A million requests, a million problems solved Snupit, South Africa’s leading online platform for finding local professionals, announces that over 1,000,000 customer requests have been posted on their platform. Avinash Samlall, Snupit’s Founder and CEO, commented, “If you go to the (Snupit) website, you can see the simple message ‘Find local professionals for just about anything’ on the home page. This basically summarizes what Snupit is about. Clearly, this message has resonated with a lot of people. A million times people have requested to find a local professional through our system. And that’s because we’ve worked hard to build a very smooth process and effective system. One that maintains the simplicity of Snupit’s core and focuses on the needs of the users.” Snupit owes its conceptualization to a frustrating experience its CEO Mr. Samlall had when he was looking for a local service provider online without any luck. The company has come a long way in providing the most hassle-free solution to help South African locals find the best professional for their job. The million requests being celebrated by the company span across more than 600 service categories. Over the years Snupit has continued to enhance and optimize its user experience to ensure the company remains the top choice for South Africans. Conducting surveys, taking part in national business shows, improving trust & security features are some examples of how Snupit stays ahead of the curve. In the wake of reaching 1,000,000 customer requests, the company is gearing towards reaching twice this number of requests. Mr. Samlall further commented on Snupit’s milestone and next goal, “This is an incredible accomplishment which has been achieved over a two and a half year period. Our target is to now reach 2 million requests over the next 12 months or sooner. We have optimized our user experience on our site and mobile apps to ensure that customers can quickly and easily find what they are …
Mixed Results For South Africa In Productivity
RE: MIXED RESULTS FOR SOUTH AFRICA IN PRODUCTIVITY STATISTICS Ad mists a flailing economy; South Africa has notched a credible increase in Capital economy. However, despite the increase in Capital economy, Labour productivity and Multifactor productivity recorded a decline in growth in the same period. This is according to the latest Productivity Statistics released this week by the government entity responsible for promoting productivity and job creation in the country, Productivity SA. Capital and Labour productivity measure the efficiency of capital investment and employees in production of output in the economy, respectively, while Multifactor productivity measures the level of technological progress and innovation. The 2019 Productivity Statistics show that Capital productivity increased to 1.3 percent in 2018 from 0.7 percent in 2017. The indicator recorded 5 successive years of positive growth between 2014 and 2018 following a decline in the indicator between 2011 and 2013. Capital productivity also experienced positive growth in 2010. However, an increase in Labour input coupled with the decrease in Real output caused Labour productivity to decline to -0.9 percent in 2018 from 0.4 percent in 2017. The negative growth in 2018 followed 4 years of volatile growth Labour productivity between 2014 and 2017. The other negative growth in the indicator was realised in 2015 and 2016. The other decline in Labour productivity was realised in 2016 while positive growth was registered between 2010 and 2014. Strong positive growth in the indicator was recorded in 2013 while the opposite was true in 2016. The 2019 Productivity Statistics were released today by Productivity SA. Multifactor productivity declined to -0.4 percent in 2018 from 1.7 percent in 2017. The other negative growth in the indicator was registered in 2015 and 2016 while positive growth was recorded in 2014 and 2017. Other related indicators show that Labour input accelerated to 1.5 percent in …
National Productivity Awards for productive businesses
25 companies will battle it out at the National Productivity Awards 2019 to be held today 17 October 2019 at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park. The entity responsible for promoting productivity within South Africa, Productivity SA, will award best performers at a ceremony held as part of Productivity. The finalists were selected from 50 companies countrywide. Productivity SA is also celebrating 50 years of existence. The awards provide a platform to inspire a competitive and productive South Africa. Productivity improvement is considered the most effective way of ensuring ongoing competitiveness, economic growth and the creation of decent employment. Winners of the awards stand to receive recognition and prestige that goes with winning the National Productivity Awards. The Productivity Awards aim to recognise and provide a platform to inspire a competitive and productive South Africa. We commence the celebrations by hosting regional awards across the country in the nine (9) Provinces where Productivity SA recognises and gives awards to enterprises which have shown evidence of productivity, employment, wealth and income growth as well as social responsibility. The awards are conferred in the categories of Emerging Sector, Co-operatives Sector, Public Sector and Corporate Sector. The Entity uses the awards to galvanise all South Africans to embrace the concept of productivity as a way of life, enhance Productivity SA brand and increase Productivity SA ‘s footprint through various activities during the October month which has been designated as Productivity Month. Productivity SA is an Entity of the Department of Employment and Labour established in terms of section 31 of the Employment Services Act, No. 4 of 2014, with the mandate to promote employment growth and productivity thereby contributing to South Africa’s socio-economic development and competitiveness. The Entity’s core business is to develop relevant productivity competencies and, to promote and …
Hytec Sasolburg Open Day
Hytec South Africa recently opened its first branch in the Free State. The new Sasolburg branch, strategically located in close proximity to key customers in the area, recently held an Open Day to showcase its new state-of-the-art facility and service offering in the region. With a large stockholding and service and repair equipment, the new branch enables Hytec South Africa to shorten lead times for local clients in industry. “With our branch located so close to the Group’s main repair and service facility at the Rexroth HUBB in Kempton Park, we are able to attend to all customers’ needs in no time,” says Hytec Sasolburg Manager, Pieter Boshoff. The Open Day, held on 13 September 2019, showcased the branch’s local capabilities to key customers and stakeholders. “It was very special to have customers at our Open Day,” says Boshoff. “All our attendees were very complimentary of the new building, which embodies the ethos of the Bosch Rexroth brand.” The Hytec Sasolburg team is ready to tackle any new and exciting challenges as they expand their footprint into the Free State. Hytec South Africa, part of the Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group of Companies, is Africa’s leading supplier of hydraulic systems and components. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
Kwikspace supplies temporary solutions to growing SA business
Kwikspace provided a temporary building solution for an international brewery in Gauteng during the facility’s expansion project. It rented 26 park homes for use at the brewery as office and ablution facilities during the expansion. Site safety is a very important consideration and Kwikspace needed to satisfy the brewery’s stringent health and safety standards before it was able to deliver its units. Kwikspace maintained a presence on site throughout the project with continuous engagement and site surveys to ensure ongoing safety of the site. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
Veolia supplies trickling filter technology to Mpumalanga’s Ngwenya Lodge
Veolia Water Technologies South Africa supplied a 400 m³/day civil-based sewage treatment plant which utilises trickling filter technology to treat sewage water at the Ngwenya Lodge in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga. Situated on the southern boundary of the Kruger National Park, Ngwenya Lodge requested Veolia Water Technologies to supply a new waste water treatment solution to cater for the needs of the resort. “Our sewage treatment plants and trickling filter technology treat sewage to RSA General Standards for Discharge”, says Veolia Water Technologies’ Business Development Manager, Vashlin Govender. “Just a single package plant can treat domestic sewage for up to 4,000 residents”. Veolia's civil-based sewage treatment plants are easy to install and commission, making them ideal for remote locations. The technology is simple so automation and control requirements can be kept to a minimum, allowing for a reliable and robust solution which requires no skilled operators to operate the plant. South Africa is becoming a global leader in eco-tourism. Veolia’s fully containerised sewage treatment plants with trickling filter technology are rapidly becoming vital for the African tourism industry. Trickling filter technology can accommodate large fluctuations in quality and volume of inflow, including shock loads. The system also reduces sludge production to approximately a third of its original volume. Trickling filter plants are compact, reduce odour, improve water colour and can be designed to meet client specific discharge requirements. In addition to being more affordable and robust, this technology is simple and reliable, requires minimal maintenance and lower energy input, allows flexibility of effluent load, and systems recover faster after power outages. Veolia Water Technologies is the only company in Southern Africa with the technology to design and engineer industrial-sized trickling filter plants. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to …
How to create a culture of innovation.
For centuries product innovation has been important to business growth and expansion, although many businesses also thrived through low-cost or customer service based differentiation, often with little real innovation. With the introduction of the 4th Industrial Revolution, this is no longer the case. According to Talksure’s Head of Product, Sean Stringer, “This new chapter in human development has fundamentally changed the way we live, work and relate to one another. Today, erring on the side of caution when it comes to innovation (and product innovation in particular) will not only see you left behind, but closing your doors.” He adds that 88% of the Fortune 500 firms that existed in 1955 are no longer around. So, what do the remaining 12% have in common? The answer is a culture of innovation. “Innovation doesn’t just happen though, you have to be purposeful and onboard the entire business,” Sean explains. He recommends the following four ways to foster a culture of innovation: 1. Lead from the front: Famous author, John C. Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership”. When it comes to innovation this rings especially true. You need to ensure that both you and your business leaders buy into the concept of innovation, because without that your people may not rise to the challenge. Furthermore, your responsibility as a leader is not necessarily to be the innovator, but rather to inspire and mobilise teams to WANT to innovate. 2. Access to the right tools and environment: If you can inspire your people, you then need to create an environment that is conducive to innovation. Consider hosting innovation workshops, but don’t forget to employ processes that map out how to deliver and implement new thinking – after all, thought without action is not innovation, it’s just another idea. 3. Collaboration: Leverage different parts of the business to collaborate, explore and create. Junior team members can bring a lot of insight in terms of defining …
Lawhill Honours Top Achievers
Port of Cape Town Port Manager Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) was the keynote speaker at the annual awards ceremony of Simon's Town School's Lawhill Maritime Centre on 10 October. She encouraged the inspiring group of learners to carry their positive Lawhill values well into adulthood and to develop grit, which would enable them to fight through any undesirable circumstances to achieve long term goals. “The unfortunate reality of the society we live in, is that not every young person can and will succeed. And those from rural areas are the most vulnerable,” she said, adding “Excellence is an attitude, not an end game.” She spoke especially to the young men in attendance, encouraging them to fight against deep-seated structural, institutional and cultural barriers that serve to undermine girls and women. “Young men, you have already shown your excellence in your schooling and I have no doubt that you can and will show excellence in your character, as you continue to evolve into respectable adult men. You need to remain boys and men who respect girls and women, who respect yourselves, and who value life and human dignity,” she said. She reminded the youngsters that no person has the right to treat them as inferior and that boys and girls are equal in all respects. Since 2006 TNPA has enjoyed a successful partnership with Lawhill, providing bursaries for more than 80 learners to study at this specialist maritime school to date. This year TNPA has 13 bursary holders at the school, including five matriculants, Lukhanyo Tom, Sive Gcume, Yolisa Adoons, Cassidy Wittels and Wendy Maliti, who are now in the final year of their three-year TNPA bursaries covering tuition and boarding fees. Each year TNPA-funded learners are among those recognised for excellence in academic and extracurricular achievements at the annual awards ceremony - and this year was no different. Lukhanyo Tom of Khayelitsha was presented with the …
Spitfire Inbound & Penquin take home 5 awards at the 2019 New Generation Social & Digital Awards 2019
Spitfire Inbound & Penquin, have received three silver and two gold awards, following the recent 2019 New Generation Social and Digital Awards. Amongst these was the Gold Award won in The New Generation Digital Brand of the Year Award category – demonstrating leadership in the digital space, a central pillar to their businesses. Says Darren Leishman, Managing Director at Spitfire Inbound; “Every year we strive towards delivering innovative solutions to meet the growing demands of our clients’ digital and marketing portfolios and this award is testament to not only our expertise in the digital space, but our ability to deliver real value to the market – value that is driven through deeply understanding and connecting with our client’s current and potential audiences.” The New Generation Social & Digital Media Awards are the largest celebrated digital media awards in the country – honouring South Africa’s creative agencies and in-house marketing teams for their innovative use of social and digital media, as well as best practice use of online media and tools. Underpinned by their joint efforts on the Suzuki Swift launch campaign - #AllTheRightFeels – these awards showcase the brands’ leadership in experienced-based, integrated marketing, lead-nurturing and digital execution, as well as provide a platform for further excellence in future campaign development. The following titles were awarded to Spitfire Inbound and Penquin as this year’s event: Gold – The New Generation Digital Brand of the Year Award Gold – Most innovative social media campaign by a medium-large agency Silver - Best Revenue Generating Marketing Campaign/Event Silver - Best Integrated marketing campaign by a corporate Silver – Best Marketing Automation Campaign “With almost 400 entries, across 43 categories, and going up against some of South Africa’s most creative campaigns, there is no doubt that the competition was tough and so, we are extremely proud that …
Measured Ability Group Holdings South Africa (MASA) measuring up to high industry standards
Durban, KwaZulu Natal, 11 October 2019: MASA has fine-tuned its service offering over a period of four decades and established itself as leader in the recruitment and outsourcing industry. Measured Ability Group Holdings South Africa (MASA) Is a decade old this year, still a relatively new brand name in the marketplace, however the directors and their staff were the progenitors of labor outsourcing in South Africa having been in the business of recruitment and outsourcing for close on four decades. To put it in perspective; when the founding company, Greys Personnel, was established in 1982 Michael Jackson had just released his groundbreaking album “Thriller”, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands and went to war with the UK, FW de Klerk became the new leader of the National Party and a bomb exploded in the ANC headquarters in London. The company now has a national footprint with a recruitment agency in Durban, recruitment agency in Port Elizabeth as well as recruitment agencies in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg, Bloemfontein, East London and George. When you look at it like that, you realise that MASA stands on foundations that have stood the test of time. It’s a company that has its roots embedded in permanent personnel recruitment and has evolved admirably to encompass contract recruitment, labour outsourcing as well as nursing services. In 2012, the business merged the strength of Greys Personnel that operated in the permanent placement market with the depth of experience of Western Star Outsourcing which operated in the contract and outsourcing market and rebranded as MASA to pull together a company that comprises five distinctive business units. The 5 pillars of business are: Measured Ability SA (MASA) Blue collar labour hire / labour broking / temporary employment / temporary staffing / permanent blue collar recruitment; incorporating payroll services, site management, human resources and industrial relations, …