Towards the Journey of Women Empowerment: The Development of a Digital Platform for Women Entrepreneurs

Abstract

Women, representing nearly half of the global population (approximately 3.97 billion), often face marginalisation in their families, communities, and regions due to various reasons. Like any other, every woman has the right to make her own choices in life, leading to an empowered life. Entrepreneurship serves as a crucial tool for empowerment, yet women entrepreneurs encounter numerous challenges along the way. Digitalisation, especially in modern and developed societies, has significantly improved lives, including those of women. Digital platforms can play a key role in supporting women entrepreneurs, providing them with the resources and networks they need to thrive. In countries like Sri Lanka, which is evolving from a patriarchal to an egalitarian society, there is a growing need to develop comprehensive ecosystems to support women entrepreneurs. This study introduces and evaluates a digital platform prototype named "Empower Her," designed to facilitate the entrepreneurial journeys of women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. Using a mixed method approach, the study evaluates how effective this digital platform is and explores what improvements are required. The research was looked at through the lenses of empowerment, digital empowerment, feminist theories and capability approach. In the quantitative approach, the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) was shared with 30 women entrepreneurs, along with the link for the “Empower Her” app to evaluate. The data were analysed using the UEQ analysis version 10.0. The analysis showed that “Empower Her” is an extremely good app to use. It was appealing and attractive, and the task-related qualities, such as perspicuity, efficiency, and dependability, were scaled at high levels. Attribute-wise evaluation indicated that the app is understandable, motivating, friendly and clear but does not have a leading edge. In the qualitative approach, five women entrepreneurs were interviewed on effectiveness and to take feedback on further developments. User friendliness, a motivator, a supporting hand, a learning platform and connectivity and collaboration were the themes for user effectiveness. On further developments, tailor-made education programmes, access to funding and financial tools, e-commerce integration, wellness and well-being, and social empowerment were suggested. Empowerment is a challenging journey, and entrepreneurship facilitated by digital technologies could enhance women's capabilities, letting them achieve the lives they aspire to.