IDEATE | Perspective

 

Tech and Transparency

Technology can make you and your business more transparent to customers - and that’s a good thing in today’s business environment. Thanks to the Internet and the spread of powerful mobile devices, customers are demanding more transparency from vendors. Retailers are under pressure from window shoppers with access to online competitors, middlemen who add little value are struggling because of wide publicity of their outdated or opaque business models, and service providers can find themselves undercut by competition on the other side of the world. If your business depends on secrets, then there’s nowhere to hide anymore says Dave Kerpen, CEO of startup Likable Local. “Business people who attempt to keep secrets will eventually be exposed,” writes Kerpen in 11 Simple Concepts to Become a Better Leader. “Openness and honesty lead to happier staff and customers and colleagues. More important, transparency makes it a lot easier to sleep at night - unworried about what you said to whom.”

 

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CASE IN POINT | Services SETA

 

Difficulties Present Opportunities

By Shalane van Rensburg

 

The administration period was meant to be very brief – no more than six months. However, this had to be extended several times due to deep-seated systemic problems being uncovered. The Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) lacked basic systems, processes and procedures. Supply-chain processes were virtually non-existent, which posed a huge risk for this R1-billion entity. “One of the first things I did was to appoint an audit firm to conduct a dipstick assessment of our finances, and, as expected, all sorts of gremlins came out of this audit,” explains Dr Sihle Moon, the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SSETA) Administrator. The second major preoccupation was to completely overhaul what was a badly flawed service-delivery model. The model was predicated on the participation of a chosen few companies – mainly providers. The majority of employers were completely side-lined from active participation in the skills development process for the sector.

 

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IN BLACK & WHITE | Aki Kalliatakis

 

Try a Little Respect on the Consumers

What do you do when you are confronted by somebody bigger and smarter and better connected than you are? Well, this might be a good time to show some respect. The two-ton gorilla that has just described is not King Kong or Big Foot. He’s the consumer and many companies have yet to realise just how big and smart this colossus really is. Business suffers because the company relies on slick tactics when a little humility and a lot of respect are in order. Let’s take a closer look at just what the average customer facing business is up against. Today’s consumer has bulked up because he or she is better connected. Today, customers share likes and dislikes with the world. They can shout you down whenever they please. Instant access to sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp, HelloPeter, Facebook, YouTube et al see to that.

 

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OUT OF OFFICE | Ferrari

 

Ferrari F12berlinetta makes South African Debut

By Carl Wepener

 

The Italian prancing horse proudly introduces the new Ferrari F12berlinetta to South Africa, and thus further brings to our shores the new generation of V12 Ferraris. The occasion took place at the South African Lipizzaner Equestrian Centre, where the eloquent horses led the Ferrari onto the stage. All the animals, including the Ferrari F12berlinetta, were magnificent examples of their breeds. A host of innovative solutions have been discreetly integrated to make the Ferrari F12berlinetta the most aerodynamic Ferrari. It also includes the Aero Bridge which uses the bonnet to generate down force. Active Brake Cooling is employed by a system that opens guide vanes to the brake cooling ducts only at high operating temperatures. All in all, the Ferrari F12berlinetta is unprecedented in its performance ability and is extremely fast and sporty. It is one of the ultimate high performance yet versatile icons that only ensure driving and racing pleasure.

 

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