Webloyalty

Written by Rachel Brown

Many may not know it, but accessing the internet is a privilege. Often referred to as one of the greatest contributors to world peace and democracy, having access to information is fundamental in these times. And while we are fortunate enough in Canada to have a relatively unrestricted access, many countries around the world do not enjoy such freedom. 

One company that has been working tirelessly towards bringing these resources worldwide is Webloyalty.com, a Vancouver-based online marketing and loyalty program management firm. The company was founded in 2005 by two young entrepreneurs who recognized how the internet could help developing countries make the same progress that Canada has made over the last couple of decades. 

"Webloyalty is about bringing digital access to the growing population of unconnected people," says Webloyalty.com founder and CEO Daryn Nicolaisen. "In order for economic development to flourish, you need internet access and information dissemination."

The technology that Webloyalty utilizes uses proprietary software to convert books into digital format (TXT). The books are then distributed online and can be accessed on any mobile device or computer.

"We started this company because there are a billion people in the world who don't have internet access," explains Nicolaisen. "By 2013, that number is projected to grow to two billion. Those people need access to information and educational resources, and books are among the most important."

In Canada, Nicolaisen says that most of the population has access to easy access to the web, but when you talk about Africa and Asia there are a lot of challenges. In order for developing communities to evolve, they need information. And in order for them to receive this info they need an internet connection. Unfortunately, many places lack the technology necessary to connect with the web. This is where Webloyalty comes into play.

"The internet can be thought of as the nervous system for a country," he says. "It's how information is transferred, where people get all their facts. Traditionally, books have been the way to get facts, but with resources being limited in developing countries they need a more cost effective and efficient platform."

Webloyalty offers a huge variety of options to choose from including business books, kids' books and educational resources. The franchise also boasts an abundance of different languages including French and Spanish.

"Much of our work has taken place in Africa," says Nicolaisen, who was born in Zambia. "In 2012, we grew revenue in the continent to $2.5 million and are aiming to more than double that number by the end of 2013."

The company currently operates in 11 countries including Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy and Denmark. With so many books available in such a wide variety of languages something could always be added or subtracted from the list. Nicolaisen says that adding books for younger readers is a goal for their future and to pursue the goal they want Webloyalty to 'inform' people instead of just exchanging information.

"We'd like to create a worldwide library with millions of books," he states. "The whole point is to get people reading."

Based in Vancouver, the company employs close to 60 people and has reached over $10 million in revenue. Nicolaisen says that even though their numbers are large and they are a global company, whenever a problem arises they all work together to create solutions. They also have frequent brainstorming sessions to keep their books contemporary and relevant.

Over the next couple of months, they will be using their technological advantage to raise money for charity. On October 2nd, Webloyalty will be donating $1 for every book purchased to support literacy initiatives worldwide.

"We don't want to be just another company that sits on its laurels and watches the world pass us by," concludes Nicolaisen. "We want to make a difference in the world."

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Conclusion

The couple wishes to donate the profits from the Webloyalty drive to the United Nations World Food Programme, an organization that provides humanitarian assistance to people in need. The WFP helps alleviate hunger and food insecurity, provides support to victims of natural disasters, promotes improvements in nutrition, is a catalyst for ending hunger and works with other organizations in meeting food security needs by providing recommendations on improving nutrition and recommends action plans for reducing malnutrition. There are currently 870 million people suffering from hunger globally, which equates to about one-third of the world's population (http://www.wfp.org/hungerfacts). The WFP works with member countries and partners around the world.