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Nashua is recognised as a Top ICT Employer 2023 in SA

By
LnT Desk
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The 2023 Top Employers have been announced and Nashua has been recognised as a Top Employer in South Africa’s ICT sector. Being certified as a Top Employer showcases an organisation’s dedication to a better world of work and exhibits this through excellent HR policies and people practices.

The Top Employers Institute programme certifies organisations based on the participation and results of their HR Best Practices Survey. This survey covers six HR domains consisting of 20 topics including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Wellbeing and more.

Says Barry Venter, CEO of Nashua: “It’s an honour to receive this award in the year that we celebrate our 50th anniversary. Over the past five decades, the industry and our business have changed, as we have evolved from an office equipment company into an ICT workspace solutions provider. The secret of our success is our people, who drive our ethos of service excellence, and customer-centricity. Serving business communities and enabling their growth runs in our DNA and will always be our passion.”

Top Employers Institute CEO David Plink says: “Exceptional times bring out the best in people and organisations. And we have witnessed this in our Top Employers Certification Programme this year: exceptional performance from the certified Top Employers 2023. These employers have always shown that they care for the development and well-being of their people. By doing so, they collectively enrich the world of work. We are proud to announce and celebrate this year’s group of leading people-oriented employers: the Top Employers 2023.”

Phumza Capa De Bruin, Chief Human Resources Officer at Nashua, adds: “For Nashua, our colleagues are more than employees. They are our greatest marketers and ambassadors, and the key to our vision of driving customer success. Employee happiness is a top priority, along with a focus on developing each and every member of the Nashua team to their full potential.”

The programme has certified and recognised 2 053 Top Employers in 121 countries/regions across five continents

About Top Employers Institute

Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in People Practices. We help accelerate these practices to enrich the world of work.

Through the Top Employers Institute Certification Programme, participating companies can be validated, certified, and recognised as an employer of choice. Established over 30 years ago, Top Employers Institute has certified 2 053 organisations in 121 countries/regions. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over 9.5 million employees globally.

Top Employers Institute. For a better world of work.

About Nashua

Nashua is the Total Workspace Solutions partner of choice for businesses and organisations of all sizes throughout Southern Africa. Using modern technology, our years of expertise, and a franchise model with an extensive regional footprint, we empower businesses to thrive in a constantly changing world.

Over the years, we have evolved from a leader in office automation into an integrated ICT solutions provider offering voice, energy, connectivity, cloud, currency management and document management solutions, access control, surveillance and more in our portfolio. Serving our clients for 50 years, we have always remained committed to a singular brand promise: Saving You Time. Saving You Money. Putting You First.

 

Yahoo most impersonated brand in Q4 2022 Phishing attacks

By
LnT Desk
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Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a top global provider of cybersecurity solutions, has released its Brand Phishing Report for Q4 2022 through Check Point Research (CPR), the Threat Intelligence division of the company. In an effort to steal people’s personal information or payment credentials in the months of October, November, and December of last year, cybercriminals most commonly replicated certain brands, according to the research.

Yahoo was the most impersonated brand for phishing attacks during Q4 2022, climbing 23 places and accounting for 20% of all attempts. Check Point Research found cybercriminals distributing emails with subject lines that suggested a recipient had won awards or prize money from senders such as ‘Awards Promotion’ or ‘Award Center’. The content of the email informed the target that they had won prize money organized by Yahoo, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. It asked the recipient to send their personal information and bank details, claiming to transfer the winning prize money to the account. The email also contained a warning that the target must not tell people about winning the prize because of legal issues.

In general, the technology sector was the industry most likely to be imitated by brand phishing in the last quarter of 2022, followed by shipping and social networks. DHL came in second place with 16% of all brand phishing attempts, ahead of Microsoft in the third spot with 11%. LinkedIn also returned to the list this quarter, reaching fifth place with 5.7%. DHL’s popularity could be due to the busy online shopping season surrounding Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with hackers using the brand to generate ‘fake’ deliveries notifications.

Omer Dembinsky, Data Group Manager at Check Point Software said: “We are seeing hackers trying to bait their targets by offering awards and significant amounts of money. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it almost always is. You can protect yourself from a brand phishing attack by not clicking on suspicious links or attachments and by always checking the URL of the page you are directed to. Look for misspellings and do not volunteer unnecessary information.”

Top 10 Most Imitated Brands

Below are the top brands ranked by their overall appearance in brand phishing attempts:

  • Yahoo (20%)
  • DHL (16%)
  • Microsoft (11%)
  • Google (5.8%)
  • LinkedIn (5.7%)
  • WeTransfer (5.3%)
  • Netflix (4.4%)
  • FedEx (2.5%)
  • HSBC (2.3%)
  • WhatsApp (2.2%)

 

Vodacom lands 2Africa subsea cable in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

By
LnT Desk
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23 January 2023 – The 2Africa subsea cable, the largest subsea cable system in the world, has landed at the Vodacom network facility in Gqeberha, South Africa. This is the first submarine cable landing in the Eastern Cape region, promising greater internet capacity and acceleration of connectivity across the province and supporting South Africa’s growing digital economy.

The 2Africa Consortium includes eight international partners, China Mobile International, Meta (Facebook), MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, center3 (stc), Telecom Egypt, Vodafone/Vodacom and WIOCC, who have partnered to build 2Africa. Launched in May 2022, the subsea cable project aims to significantly increase the capacity, quality, and availability of internet connectivity between Africa and the rest of the world.

The Gqeberha landing is the 2Africa project’s third on the coast of South Africa, following two recent landings in the Western Cape by MTN GlobalConnect, Vodacom is the designated landing partner, providing facilities for the cable’s installation at an existing site in the Summerstrand area.

“This latest 2Africa cable landing affirms Vodacom’s commitment to driving digital inclusion in Africa by increasing access to quality internet services and investing in the network infrastructure to support this goal. We cannot achieve this alone, and collaboration between other industry stakeholders and the public sector is critical in enabling more citizens across the continent to be connected,” says Diego Gutierrez, Vodacom Group Chief Officer: International Markets.

Through the 2Africa landing at Gqeberha, service providers will be able to obtain capacity on a fair and equitable basis, encouraging and supporting the development of a healthy internet ecosystem. Direct international connectivity can then be provided to data centres, enterprise, and wholesale customers. Once the fibre cable system has been deployed, businesses and consumers will benefit from improved quality, reliability, and lower latency for internet services, including telecommuting, high-definition video streaming and advanced multimedia and mobile video applications.

The cable system’s landing in the Eastern Cape will also offer the potential for much-needed regional job creation in sectors that rely on direct international connectivity, such as data centres, call centres and software development. This employment opportunity can help contribute to local and national socio-economic development.

The 2Africa project underpins further growth of 4G, 5G and fixed broadband access by providing improved connectivity to underserved and rural areas; and network resilience from the Eastern Cape to the rest of South Africa. As a gateway to international connectivity, the cable’s landing at Gqeberha will help to develop telecommunications networks in the Eastern Cape and surrounding provinces.

Submarine cable systems, which provide the international networks between continents and countries, form an integral part of the connectivity value chain and increase internet capacity to meet the current and future demands of growing digitalisation in Africa, while catalysing economic growth. In an RTI study, 2Africa is predicted to spur economic impact worth US$26.2 billion to US$36.9 billion, equivalent to 0.42-0.58% of Africa’s GDP, within two to three years of becoming operational.

Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) is responsible for manufacturing and deploying the 2Africa cable, due for completion in 2024. The cable system, measuring 45 000 kilometres in length with a design capacity of 180 Tbps, will interconnect Europe (eastward via Egypt), the Middle East (via Saudi Arabia) and Africa. Essentially, 2Africa will connect 19 countries in Africa and 33 countries in total. The system has four landings in South Africa and two each in Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Egypt, so a total of 27 landings in Africa and 46 landings in total. Delivering more than the total combined capacity of all subsea cables serving Africa today, 2Africa will provide much-needed internet capacity and reliability across much of the Middle East, India, Pakistan and Africa, supporting the growth of 4G, 5G, and fixed broadband access for hundreds of millions of people. The 2Africa East cable system, of which the Gqeberha branch is part of, will go live by and be ready for service by the fourth quarter of 2023.

Gutierrez adds, “Vodacom Group is pleased to be working with our partners in the 2Africa project to bring faster, more reliable internet to local businesses and consumers while helping to build an inclusive digital society on the continent and around the world. The subsea cable system enables more communities to access transformative online resources, from education and healthcare to jobs and financial services, and experience seamless connectivity’s economic and social benefits.”

Business travel is inevitable, overspending doesn’t have to be

By
Bonnie Smith, GM FCM Travel SA
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JOHANNESBURG, 23 January 2023 – Business travel is back, and as the industry returns to normalcy after a few tumultuous years, many of the same old challenges remain: affordability, logistics, efficiency, and reliability, to name a few. Navigating these as an SME is not only time-consuming but can be costly if mismanaged. On top of that, as much as business travel is making a return, the slowing economy is giving businesses further reason to tighten spending. Which is all the more reason to call in the experts and let them do what they do best – save you time and money so that you can focus on your business.

Travel Management Companies (TMCs) can be the difference between an investment in the future of your business or a perennial drain on precious funds. The last thing SMEs want to do is add another line item to the expense list – unless it provides exceptional value, reduced costs, and significant time savings.

New research from Concur shows that at least 2 out of 5 business travellers find travelling for work stressful, with the lead up to their departure and time in transit being the most anxiety-inducing. Working with a TMC makes these stresses all but disappear. They offer an end-to-end travel service and take the reins from the moment you give them the go-ahead.

“Travel bookings are deceptively simple. The process is simple enough and anyone with an internet connection can do it. But what many people don’t account for is the time it’s taking away from the core business, the unnecessary stress it’s creating, and the exclusive rates and deals only available to TMCs. Often the best deal they can see is still far higher than what a TMC has access to.”

  • Bonnie Smith, GM of Corporate Traveller South Africa.

Just how do TMCs save you money? The most obvious is by saving you time, not only during the booking process but also when it comes to filing claims, generating reports, and tracking staff. Just like you are a specialist in your industry, TMCs are specialists in business travel. What might take you a few minutes they’ll do in a few seconds. They also have access to exclusive industry rates and can use their own buying power to negotiate deals on your behalf.

If your business already has negotiated rates and discounts in place, the need for a TMC might seem redundant. But in almost all cases TMCs have the power to honour these existing relationships and expand on them. They spend their days dealing with vendors and service providers finding and negotiating the best deals and rates. Instead of you having to sift through multiple websites and track results across spreadsheets, your TMC will present you with an omnichannel solution that gathers all the relevant data in one place.

“Business travel technology has come a long way, and the solutions available today are nothing short of incredible. Elegant, efficient, and streamlined, Corporate Traveller’s YOUR.CT captures and presents data in an engaging and easily digestible format that makes travel management a pleasure.”

  • Bonnie Smith, GM of Corporate Traveller South Africa.

The expertise of a TMC is invaluable. Their teams are made up of highly experienced dedicated travel experts that have seen and dealt with it all. They know which hotels are two-star parading as three, which airlines to avoid, the best routes to and in a destination, and all the little details you need to know before travelling to somewhere new. They monitor everything related to any given trip and that includes pandemic developments, airport and road closures, weather conditions, strikes, and a host of other things. With their expertise, they can pre-empt scenarios and offer solutions before you know you need them. It’s the kind of knowledge that can only be gained from experience, and they have that in heaps.

When it comes to support and duty of care, especially in the case of SMEs, there’s almost no comparison. A TMC will have someone available 24/7 to handle any requests, disputes, or emergencies. They also consider all aspects and can advise on health and safety practices for all legs of the journey. It’s an aspect that’s easy to overlook but has a big impact on your employees’ comfort and peace of mind. It demonstrates care and consideration for their health and well-being, provisions that pay dividends in the long run.

Business travel is an essential component of business growth and development, as well as employee attraction and retention. Making the shift from unmanaged travel to working with a TMC can be a seamless process that will deliver almost instant benefit. If you haven’t considered utilising a TMC for your SME yet, now’s the time.

 

About Corporate Traveller

Corporate Traveller is a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group, dedicated to saving businesses across Southern Africa time and money. Corporate Traveller has the benefit of being part of the world’s third-largest travel retailer, leveraging its global negotiating strength. It has access to over 50 of the world’s leading airlines and deals with more than 100 000 hotels around the world to guarantee savings for clients. Corporate Traveller provides clear, consolidated reporting of all its clients’ travel activities, helping them to control travel spend and identify opportunities to save costs.

The ERP and technology trends that will shape 2023

By
Mark Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of SYSPRO EMEA
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Following year of supply chain disruptions, a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and record-breaking inflation, 2023 does not look to be very different for manufactures and distributors as they are hampered down by various stages of load shedding.

Even with pandemic-related restrictions now a thing of the past, many reopened enterprises have quickly realised the market is not what it used to be and 2023 will be a challenging year. New technology and the latest enterprise resource planning (ERP) trends have enabled a rush of swift changes in ERP. Manufactures and distributors will be looking at their ERP software systems and trying to maximise the benefits they receive and minimise the impact of the latest stages of disruption. So, what can these organisations expect to see in 2023 and what technology trends will define the year? Let’s take a closer look.

Managing the supply chain

It would be difficult to discuss any future trends around ERP solutions without looking at the current global supply chain situation. While there has been some pressure removed from manufacturers and distributors, there are still major shortages of key materials causing delays in production as well as increase to costs.

Due to these shortages, these organizations are finding it difficult to keep enough inventory in stock as well as numerous challenges around procurement. Almost every manufacturing organization experienced raw material shortages, with supply chain management technologies within ERP systems becoming significantly more popular as a result. These solutions help organizations integrate with suppliers and customers more effectively and give leaders more visibility into the health of their supply chain.

ERP solutions get smarter

ERP rollouts of the last decades focused on collecting transactional data. Now, finance organisations are burdened by the quantity of information collected and don’t know how to analyse or use it. This has led to more intelligent ERP solutions, augmented with AI and connected data, from transaction and external sources, to generate a system that provides contextualised features, experiences, and processes, and can continually learn, improve and adapt.

Effective implementation of an intelligence solution can help reduce human error, save costs, and free up time for your employees to focus on value-generating areas of your business. This domain will be supported by adjacent advancements in AI, the interconnectivity of Internet of Things smart devices, edge computing, digital twins, remote operation, satellite and 5G communications, and advanced materials.

Sustainable practices become the norm

With COP27 recently taking place in November, there has been a renewed focus on finding sustainable solutions and fighting climate change from both the public and private sectors of all industries. Thanks to developments in power, energy, and battery technologies, new solutions can make organisations more efficient and lessen the impact of climate change.

For example, advancements in nanotechnology and materials are helping to improve battery life for vehicles and phones and to reduce dependence on infamously scarce and hard-to-obtain materials such as cobalt and lithium. Energy storage solutions such as pumped storage hydropower and flywheel energy storage can help stabilise energy grids, make them more efficient, and ensure that energy isn’t wasted. We will see more manufacturers and distributors adopting sustainable solutions across their operations to not only reduce their energy costs but their carbon footprint as well.

Remote work and mobile ERP

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, cloud adoption has increased globally, with ERPs moving away from on-premise and migrating their applications to the cloud.

Having remote access just isn’t enough. ERP systems have to meet the needs of a more mobile and remote workforce. Accessing business insights, customer & stock information and processing alerts on the go from a mobile device are part of a mobile-friendly ERP, making your workers more productive beyond their place of work.

As a result, several features of ERP solutions are extending to mobile devices. Mobile ERP systems can support powerful functionalities beyond office or warehouse environments, adding considerable value to your business.

Rising into the clouds

At the start of 2022 IDC Corporation predicted that by 2026 Cloud-Native architecture and its ability for continuous innovation will be the main selection criteria in over 80% of IT-led enterprise application deployments.

These cloud models offer many benefits, including the ability for smaller companies to ramp up their IT investment. This has resulted in a variety of solutions available on the market, with today’s cloud-based ERP systems becoming well-suited for even small-to-midsized companies. These companies can choose between implementing a system fully located in the cloud or implementing a hybrid model that still offers a degree of in-house IT control.

ERP technologies are constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated. In the future, ERP systems will become more intelligent, more user-friendly, and more integrated. As a result, they will become an even more essential tool for businesses of all sizes.

Alek Blak is releasing his highly anticipated debut EP, “MOMENT”

By
LnT Desk
-

Alek Blak is thrilled to announce the release of his highly anticipated debut EP, “MOMENT,” on January 27, 2023.

This collection of tracks is a reflection of his personal journey and the revelations he’s experienced along the way. He hopes that listeners will find replenishment and inspiration to live boldly in the music, and that it will encourage them to embrace and lean into each moment of joy, to step out of doubt, and to bring their full selves to their own paths without fear or self-loathing.

This EP marks the beginning of a new season for Alek, as he steps into a new phase of his artistic career, and he cannot wait to share it with the world.

“I’m so excited to finally be able to share this body of work which I believe carries a powerful message,” Alek says. “It’s been a tumultuous couple of years, and I hope the music brings a sense of newness and replenishment for this new season we’re all stepping into.”

Alek Blak is a singer/songwriter who was born in Butterworth, Eastern Cape. He is a self-taught musician who also began writing his own songs from the age of 13. Alek is also an editor and has an honours degree in Journalism and Media Studies.

He moved to Johannesburg in 2014 to pursue his music and journalism career. Since then, Alek has released two singles: “New Day” in 2017 and “Luna” in 2019.

ALEK BLAK Q&A

  1. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your EP and the creative process of making it?

I started working on the EP in January 2022, about 3 months after my stepfather passed away from a rare cancer. I think processing his passing and its suddenness, and looking back on all the anguish and uncertainty we collectively experienced as a global community gave me an almost insatiable yearning to live life fully and fearlessly – something I don’t necessarily think I’ve mastered.  That’s really what the EP is about, it’s about at least trying to live boldly and step out of doubt. It’s about recognising your light and leaning into it every day.

  1. How would you describe the sound and style of your EP?

The music on the EP is soothing and almost has a calming effect. I would describe the genre of the music as indie pop, with entrancing instrumentals and earnest vocals.

  1. Can you share any personal or meaningful stories behind any of the songs on the EP?

Interestingly, I wrote The Other Side (which is the second track on the EP) about 2 hours before I was going into the studio to record it. The music had originally been marked for a different song that I’d recorded about 3 or 4 times over the years, and when I got up that morning I knew I wanted to say something different and I didn’t want to postpone the session so I wrote a new song that day.

Fast forward to now and I think The Other Side is the anchor of the EP – which I almost called The Other Side – but Moment is really the song that ties the whole project together.

  1. How has your music evolved since your last single release?

As an independent artist, I think access to resources is always a key struggle. A big part of the evolution of my music has been access to better resources through the investments I’ve been able to pour into it, and this is the case with the Moment EP.

Audiences will immediately hear how the quality of the music and the storytelling has evolved. I’ve also grown up a lot more since my last single release in 2019 not only as a person but as a singer as well.

  1. How did you choose the title of your EP and what does it mean to you?

At the beginning of last year I was getting into the final year of my honours degree, which I had wanted to do for a long time. In that time I dubbed 2022 as my year of completion, the year I would be working towards finishing the things that I had promised myself I would do in previous years. It was the Moment that I would focus and dive right in. The title of the EP and the corresponding title track are in reference to that desire and that goal to not leave things unfinished, but to open myself up to the beginning of a new story for my life.

  1. How did you go about selecting and collaborating with any featured artists or producers on the EP?

The songs were produced by a European producer based in Germany who fully understood the sound that I was going for. I also worked with a very good friend of mine who’s also a fantastic singer, Roxanne Francis, on the arrangement and recording of the backing vocals. I wanted to bring a sense of soothing and softness to the songs, and while the words are anchored by my voice, you’ll hear her angelic vocals following right behind mine on every track.

I also worked with a young sound engineer by the name of Itu Maponyane who worked under the guidance of well-known producer Robin Kohl. We spent a lot of time together making sure the mixing of the music was in line with the vision I had for it, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.

  1. Are there any specific themes or messages you hope listeners take away from your EP?

To everyone that listens to the EP, I hope the music can offer them replenishment and inspire boldness in their lives. I hope that in moments of doubt and confusion, the music can become an adopted mantra that helps people stand up again to face another day. I hope it can inspire people to dust off the dreams they had set aside and to pursue them, to live a life that feels fulfilling and full.

  1. Can you tell us about any upcoming shows or tours in support of the EP?

We are hosting a launch/listening event on 29 January 2023 for my supporters to experience the music with me. I am also doing a show at the Joburg Theatre in a few months, but the dates are yet to be confirmed. After that, I hope to tour the EP around Southern Africa, including the different provinces here at home and some of our neighbouring countries. Ultimately, I would like to also do an EU/US tour of the music in the next two years.

  1. Are there any plans for a full-length album in the future?

Yes, definitely! Perhaps in the next two to three years. I think I will do about two more EPs before I come out with a full-length album.

  1. What are your future aspirations as an artist and how do you see this EP fitting into that vision?

I am looking forward to growing as a musician, exploring different languages and sounds. I also want to do a lot more collaborations with South African artists. I’ve always wanted to collaborate with artists such as Sun El Musician, Ami Faku, Samthing Soweto, Amanda Black, Kelvin Momo, Kabza de Small etc. More than anything, I’m looking forward to making more music and connecting with all kinds of people through it.

Which innovations in business travel can be anticipated in 2023

By
Bonnie Smith, GM FCM Travel SA
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JOHANNESBURG, 19 January, 2023 – Technology has always been a key enabler in the business world, and this is especially true for business travel. Companies that invest in travel-friendly technology increase productivity, compliance and overall profitability, says Bonnie Smith, GM of FCM.

“Tech tools and software have proven to be a game changer for travellers and companies looking to reduce travel costs. And with the South African economy facing a triple whammy of higher inflation, energy prices and interest rates in 2023, there is no better time to upgrade your travel booking with the help of a travel management company (TMC) and explore new technologies in the travel industry,” she says.

So, what’s on the horizon for travel tech that will help businesses cut costs and, most notably for their employees, ease the current travel pain points? Here’s what’s new for travel technology in 2023.

Contactless travel and biometric recognition

Bottlenecks and delays at check-in are a pandemic hangover travellers continue to encounter. However, biometric identifiers, like fingerprints or iris scans, already used at some airports, could make this a thing of the past for good. They allow travellers to move through the airport without presenting paper documents. The US Transportation Security Administration is also testing technology that matches facial images with ID photos, which is a big step towards contactless travel.

And if the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has its way, the days of having to fumble through your carry-on to find your passport or health credentials every time you travel will soon be over. IATA’s One ID project aims to democratise biometric recognition and streamline travel processes. This means you’ll be able to prove your identity and compliance with all travel requirements even before you go to the airport.

“This is a great opportunity for TMCs to integrate their tools with biometric technology, and it’s definitely the new frontier for business travel,” Smith says.

Seeing is believing – VR and AR

Wouldn’t it be great to get a taste of your hotel, resort or destination before you even leave? Virtual and augmented reality technologies make this possible. Marriott, Best Western and Holiday Inn are already taking advantage of this by offering virtual tours to their guests. Augmented reality promises to enhance the travel experience by providing details about local destinations that can be displayed on mobile devices when travellers point their devices at them. Overall, AR and VR promise to truly enhance the travel experience and aid in decision-making at the booking stage.

Traveller tracking and mobile apps  

Duty of care became a priority for companies during the pandemic, and it’s here to stay thanks to the ongoing travel risks that the effects of climate change and political upheaval will inevitably impose on travellers. That means you can expect significant advances in real-time traveller tracking that will allow bookers to instantly see where all their travellers are, share and communicate real-time travel alerts, and coordinate their return if necessary.

For Smith, the mix of cutting-edge tech with the human contact that a TMC offers is just what travellers need. “Many people prefer to talk to a consultant when things change, and knowing that you can get in touch with a travel manager 24/7 goes a long way toward reducing stress.”

Beating the battle of lost bags

One of the headline winners of last year’s travel challenges was lost, delayed or damaged luggage. According to a report from the US Department of Transportation, nearly 1.5 million pieces of luggage fell victim to this fate in the first half of 2022.

Current methods, such as barcodes, are clearly no longer up to the job, prompting many travellers to invest in tracking tools such as Apple AirTags and Smart Luggage ID tags. Just as TMCs can determine the whereabouts of their travellers at any given time, the introduction and integration of Bluetooth technology into travel platforms could signal the end of luggage going AWOL.

 

Shoprite & Checkers Xtra Savings helped customers save R7 billion over the course of six months.

By
LnT Desk
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R7 billion saved in six months with Shoprite & Checkers Xtra Savings 

More than 25 million South African consumers saved a combined R7 billion on their grocery bills during the past six months (July to December 2022) through the Xtra Savings programme at Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets. 

It has contributed to fending off soaring living costs with Xtra Savings members swiping their rewards cards over 238 million times to benefit from instant cash savings at till points to help make ends meet. 

Consumers countrywide continue to switch to Shoprite and Checkers with an additional 1 million members joining the Xtra Savings programme, which was named South Africa’s best retail rewards programme by the 2022 South African Loyalty Awards, during this period.  

With an unwavering focus on affordability and accessibility, Shoprite and Checkers will continue to keep prices on everyday essentials and groceries as low as possible.

The following tips will also help cash-strapped South Africans stretch their hard-earned money a little further:  

1) R5 offering 

At Shoprite, a 600g loaf of bread, a pack of sanitary pads and a selection of nutritious deli meals retail for only R5 each. The price of the subsidised R5 bread has remained unchanged since first introduced in April 2016. 

2) Private labels 

Affordability-focused private labels such as Shoprite Ritebrand and Checkers Housebrand provide customers with access to uncompromising quality through a range of staple products, at the lowest price possible. In the past year, an additional 676 products were added to the Group’s affordability-focused private-label range. 

3) Unit pricing 

The unit price is the cost of a consumer product according to a standard unit of measure, which could be per kilogram, per litre etc. When grocery shopping, look at the unit price – included on the PI (Product Indicator) label on the product shelf – in order to make accurate price comparisons between different product sizes. For example, the unit price of a 750g box of cereal may be higher than the unit price of a 1kg box.    

4) Combo deals 

Bulk buys are becoming increasingly popular in South Africa, and the R99 essential combo available in Shoprite supermarkets nationwide typically include staple foods such as maize meal, flour, rice and oil. 

HUAWEI’s back to School

By
Partner Content
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With 2023 in full swing, HUAWEI has exclusive deals for all your back-to-school needs, this January and February. The super device, super dynamic products offer consumers discounted prices, helping you ease into the year with technology-advanced devices to boost your performance and thrive.

Why not match your back-to-school needs with a top-of-the range laptop or smartphone, that comes with a superior user experience and easy connectivity. You can purchase the HUAWEI MateBook D15, HUAWEI 8i, HUAWEI nova 9, or HUAWEI nova 9SE.

Read below for the deals, with incredible markdowns from South Africa’s major network providers.

Cell C deals

For only R499 on a 36-month contract, you can get the HUAWEI MateBook D15, saving you R3,600 on a SMARTDATA 5GB TopUp. In addition, you also get the Microsoft’s 365 Personal; a 12-month subscription for one person that includes powerful productivity and security apps, premium features, extra cloud storage, and advanced security.

If you want a smartphone, you can purchase the HUAWEI 8i for R379 on a 36-month or R499 on a 24-month contract, saving you R1,699 on a pinnacle 2GB TopUp package. This special deal also provides consumers with a free HUAWEI Band 6, to help you monitor your fitness goals throughout the year.

MTN Deals

Accelerate your performance and be on top of your studies with the HUAWEI MateBook D15. You can get the laptop on a 36-month contract, paying only R479. Get this deal and save R 2,250 on the My MTNChoice 8GB. You also a receive a free backpack, mouse, VIP Service and more.

Save R 2,250 when you purchase the HUAWEI nova 9 at R319 for 36-months or R399 for 24-months and get the HUAWEI FreeLace, at no cost.

Telkom Deals

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5 ways businesses can increase travel in 2023 while spending less on it

By
LnT Desk
-

JOHANNESBURG, 17 January 2023 – SMEs led South Africa’s corporate travel recovery, but many small businesses now find themselves needing to tighten their belts due to rising travel costs caused by restrained capacity, supply and demand, high fuel costs, and inflation.

But can you really afford to cut back on travel when face-to-face contact with your customers gives you your competitive advantage? You don’t have to. According to Bonnie Smith, GM Corporate Traveller, you’re probably spending unnecessary money on business travel right now, yet there are simple strategies you can use to make significant savings – without crossing rows off your Excel spreadsheet.

Smith says that business travel is often one of the top line items for a business, so it’s important for them to keep track of every penny they spend. But few are aware of the surprising ways they overspend – or how to avoid it.

“With rising inflation, higher electricity rates on the horizon, and lost productivity due to loadshedding, it’s tempting to cut your travel budget to save money. But that can cost you more in the long run through lost sales or strained client relationships,” says Smith.

According to the Global Business Travel Association, a travel management company (TMC) can help companies save between 5% and 50% on travel costs by helping them trim back on areas they are overspending.

These are some surprising ways you can avoid overspending on business travel.

Avoid racking up penalties when you book online

Booking a flight online may make you think you’re getting a good deal. But what happens if your business meeting has to be rescheduled or you have to cancel your trip at the last minute? Your travel budget will take a hit, as costs or penalties add up when travellers book fares that can’t be changed or refunded. A TMC can hold seats, or negotiate ‘waivers and favours’ on your behalf … meaning no change fees for SMEs on the move.

Stop relying on the buying power of one

Tapping into the power of ‘bulk buying’ can be a great way for small businesses to get preferential rates – you’ll know this from negotiations with your own supplies. Travel is no different.

TMCs have global buying power and can help you save money on business travel expenses by using their relationships and negotiating power to get discounts from suppliers worldwide. TMCs also often act on behalf of their clients to secure special industry rates that aren’t readily available online and which result in significant savings, making better use of your business travel budget.

Make sure you have a contingency plan in place

No one likes to have their plans disrupted, especially when it comes to travel. But what happens if your luggage, which contains important business documents, or personal items arrives late or is lost? The costs associated with sorting out the situation can add up quickly, and you’ll feel the pain if you haven’t invested in a good travel insurance policy. Again, a TMC can help by advising you on ancillary services, including insurance, that can save your SME money in the long run.

Avoid booking at the last moment

South Africa is suffering from low flight capacity, which means last-minute bookings will cost you dearly if you can get one. Business travellers used to booking flights on an ad hoc basis have found themselves in situations where they are being forced to book an overnight stay to get a seat on the next available flight. Last-minute travel can be expensive too. Booking your flight at least eight to 14 days in advance can save up to 14% on full economy fares, research shows. Change your travellers’ booking behaviour so they can be sure to get the right price, class and time of flight they want.

Leave the travel planning to the professionals

Have you ever thought about the hidden costs of booking your own travel? Not only in terms of money but also time and stress? Studies have shown that the average business traveller spends 20 minutes reading hotel reviews before making a booking. And if something goes wrong during the trip, it’s not just the cost of rebooking that you need to think about. It’s also about the well-being of the traveller. Disrupted travel plans can lead to missed opportunities and reduced productivity, affecting the individual and your company’s bottom line.

If you’re stuck on the idea of managing your travel in-house, you’re missing out on some great benefits and savings, Smith says. “TMCs have years of experience working with different travel suppliers and can get you amazing rates that you wouldn’t get on your own. They can also negotiate additional perks like lounge access or early check-in and late check-out.”

So don’t write off the services of a TMC just because you think you’re too small to warrant their services – they could end up saving you a lot of money and hassle in the long run.

About Corporate Traveller

Corporate Traveller is a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group, dedicated to saving businesses across Southern Africa time and money. Corporate Traveller has the benefit of being part of the world’s third-largest travel retailer, leveraging its global negotiating strength. It has access to over 50 of the world’s leading airlines and deals with more than 100 000 hotels around the world to guarantee savings for clients. Corporate Traveller provides clear, consolidated reporting of all its clients’ travel activities, helping them to control travel spend and identify opportunities to save costs.

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