Interview with MadeinCA: Alok Dukle

August 8, 2023

We at Intelisa build intelligent digital signage solutions that help offline businesses make their customer communication real-time, engaging, and intuitive. We have a cutting-edge platform with a strong technology backbone which is deployed in more than 3,000 locations worldwide. We are a passionate team driven by our love for technology and innovation. We firmly believe in continually pushing the envelope on innovation in the digital signage industry. In the long run, we want to make Intelisa a global leader in the space, expanding into newer markets and making a significant impact on offline businesses worldwide.

Tell us about yourself?

My background is rooted in my lifelong interest in technology and innovation. After completing my business studies, I had the opportunity to join a corporate incubator, where I gained valuable experience in the intricacies of building companies. During this stint, I had the privilege of working with numerous entrepreneurs. Witnessing their drive to create something impactful was incredibly inspiring. It fueled my desire to gain the necessary knowledge to build tech on a larger scale. Over the years, I collaborated with colleagues who shared similar interests and possessed complementary skill sets. Some of us were technology experts, while others had strong business skills. Together, we built the foundation of Intelisa. The collective expertise and our shared vision led us to establish Intelisa as it is today.

If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself not to dwell too much or get disheartened by setbacks. As an entrepreneur, one is solving tough problems and facing large challenges every day. Setbacks along the way are a natural part of the journey. It’s important to embrace them as learning opportunities and cultivate resilience.

What problem does your business solve?

At Intelisa, we address the challenges faced by offline businesses – the majority of which currently rely on static communication channels to their customers. Traditional static communication methods are inefficient, costly, and may result in, at times, promoting incorrect products. We aim to overcome these limitations and provide businesses with a dynamic and effective communication platform that enables real-time and efficient digital display communication by centrally controlling digital display communication across locations. Being a digital channel, we can add deeper layers of technology to enable a more personalized communication experience based on an individual’s interests, preferences, and behavioural data. This level of personalization enhances the customer experience by providing relevant and meaningful information, which in turn leads to higher engagement and conversion rates. Whether it’s displaying personalized recommendations, targeted offers, or interactive content, our digital signage solution empowers businesses to deliver impactful and effective communication.

What is the inspiration behind your business?

Our business was inspired by a core insight I gained through my marketing stint in a retail firm with over 200 stores. I noticed the significant impact mannequins had on sales of highlighted apparel – the sales increased by almost two times by simply highlighting them efficiently. I also observed the limitations of these mannequins, which could underline only one product at a time. This led to the idea of creating a digital mannequin – with digital displays that could highlight and promote multiple products effectively. We aimed to solve the problem of limited display capacity and lack of personalized communication that existed in static communication channels. Our intelligent digital signage solution acts as a digital mannequin and sales assistant, enabling businesses to showcase and promote a wider range of products intelligently, resulting in increased inquiries and sales.

What is your magic sauce?

Our magic sauce lies in our exceptional team. We have a diverse group of talented individuals with deep technical expertise and strong business acumen. Our team members possess complementary skill sets and share a common vision, along with a passion for their respective fields. What sets us apart from the competition is our ability to deliver end-to-end solutions. We not only excel in software development but also in hardware integration and prototyping, making our solution intelligent and comprehensive. This also allows us to provide customized solutions to our customers tuned to their specific needs, which has helped us grow our presence to over 3,000 locations in a short span of time.

What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?

Over the next five years, our plan is to expand our presence globally across key geographies. We aim to scale up our footprint and tune our distribution to cater to multiple markets. In addition to geographical expansion, we will focus on further enhancing our product features and technology capabilities. Our goal is to be at the forefront of innovation, providing state-of-the-art digital signage solutions that address the specific needs of multiple sectors.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

As an entrepreneur, you have multiple challenges thrown at you – and it is rather difficult to choose one! One key challenge every entrepreneur faces is building and proving the product with a limited runway of capital – being quick enough before key resources dry up – it’s akin to a ticking time bomb! However, in my mind, our greatest challenge came with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic directly impacted the retail industry, which we are deeply involved in. We had to make several key decisions in a short span of time – from cutting costs to agility in product strategy, from pitching newer offerings to cultivating patience to weather the storm! Despite the challenge, our team steered on, and we used this time effectively to enhance our product while trimming costs. As we emerged from the waves of the pandemic, our product’s quality and value proposition attracted more customers, resulting in eventual business growth.

How can people get involved?

You can reach out for a free consult and trial at 437-986-2288 or info@intelisa.ca. You can also visit our website at www.intelisa.ca to learn more about our offerings.

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