This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
On the surface, Kenyan garages and blue-chip firms may seem like vastly different entities. However, a closer look reveals that they share a common trait: the ability to adapt and innovate.
One of the key advantages of visiting a garage is the opportunity to witness firsthand the entrepreneurial spirit of the mechanics. Rather than being seen as dirty or oily places visited only when a problem arises, garages are actually hubs of modernism that are often overlooked by scholars.
Keen observations will reveal that garages are not just places where cars are repaired, but also ecosystems that have developed their own unique services. Mechanics will often outsource tasks such as welding, panel beating, and electronics repair to specialized individuals, who are contacted through a network of trusted contacts.
This business model is not dissimilar to that of tech giants like Apple Inc. and Google, which have created services that we never thought we needed, such as listening to music while walking. Similarly, mechanics offer services that we may not have thought of, such as brightening head lights, installing new wipers, and riveting windbreakers, each of which is performed by a dedicated individual at a fee.
It's worth noting that blue-chip firms also outsource services, and garages have developed their own ecosystems with outsourced services. Mechanics don't even keep spare parts; they buy them when needed, and they never hold their money. This garage model could be emulated by many other businesses to keep costs down, create new jobs and markets.
As we often overlook the entrepreneurial spirit of mechanics, it's worth taking a closer look at the way they operate. By doing so, we may discover that they are ahead of their time, using ideas that we think belong to Apple Inc. and other blue-chip firms.
