Woven Solutions Group Limited, a UK and South African based technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) company, has acquired a majority stake in SA Commercial (Pty) Ltd., a locally developed award-winning BPO provider based in Cape Town. This investment will accelerate growth for SA Commercial and the Western Cape BPO Industry, with the intention of creating an additional 1 000 new jobs in the province over the short term. Woven is expanding rapidly, thanks to its proprietary technology solutions, and intends to develop its partnership with SA Commercial to drive the combined companies’ growth globally. Renee Keeble, Founder & Chief Executive Officer at SA Commercial said, “As a purpose-based organisation, we live to create inspired experiences for our people, our clients and partners. It was therefore very important to find similar values in a strategic equity partner, strongly coupled with innovative technology. Together, Woven and SA Commercial display dynamic, extensive leadership experience in managing FTSE-100 clients. So, it comes as no surprise that we have already forged partnerships with key clients abroad.” Paula Constant, Chief Executive Officer at Woven added: “I am delighted to welcome SA Commercial to Woven’s Global Group, as we accelerate our growth and investment strategy in South Africa. Strong worldwide brands trust SA Commercial to deliver amazing experiences for their customers. Woven and SA Commercial has a unique proposition in the marketplace, powering personalised customer interactions with AI and automation, thanks to Woven’s proprietary software, which specialises in bespoke customer journeys. We have had the privilege of becoming a part of a community with shared values. BPO is first and foremost about people and SA Commercial, led by Renee, has a strong culture of engagement and community. For a truly personalised customer experience, this is critical.” “This is a significant milestone and win for SA Commercial and the entire BPO industry,” says Clayton Williams, CEO of CAPEBPO. SA Commercial has demonstrated that proudly SA BPO businesses can be a force to reckon with on a global scale. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the SA Commercial team and to welcome Woven to Cape Town and South Africa. We are confident this partnership will yield many successes and happy customers!” Reshni Singh, CEO of BPESA, added, “BPESA as the national industry body and trade association for Global Business Services in South Africa is delighted by the announcement of another premium brand firmly establishing themselves in the country. We are thrilled that Woven has chosen to invest in South Africa through its partnership with SA Commercial, an innovative and credible BPO that has stood the test of time and represented the country well under dynamic leadership over the years. We look forward to working with Woven and the SA Commercial leadership team to help achieve the anticipated growth goals in South Africa.” Keeble concludes, “We are super excited to pursue international scale alongside Woven. Together we will deliver strategic operational expertise, develop innovative offerings and well-articulated value creation. We are proud to be part of the global shift and look forward to this next chapter in our journey.
A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE IS INCLUDED
According to Ipsos Global Advisor Inclusiveness Index, South Africa has been named as one of the most inclusive nations in the world – behind only Canada and the USA – when it comes to social acceptance on the basis of religion, immigration, sexual orientation, gender identity, political views, and criminal background. Notably, while South Africans are near the top of the rankings when it comes to religion, immigrants and Queer culture Inclusiveness – the legacy of exclusion is still present, which means finding the freedom to be authentically and bravely you – is not always as easy as it should be. To help normalise and celebrate the joy of inclusivity , NESTLÉ CREMORA launched the Joy of Inclusion campaign, which looks to deepen the conversation around inclusion – using real life heroes who’ve had to fight to fit in. This is one way NESTLÉ CREMORA is actively building good communities by playing an active and meaningful role to amplify the voices of the marginalised while driving actions that make a real Impact. The Albinism community is one of the groups in South Africa that face discrimination in many ways. Persons With Albinism are normally socially isolated and have to live in constant fear due to misunderstanding of their condition. NESTLÉ CREMORA aims to encourage South Africa and the rest of Africa to feel the joy of being inclusive. By doing so, the brand has recognized Mpho Mofokeng to represent the Albinism community in celebrating, feeling, and sharing the Joy Of Inclusion. Mpho Mofokeng is a 24 year old from the Albinism community. She is a model, and TV presenter, who has built a name for herself in the beauty industry. Through her social platforms, Mpho provides everyday advice on skincare products suitable for her skin type which also serves as a platform to shift the perceptions by equipping people with knowledge that can encourage inclusivity. To highlight the Joy Of Inclusion and spread cheer around inclusivity, Mpho has shared a few words on how people can collectively embrace inclusion in their everyday lives. She knows all too well what it means to stand out and sometimes be pushed aside. Despite this she has managed to craft a space for herself, where she can revel in her uniqueness instead… What does Joy Of Inclusion mean to you? Mpho: When I am able to be seen in a way that I would like to be seen – not just as my condition but seen as part of my community, part of the black people, part of women, and part of human beings in general. There is joy in knowing that you are included in the communities that we identify as, and that they identify us as part of them as well. That is Joy Of Inclusion to me. What would be the perfect world for people with Albinism? Mpho: The perfect world for me and other people with Albinism is a world where we can browse through a magazine and see an image of likeliness, see someone who represents us. And not only just representation but also being comfortable living freely, and not fearing that people will refer to you as a bad omen. Or call you names, but to be seen as an equal and human beings. So, a perfect world would be safety, presentation, and acceptances. How can the persons with Albinism who still live in fear find their Joy Of Inclusion? Mpho: I would say that find your people because at the end of the day it’s not everyone that will have a good option about you and will see you in the way you want to be seen and perceived. You know that you are great, talented and you know that you’re more than just your condition and attract people that see that in you as well. Knowing that will make you more confident as a person and will kind of put blinders to people who are negative, and people who are adamant in not opening up & broadening their knowledge and minds. …
Hello Pay launches Business Solution package to support SMEs and informal entrepreneurs
The informal sector accounts for about 18 percent of South Africa’s GDP, with over three million workers engaged in the informal economy. In addition, an estimated 2.9 million migrants reside in South Africa, many of whom struggle to access financial services in order to start small businesses like spaza shops, salons and kiosks. That’s an incredible portion of the population that remains underserved in the financial sector, unable to access or otherwise afford the services needed to grow their businesses. To better serve this sector, Hello Pay has created a new turn-key suite of business solutions that will enable growth, save costs, and give users peace of mind that financial access is available to them when they need it. Serving the underserved Hello Pay’s SoftPOS offering, which was awarded the Most Innovative Solution in 2021 at MTN’s annual Business App of the Year Awards, already allows users to process payments, access daily auto cash-up (reconciliation) and activate and control multiple devices with one account. Now, Hello Pay has launched its Business Solution to enhance its already-compelling SME offering, giving merchants access to loans, business cover, armed response and much more. “We realised that many of our clients require a solution that will reduce operational costs and provide protection and business growth. With the Hello Pay Business Solution merchants have access to services and benefits they would normally struggle to acquire,” says Zunaid Miya, Managing Director of Hello Pay. “Hello Pay’s Business Solution is an all-in-one suite of services offering everything merchants and small businesses would normally have to seek from multiple providers. Our solution gives merchants access to these services and benefits, quickly and efficiently. Those who already have access to such services will also benefit from our lower costs and ease of use.” Suite of services After signing up on the Hello Pay website, a dedicated agent will contact the user to set up a personal appointment to take them through all the available services and provide training. The POS device allows them to accept card payments and sell airtime and electricity. With a Hello Paisa bank account, they’ll also get access to the Business Solution. Now, they’ll be able to swipe on the Hello Pay device and receive the funds directly into their Hello bank account. By receiving their funds electronically they are able to transact digitally, thus being able to order online and get their goods delivered to them, rather than having to close their businesses and drive to their suppliers to buy stock. This saves time and money, creates a huge convenience as well as allows them to be trading for a full day. Other benefits of the Hello Pay Business Solution include: -Business insurance cover from as little as R60 p/m -24-hour armed response for just R2 a day -The ability to pay staff salaries or remit money home using Hello Paisa -Transaction rates as low as 1,2% -An online Portal to keep digital records instead of hassling with long slips “We wanted to even the playing field by offering small merchants and migrants the same opportunities as everyone else. The solution not only offers them a way to go cashless but also to protect and grow their business. Our solution is affordable and convenient for small business owners looking to give their fledgling companies the edge. Hello Pay is proud to play a role in ensuring SMEs reach their full potential with an industry-leading solution that resolves business owners’ most pressing pain points.” says Miya. About Hello Pay Hello Pay forms part of a larger eco-system, the Hello Group. Since 2005, the Hello Group has been creating game-changing integrated consumer and business services within the telecommunications & financial business sector for communities not only in South Africa but internationally – helping its customers communicate, transact, become entrepreneurs, educate themselves, plan for their future, socialise and share. The most recent service from Hello Group is Hello Pay, which meets the merchant needs of enterprises across South Africa.
SA and Africa’s best business bank is again keeping fee changes below inflation
FNB continues its commitment to support businesses by curbing fee changes below inflation while enhancing value-added solutions as some sectors remain under pressure due to …
Hook, Line & Sinker bags luxury fashion reseller, Luxity
Louis Vuitton, Rolex, Hermès, Chanel and Gucci are just some of the premium fashion brands housed at South Africa’s largest preowned luxuryreseller, Luxity. Integrated communications agency, Hook, Line & Sinker has been awarded the Public Relations account to actively manage a tailored B2B and B2C media and marketing 12-month campaign. …