The New Normal:: Digitization, Digitalization and E-Commerce in International Business

By Lefor Joseph Lefor

The essence of this book is not to scare individuals or businesses operating on either local, national or global scales. It is, however, meant to draw our attention to the fact that; certain changes in global business outlook have occurred so fast and these changes have definitely come to stay. In effect, there undoubtedly needs to be an accompanying paradigm shift in our normal business modules, routines and operations if we need to live up with the times.

Large Multinational corporations are no exception to this. Nonetheless, starts-ups and SME's need to be keener on digitization and online presence if they wish to scale up operations to national and international levels.

This book would borrow plenty of events and examples within Europe, America and Africa. However, a wakeup-call will mostly be directed towards start-ups and SMEs in the continent of Africa which are neither showing interest in going digital yet nor are proving active in augmenting their existing digital technologies.

I spent 22years of my life in Cameroon, a country which is located in West and Central Africa before was later exposed to alternative digital experiences in other parts of the world. I thought of warning you ahead, just because some of the stories I will share in this book are massively shaped by where I have spent my life the most.

Let’s get straight into it.

I begin by exposing some realities in Cameroon as to where Start-ups and SME’s are at, with regards to digitization and e-commerce. This would serve as a starting point to the practical realities and theoretical knowledge this book intends to pass across.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781665581202

Lefor Joseph Lefor

Mr. Lefor Joseph Lefor is a holder of MSc International Business degree in the United Kingdom. The young inspirer and lover of digital innovation has worked across several departments in higher education for over 2years and counting. These include: Student Services, Disability Services and Admissions. Those job roles in addition to previous internships and placement in-and-out of the United Kingdom have exposed him well enough to understand that digitalizing your business is a super-duper. Joseph was shortlisted as one of the four from the Republic of Cameroon to represent the continent of Africa at the UNCTAD Youth and Global Investment Forum which took place at Palais Des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in October 2018. He seeks to inspire start-ups and SME owners around the globe to crave digital skills as a key strategy to scale up to national and international levels in business. This is one of the core reasons why he embarked on writing his first ever published book titled: The New Normal; Digitization, Digitalization and E-commerce in International Business. On the 16th of July 2020, he decided to embark on this project but wasn’t quite sure about his decision. However, It was along the narrow paths of Cherry Hinton Brook towards the tail end of Mill Road in Cambridge that he said ‘yes’ to this project and embraced it entirely. He runs an online store called ‘Bambridge Shop’. He derived the name from his best two cities in the world: Bamenda and Cambridge. The city of Bamenda in his home country Cameroon and the city of Cambridge which is his resident city in the United Kingdom.

Book preview

THE

NEW NORMAL:

Digitization, Digitalization and

E-commerce in International Business

Image%201.jpg

BY

LEFOR JOSEPH LEFOR

© 2020 Lefor Joseph Lefor. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

AuthorHouse™ UK

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views

of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8121-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8120-2 (e)

Published by AuthorHouse 10/22/2020

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THE

NEW NORMAL:

Digitization, Digitalization and

E-commerce in International Business

BY

LEFOR JOSEPH LEFOR

(2020)

DEDICATION

18181.png To the Lefor’s family.

The figure heads hear include:

Mr. Lefor Louis from Balikumbat and Mrs. Lefor Margaret from Bafut.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I count myself the wealthiest person in the world. This has nothing to do with my bank account but everything to do with the countless great minds God destined to cross my path in life.

Let me use this profound opportunity to think of as many significant figures as have been in my life’s journey till this day. These include but not limited to: My heavenly father, my family, friends, teachers, colleagues (including my managers of the various institutions I have been part of).

Before I start mentioning people, let me acknowledge the giver of all knowledge. I serve an omniscient God. This book is just one of the billions of wonders he does for me.

Family:

Mum & dad (to whom this book is dedicated), Mrs. Lefor Christiana, Mr. Lefor Divine, Mrs. Lefor Mady, Lefor Dan Andrew, Mrs. Bula Quinta and Petyin Derien.

Friends and teachers:

Arrey Bate, Nke Cynthia, Momo Bertrand, Ufembe Romeo, Herman Yves, Sidonie Fotso, Sharon Nguetna, Silenou Arnauld, Anim Desmond, Anim Carlson, Sunjo Cedric, Simon Tagne, Nyuydine Collins, Ewane Anoch, Kamto Raissa, Mabel Yinyuy, Yong Magdala, Ivana Leba, Ebi Roseline, Afanwi Neba, Kumo Glen, Alami Angele, Ngu Fomede, Hillary Prisca, Awah Erica, Swirri Thelma, Moutchipou Laura, Eku Bernadette, Joy Cee, Ngah Christopher, Mr Paul Vincent, Eposi Frida, Ekorh Shiphrah, Anchi Dorcas, Tse Tsang, Bawum Mercy, Chinedu Jude, Frankie Atanga, Yihan Jiang, Anita Mwuesh, Nsoyuka Stephen and Denroy Anogho.

Mr. Fotachi Michael, Mr. Mbilam Samson, Rev Fr. Jervis, Mme. Dinah Fungeh, Mr. Nji Paul, Mr. Ndah Grimbald, Mr. Tamafor Elvis, Mr. Tanwie Valerie, Mr. Makia Mpok, Mr. Leo Orobor, Dr. Gatchu Harry, Dr. Noah Kofi Karley, Dr. Swetketu Patnaik, Dr. Rob Willis, Dr. Sandra Selmanovic, Mrs. Cheryl Greyson, Dr. Helen Benton, Mr. Chun Tu.

Managers and colleagues:

Mrs. Nicola Faulkner, Mrs. Donna Franklin, Mrs. Margarita, Mrs. Marina Tansley, Mr. Chris Welhams, Mr. Suneet Bakarania, Mr. Nana Adom, Mr. Adrian McDonald, Mrs. Claire Wookey, Mr. Darren Leader, Mrs. Helga Cole, Mr. Ernest, Rio