer a wide range of services, some of which are exclusive to them, making them perhaps the company with the most diverse range of services in Singapore. Rather than being a typical photo booth company, they see themselves as creative innovators who combine technology and photography to produce unique event experiences in Singapore.
Notable Achievements
One of Instantly.sg’s remarkable accomplishments is that they have received coverage from numerous well-known local media. They also have provided their services to several globally recognized clients such as Netflix, Apple, Google, and Dior.
Measuring The Success Of The Business
In terms of financial performance, Ewan evaluates the success of the business by analyzing the monthly revenue and profit figures. He also takes into consideration the feedback they receive from their clients regarding the quality of services they provide.
Recovering From Losses And Plans For The Future
The company is still recovering from the financial losses it experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Once their situation stabilizes, they plan to explore the possibility of selling their own software. As they developed their own software to address the issues they faced while operating the business, they believe that these solutions could be beneficial for other photo booth companies worldwide who may be facing similar challenges.
Advice From Ewan Sou For Aspiring Entrepreneurs
“It is a very competitive industry with low barriers to entry. Technically speaking, anyone who knows photography and has a camera and printer will be able to set up a photo booth. But, to grow the business will require tenacity and creativity.”
Visit Instantly.sg’s website here.