13 Feb 2020

Abandoned Construction Sites in Gauteng – Why?

by | posted in: Construction Chat, General | 0

Abandoned Building / Construction Sites In Gauteng, Why?

A building is considered abandoned after just thirty days of being left empty. There are many abandoned building projects throughout South Africa, these buildings are not being utilized due to various reasons. An abandoned building is one that is considered to be empty and/or  in disrepair.

There are many setbacks and issues that may occur when building and developing a project that should be taken into consideration before the project even starts, most of the time projects and construction sites are abandoned because of the following reasons :

1.) Financial Problems.
2.) Due To Inexperienced Developers.
3.) Mismanagement And Mistakes.

Abandonment of buildings and construction sites could be a potential problem for South Africa due to the financial constraints within the construction and building industry. Tenders are being awarded to construction companies that are battling and have no funds to continue with the projects and this is yet another reason why construction is not being completed.

Here are a few buildings in Gauteng that have been abandoned and the reasons are as follows:

1.)  Khutsong Clinic – As per the contractor’s Client liaison officer, the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development has not paid the contractor and the contractor is experiencing financial difficulties. This project cost has been estimated at R65 Million.

2.) Carlton Hotel – The Carlton Hotel was considered to be one of the most prominent hotels in South Africa, hosting big names such as Nelson Mandela, Whitney Housten and Hillary Clinton. The hotel has been untouched and standing for over 20 years due to a lack of maintenance. The Carlton Hotel has over 600 rooms over 31 floors, and it closed its doors in 1997. Thereafter Transnet bought the once luxury hotel and even though there as been various plans floating around, the hotel still remains empty.

3.) Kempton Park Hospital –  It has been said that Kempton Park Hospital had been closed due to a shortage of patients, however in 2006 there was talk about re-opening the building and to renovate it, thus taking pressure off of Tembisa and Edenvale Hospitals. Construction was supposed to start in March 2013 and was meant to be completed in July 2014,  however contractors never started the work which was estimated have cost R 244 Million.  In 2017 it was reported that R127 million Rand had been set aside to demolish the Hospital.  However to date, Kempton Park Hospital still stands empty.

A large number of buildings are left empty and these buildings are not just little three-story buildings that are implicated, they are skyscrapers and huge 210-roomed hospitals where space has just been wasted. Tenders are being awarded to new development when these older and abandoned buildings and structures should be given preference and utilized before we build more. building    The buildings that stand empty are targets for criminal activities to take place and by standing empty and unused, they drop the value of the surrounding buildings and the area in general. If there is no-one monitoring the buildings or if there is no security in place, then this allows for squatters to move in and take over the building and also allows for pests to run around freely.

Incomplete construction has cost Gauteng over R620 million and it has been reported that the Gauteng Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on infrastructure development will be clamping down on “poor contractors’ workmanship” as there are tenders that have been awarded in 2017 that have not even started for renovating or building projects and this leaves 40 companies implicated. The projects pertain to new clinics, seven new schools and other important renovations that need attention in order to help the citizens of South Africa. Since this money has been paid over to the contractors, it is believed that fraud and corruption have been suspected.

Gauteng has identified a new “low-cost housing” opportunity and is allowing the private sector to turn them into affordable housing, The city is hoping to upgrade 2000 to 4000 informal settlement homes. This is a great way for the government to give back and I am sure this is exciting for the residents that stay in these buildings. Let’s hope this project materializes.

Sources:
Infrastructure News
Traveller24
Informal City
IOL
Business Insider
Flickr
Business Tech
City Lab
Times Live
Research Gate

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About Stephanie Hull

6 Feb 2020

The Ultimate Guide to Tendering in 2020

by | posted in: Construction Chat, Did You Know, General | 4

The Ultimate Guide to Tendering in 2020

Tenders in South Africa can be a lucrative source of income for small businesses. They can, however, be challenging to negotiate, especially since so much legislation has changed, and the requirements differ so drastically between organisations and government sectors. Adding to this, some Departments or Municipalities have existing relationships with companies that already perform really well and that have been winning tenders for long periods. Getting your foot in the door means getting the process right from the beginning. This will not only save you time and effort but has the potential to set up those all-important income streams and boost your cash flow.

Let’s cover the groundwork together, so your business is not only equipped for success but set to impress.

Forgive the obvious, but first:

What is a Tender?

A tender is an offer to do work or supply goods at a fixed price. The tender or procurement process is designed to ensure that the work to be done is distributed fairly. In fact, there are procurement policies that are used as a framework on how to make decisions on which tenders or bids to accept. Although the price is a highly competitive factor driving the decision on which tender or bid to accept, it is not the only factor taken into consideration.

When a client entity accepts a tender, it becomes a binding business contract on and for both parties. In layman’s terms, it means that the individual(s) or company that won this business opportunity have to provide the goods or services in the way they agreed to and, at the price they offered it, and the client entity must pay the agreed price at the agreed time.

Make sure that you can meet all the requirements within the specified time and can honour your offer if your bid is successful.

Do not make any misrepresentations or false statements in your bid documentation. Since it is a legal document and therefore enforceable by law.

In the event you don’t secure the tender this time around, the process of writing a tender can help your business by clarifying your business objectives, and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.

By taking it a step further and asking for feedback on your tender document, you will raise your profile with the prospective client /company and help your business learn more accurately about the client’s needs.

How do you find Tenders?

Most Municipalities and Departments publish tenders in the Government Bulletin, in most newspapers, and on Government websites. Another time saving and cost-effective option instead of searching high and low for tenders is to subscribe to Leads 2 Business, where we search for tenders for you.

We simplify this process by sending you a summary email at the end of each business day of the tenders that are relevant to your business. Thereby saving you the time and money usually spent sifting through papers, online resources and the general running around to find all the necessary information. For more information on subscribing click here.

How to decide on whether to Bid on a Tender?

Preparing construction tenders can help your business secure future work, but it comes with its own price tag. Tendering is time-consuming, consumes valuable resources and costs money.

In the event you don’t land the contract, the money and time spent are lost, so before you are knee-deep in paperwork, you need to weigh up the costs of whether or not a tender is worth bidding for.

 

Here’s a quick scan through:

  • Get a copy of the tender documents and scrutinise them.
  • Establish if you have the necessary technical, skill and experience requirements to satisfy the breadth of the work.
  • Calculate how much will it cost to prepare your bid.
  • Does the scope of work align with your business strategy and the future positioning of your business?
  • How much profit can you make?
  • What will the impact be on your current business, in terms of other jobs, staff teams and your capacity to take in other new business?
  • Do you have sufficient cash flow?
  • Is there a future networking opportunity or advantage to having this job in your portfolio?

How to approach the collection of Tender Documentation?

Pick up the phone and call the contact person, their details will be stated on the tender advertisement/ notice. Get clarity on how the tender document can be collected.

Important to know:

Site inspections are just another way companies / clients distribute information on a construction project. Bear in mind that some site meetings are compulsory and not attending the meeting will immediately disqualify you from tendering.

Armed with the collected tender document and the decision to tender. The next question is:

What should you put in your Tender?

Address the client’s needs and how your team of experts can solve their problems. It is much like a CV, communicating you have the necessary skills, experience, and team to fulfil their requirements.

Include ideas that will proactively address concerns on future maintenance and staffing implications or innovative ways of doing things that might save on resources. If there’s a pre-qualification document, make sure you go through everything in the document and address each aspect.

Value for money is what determines most bids, not just the cost. Can you offer something to the project that can’t be addressed by the client?

Highlight the benefits to their business, your service improvements on offer, the quality, your reliability, your projections on lifetime or future costs, how you can reduce risks and low maintenance, as well as previously satisfied customers.

Cautiously analyse all the costs and pricing factors of the contract. Do not neglect your fixed costs such as wages for staff who could be working on something else.

Contract Management

Showcase that you:

  • have the resources to do the work in a cost-effective way to meet the client’s needs,
  • can meet deadlines and respond flexibly to changing situations,
  • can manage potential financial, commercial, and legal risks that could cause contract failure.

Provide the details of your team, highlight successes with similar projects as well as qualifications and experience to emphasise their strengths.

How to compile your Tender Submission:

Now that you know what to put in your tender document, you can begin to compile your submission.

Every tender has a closing date, which is a very firm deadline after which no tenders will be accepted. There is no exception for late tenders if the closing date has passed, and you have not submitted you will have missed your window of opportunity.

Since bids or tenders are binding legal documents in South Africa, they have to be completed in writing. Tender submissions will have a series of associated forms, which must accompany the tender. The specifics of the forms you will require for your tender will be listed in the tender documentation or be included with the tender or bid documents that you receive. Carefully complete these and get professional advice if you are unsure of anything.

As a general framework, here is a list of the forms that are usually required for national and provincial business tenders in South Africa:

  • The Bid
    This is the document that you agree to be bound by, in the terms and conditions of the tender.
  • Current Tax Clearance Certificate
    Your taxes must be up to date for you to be successful with your tender or bid. This document has an ‘Application for tax clearance certificate’ form attached to it. To obtain a tax clearance certificate you have to complete this form and hand it in at your nearest South African Revenue Services (SARS) office. The original tax clearance certificate that you receive from SARS, will need to be attached to the tender or bid documents. This certificate serves as confirmation that you are not in arrears with your tax payments. You can also submit a Tax Compliance Status PIN. The PIN can also be printed in the form of the TCS result letter from the SARS website. This can be submitted instead of a Tax Clearance Certificate, in some cases. This will be specified in the tender document.
  • Price and motivation
    Which of these documents you complete depends on the subject of the tender and is often amended for the particular tender, so carefully check which one you need to complete. In this form, you motivate your price, by describing the product you will supply or detail the experience of the person who will perform the service(s).
  • Declaration of Interest
    This is the document in which you declare whether or not you have a relationship (friend, family, business leads) with anyone who works for the government. This is so that those people are not involved in awarding the tender in any way, to avoid corruption.
  • Preference certificate
    You must fill in the form for tenders even if you are not claiming any of the preference points.
  • Contract form
    This is the contract that binds the parties should the tender be successful. There are different forms for different contracts.
Other documentation recommendations that may be required:

  • Ensure your business paperwork is all up-to-date:
    • Appropriate business license,
    • Registered bank account,
    • You are physically capable and financially able to complete all work tendered for – with necessary proof (Cvs/ completion certificates);
  • Registered on relevant databases:
    • The most important one at the moment is the Central Supplier Database (CSD), which is the Government Database that all Departments and Municipalities use to check that your documents are in order. (www.csd.gov.za)
    • Some of the Departments or Municipalities still have their own databases, so be sure to check when you have to submit a tender that you are on their database, if necessary.
    • For Quotations (in some cases, up to R1 000 000) you need to be registered on their own databases to be invited to quote on quotations, as these do not get advertised publicly.

Writing your Tender:

Ensure that you match the tender specifications and answer every question.

Much like a CV, create a summary to highlight why it addresses the client’s needs. It may very well be the last thing you write, having gone through the entire scope of the document, but include this overarching summary at the beginning of your tender.

Common Tendering errors and things to Look out for:

  • Always read through the tender documents carefully.
  • Complete the document in full.
  • When you have invested so much time and money to get the documents, go to the meeting and complete the documents, the last thing you want to do is over price. Do a proper cost analysis when calculating your bid prices. Bids calculated too high or too low are considered unresponsive.
  • Prices for labour, materials, and equipment all fluctuate. So charging 300% for something where everyone else would charge 150%, would likely lose your bid.
  • Tender prices and calculations must be correct. Check and TRIPLE-CHECK this! A mistake here could cost your company dearly.
  • The advantage is granted to 100% black-owned companies.
  • There are also advantage granted to Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDI) or women-owned companies.
  • If you are an HDI, remember to claim your points. Any points you don’t claim are points lost!
  • Ensure that you complete your tender documents in full and attach all documents that are required. Always provide all of the information requested in the tender application. Do not forget things like your tax clearance certificate and shareholding certificates. Note: out-dated tax clearance certificates are also not permitted.
  • Check your interpretation of the scope of the work. If you are unsure of anything in the tender, be sure to ask. Make enquires about the bid and obtain all the relevant information before completing the tender document.
  • Sign your bid document. It sounds so common sense, but unsigned documents are unresponsive and will, therefore, be disqualified.
  • Deliver the tender into the right box and before the closing time. Remember there are no exceptions. By law, no late bids will be accepted, not even 1 second past the closing time.
  • If samples are requested, sufficient amounts must be supplied to enable the item to be evaluated under the appropriate technical or clinical conditions. Ensure that any requirements related to compliance with SABS specifications are met. Quality services and products will only serve to aid your record of good standing with the department.
Clients will expect you to:

  • State the purpose and origin of the bid.
  • Include a cover letter that responds to the bid invitation, summarises your main message.
  • Have an index that explains how the documents are organised.
  • Explain the benefits and value for money of your bid.
  • Have a summary of your work as a contractor, past experience and credentials for this job.
  • Demonstrate your team’s skills, the experience of similar work and their responsibilities if you win the contract.
  • Explanation of how you plan to carry out the work.
  • Be practical and identify potential problems without promising what’s clearly impossible for you to deliver.
  • Provide details of your pricing and any aftercare arrangements within the price.
  • Manage the details of the projects and their scope.
  • Create a timeline as to how and when the client’s aims will be achieved.
  • Detail when and how goods and services are to be delivered, with a supporting timetable.

Delivering your Tender:

Congratulations, you have made it this far! It is not a small administrative task, but once you have all the forms completed and signed, place your tender in an envelope with the tender number on it (double-check this) and deliver it before the closing time, to the place specified on the tender advertisement.

Respondents are allowed to be present at the delivery point when tenders are opened. In South Africa, most tenders are opened in public, whereby the name of the company is announced with the tender prices and associated costs.

Follow-up on your Tender submission:

After you have submitted your tender, it is a good idea to place a follow-up phone call to the client and query the status of their adjudication process. Your approach should be friendly, helpful and encourage them to please contact you should they need any further clarity. This will only serve to affirm your commitment and eagerness to win this tender.

There is the possibility you may be requested to do a presentation to the client.

It is an incredible opportunity to prove to your client that you have the skills and capacity to deliver the project per your tender response. The client will ask for questions for clarification. Prepare well, know your tender document thoroughly, speak confidently at the presentation and answer questions to the best of your ability.

What happens when the Tender Contract is Awarded?

After the adjudication process (which can take some time), the client will award the project to either:

  • a single company,
  • a consortium of enterprises or joint venture
  • or it may choose to not award the tender.
If you are awarded the tender, you will receive a letter of appointment. It is important that you respond to the client and confirming your appointment and setting up an initial kick-off meeting.

Take charge, be proactive and show your client that you know what you are doing. Follow this through by delivering a quality project on time and within budget.

   .

What if you are Not Awarded?

Bear in mind that when you have submitted a tender and the evaluation stages have passed, all tenderers should be notified, by law, of the intended / suggested successful company. There should also be an appeals / objection period given to those who were unsuccessful. This is where you may object to the intended / suggested company, for whatever reason (e.g. your price was lower than theirs). Take note of how you are instructed to submit your appeal / objection and take special note of the deadline for appeals / objections. Late appeals / objections are not considered.

In the event you are not awarded the project, it is possible to query the reasons as to why you were unsuccessful. This information is helpful for future tenders so that you can learn from any mistakes. However, be realistic and be mindful that you will not win every tender that you respond to.

With all these tips, I sincerely hope that the tendering process will be easier for you and that you may be better prepared for any future endeavours.

Wishing you all the very best!

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About Antonette Claassens

5 Feb 2020

Leads 2 Business Weekly Quote

by | posted in: General | 0

This year, be structured enough for success and achievement and flexible enough for creativity and fun – Taylor Duvall.

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About Marlaine Andersen

Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

4 Feb 2020

Leads 2 Business Subscriber News

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Mariska van Loggerenberg (third from the left) from Thermowise popped into the Leads 2 Business Head Office to meet the Private Projects Team this week on her way to Ballito.

To read more about Thermowise check out the Featured Company article previously published on our Leads 2 Business Blog.

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About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Reach out if you want to talk: L2B, social media, construction, technology, marriage, parenting, popular culture and travel. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

31 Jan 2020

Leads 2 Business Milestone: 800 000 Tenders

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Milestone Alert: Leads 2 Business has published their 800 000th tender. 

800 000 Tenders

We celebrate an important milestone, the publishing of our 800 000th Tender!

“A fantastic achievement, with appreciation to our dedicated research team, working daily to bring our specialist service to our construction industry subscribers.” – Victor Terblanche, CEO and Founder of Leads 2 Business

Tender Publishing Milestones:

100 000 20 February 2006
200 000
 01 April 2009      
300 000
 09 November 2011
400 000
 04 September 2013  
500 000
 11 March 2015   
600 000
 19 September 2016
700 000
 28 May 2018
800 000
 29 January 2020

So, what was the 800 000th tender?

Below is a screenshot of the Tender which falls under Nigeria as it appears for our L2B subscribers. For more information on this tender, please check out our Featured Tender post on the L2B Blog.

More about L2B:

Leads 2 Business is a niche, construction-industry service provider, offering a sustained source of researched tenders and project leads, a support service that will increase your productivity and free up valuable time so you can focus on the important aspects of taking your business forward in 2020.

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit Leads 2 Business.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit Leads 2 Business Wiki.
To view more Articles, please visit our Leads 2 Business Blog.

About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Reach out if you want to talk: L2B, social media, construction, technology, marriage, parenting, popular culture and travel. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

13 Dec 2019

Seasons Greetings from the Leads 2 Business Team

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Our Offices will be closed from 16 December 2019 and will re-open on 08 January 2020. Seasons Greetings & Best Wishes for a Prosperous 2020. We look forward to working with you again in the New Year.

About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Reach out if you want to talk: L2B, social media, construction, technology, marriage, parenting, popular culture and travel. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

27 Nov 2019

Fitness Secrets from a Tech Junkie

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Fitness Secrets from a Tech Junkie

For those of you that are looking for hacks, quick fixes aren’t a thing when it comes to Fitness. You have to put in cash and consistent hard work. Yes, cash plays a huge role in this Algorithm. From paying for Gym Fee (public use), Gym Equipment (private use), Nutrition and Gadgets that give you a slight advantage.

Gym Fee

Many of us keep Gym Memberships for guilt purposes, in the hope that someday we will use these premises. As we all know this could be a costly exercise. But for those who are in it for all the right reasons, exercising within a public audience can increase work-rate. Affordability and location is something that one needs to evaluate before committing.

Gym Equipment

I find that having gym equipment at home works best for intermediate and advanced fitness junkies, as they have already been exposed to this broad world. Whereas, public facilities (such as gyms) could be more beneficial to beginners. An example of this would be, someone who wants to start the gym but doesn’t necessarily know where to start or what to buy. Fitness junkies already know what works best out there and seldom make the mistake of overspending on excessive fitness equipment and nutrition.

Nutrition

Just as all conventional concepts of computing employ the IPO (Input, Process, Output) System. Your diet plays a huge role when exercising, from your stamina to your overall outcome. This starts with your first meal to your last meal of the day and of course not neglecting snacks in between. Firstly you have to identify your goal; may it be Losing Fat, Building Muscle, Improving Endurance or Increasing Flexibility. You need a diet plan.

Gadgets

It is 2019 after all, so much has changed with how the modern world does things. Keeping track of your progress is essential and this where these gadgets come into play. There are some impressive fitness gadgets out there namely: Ozmo Active Smart Bottle, Tangran Smartrope, Bose Soundsport Free wireless headphone, Garmin Forerunner 235, JaxJox KettlebellConnect, Powerdot Pain Reliever, Vyper 2 Vibrating Fitness Roller and Withings Boady Cardio. Don’t be afraid to spend on a good gadget. The results can be very rewarding.

Hard-work

Catching up with your mates whilst exercising can be a distraction, you have to stay focused and make every second count. Many fitness junkies would rather train alone than with a friend and even go to the extreme of changing gyms just to maintain focus. This is something you’d need to monitor because you have to keep your break intervals short to get maximum results from your exercise. Challenge yourself. Don’t be afraid to go that 1 km extra or to add an extra 5 kg on that last set. If you never try it, you’ll never know what it feels like to do it.

Consistency

With the festive season approaching, many of us are looking forward to vacationing more than anything and the gym will be taking a back seat during this season for most of us. Maybe what you could do is to shorten your workout period instead of cutting it out completely because complete absence is not an option. This way you won’t feel guilty when having that ice-cream.

Many fitness junkies use this time best, as they know that public facilities are less congested and residential roads are a little quieter than usual. This is a great opportunity for beginners to start exercising because they don’t need to wait to make the infamous New Year’s Resolution pledge to start.

Sources:
Self
Breaking Muscle
Matador Network

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About Andile Shange

I'm a Software Developer at Leads 2 Business since 02 June 2014.

21 Nov 2019

5G Technology: Is Africa Ready For It?

by | posted in: Did You Know, General | 8

Communication is a vital part of our everyday lives, and with the advancements in technology, we have seen it become so much easier to incorporate into our daily lives. With those advancements came the integration of other parts of our lives to these technological platforms. Our entertainment, our work, everything we hold dear, all of this data accessible on the go. We have gone from being amazed by making phone calls to another person, to nonchalantly video-chatting with other people on the other side of the globe. It just keeps getting easier. With new mobile devices coming out every other week, we realise just how these platforms have transformed. But are these platforms quick enough? Now we are more interested in how quickly we can access everything. In steps 5G Technology. What is this mysterious thing of the future?

What is 5G Technology?

5G is the latest in cellular networks, it is 5th Generation technology. Meaning that it is the successor of the 4th Generation cellular network technology(4G). Using 4G technology we get substantial speeds, allowing us to download large files, even as large as Gigabytes, in minutes. Being the next generation, we will be able to download Gigabytes of data in seconds. Check out Spectrum for more info on the more on the technologies required for 5G. There is a recognised standard for the network to have to follow for it to be considered 5G meaning that we could be looking at speeds like 2.5 GB/s(gigabytes per second which also equates to 20 gigabits per second, bits being an eighth of a byte) for downloads and 1.25 GB/s(gigabytes per second which also equates to 10 gigabits per second) for uploads. Further details can be found at Life Wire.

What is so special about 5G Technology?

Because 5G is substantially faster than its predecessor it is definitely worth taking a look at as it makes real-world uses incredibly exciting. It can enhance the usability of existing technologies and perhaps even open doors to newer ones at the same time. Considering that the speeds, capacity and latency(which is the delay) of such a connection has potential to be, it would alter the way we perceive the internet as a whole, giving light to endless possibility. Such improvements could aid in the experience in self-driving cars, virtual reality simulations, air traffic control, movie downloads, and many other uses that would require downloading large files.

Does anyone have as yet in Africa?

At the moment there are a few places in Africa that have access to 5G technology. Vodacom has launched Africa’s first commercial 5G services as of August of 2018 in Lesotho. Other companies also have taken to 5G, such as MTN; having launched a customer trial in Midrand back in November 2018. South African company Rain offers a 5G for home service to Johannesburg and Tshwane. Although Rain is currently the only one of these companies with the necessary licensing that will allow for the use of the newer 5G spectrum (IOL).

Changes needed to be made to support 5G?

As great as the prospects are for this technology, there are some issues that companies looking to implement this technology, may face. The more technical stuff aside, there would need to be newer towers, or at least upgrades to the older towers so that they can support the 5G spectrum. And there would need to be widely available devices that can support this technology. Here’s a list of 5G supported devices from Gihosoft. For these to be put into place, even before all of these changes are even plausible, there would need to be the discussion of whether or not the spectrum necessary for the network, is even available. For more detail on what spectrum is as it relates to communication networks check out GSMA.

Is Africa ready for 5G?

As great as this technology seems, is it really something that could be implemented in Africa? Yes and no. It has already been implemented in certain areas. Which certainly gives us hope that it is possible, and given the right location, plausible. But there already exists technology that is available in Africa that has barely been used to its fullest. 4G being 5G’s predecessor, is yet to be fully realised across the continent, with some places still using 2G (IT Web). Considering that there are places that can support the newer technology, there are also places that cannot. Although we are playing catch up, I do believe that once the older generations are more widely utilised, for all that it is and all that it is worth, then there should certainly be more backing of this technology. But until then, implementing it in smaller proportions, at least as is feasible, is the best way forward.

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About Malik Singh

Software Engineer At L2B

18 Nov 2019

5 Ways to Stay Motivated at Work

by | posted in: Construction Chat, General | 0

So let me paint the picture: you’re into the final weeks of your work year, Christmas posters are going up, the days are getting warmer, your Christmas tree is threatening to make an appearance, and you pretty sure you have caught yourself humming a carol or two already. Now if you are anything like me all this excites you very very much! I LOVE the Holidays!

There’s just one minor problem, there is still 3 or 4 weeks of work to go. So how am I going to stay focused and motivated?

Well, this is what I’m going to try and my 5 tips to you.

  1. Reflect

“So what do you mean Sher?”

What I mean is, surely you had some goals or aspirations coming into this year? Perhaps you reached them? So congratulate yourself! Be proud of the things you achieved this year.

On the other hand, maybe you didn’t reach them? Perhaps you are still an overweight smoker who curses too much and still spends way too much time on social media?

Well, it’s not too late… and that brings me to point number 2.

  1. Make a to-do-list

Decide how many days you still have to accomplish a few of these goals you have left for this year, and maybe make the goal now, just to start these things, no one is expecting you to perform miracles and lose, say 10kgs in 30 days, but maybe just start eating a little healthier, go to the gym or simply just start drinking more water.

Maybe you had planned to spend more time with your kids this year and less time taking quizzes on Facebook to find out what kitchen appliance you are?

Well then, firstly stop doing that immediately! Set out 15 minutes a day and just have a chat with them, read to them or whatever. You know what your kids need, and what they would appreciate, and of course, this could go for a partner, family member or even friend. I promise this one will make you feel way better about yourself like no kitchen appliance ever could.

  1. Take time out

Now, this is important, so listen.

Take your tea time. Take your lunch time. Take a walk. Take a nap.

Listen to your body. We all know this year like all years has been a long one and yet it has gone by so fast. We also know work doesn’t slow down because you have taken a sick day perhaps, or tragedy hit your family, so now you a little behind on a project or deadline? Well, you are no good to yourself if you are tired and miserable. So look after yourself first, then take a deep breath pumpkin, and make that to-do-list I just spoke about!

  1. Get excited!!

If you are anything like me, finishing something gives you a huge sense of accomplishment. So once you have reflected, and made your list of things that need to be done – Get Them Done! And feel the excitement of clearing your list, nearing the end with a clean slate and what next year may bring. This is the end of a decade people! Let that sink in!! Next year is a whole new beginning, and I for one cannot wait to start a new work year (after a ton of sun and a little gin of course), set new goals, break new boundaries and achieve, achieve, achieve!

Now, this next one is not really something you can do for yourself to stay motivated, but rather a little advice to help keep the people around you less motivated to want to kill you in the work place.

  1. Work Consideration

I’m not sure what it is about us humans, but we always seem to think our load is heavier, our hardship is more severe and we are more tired or broke than the next.

Yes, you know what I mean. Well, quit it! We are all tired, we all have daily struggles and most importantly we are all in this together so be kind, smile at each other, complement each other and just be less annoying. Try crunching, slurp, pen click and foot-tapping less at your desks. Keep your eye on the prize.

We are almost there, let’s get stuff done and be awesome doing it!

And on that note, I would like to wish you all a wonderful end of the year and holiday to follow, enjoy the parties, the family, the trips, trees, prezzies and carols and stay safe!

See you next decade!

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To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit Leads 2 Business Wiki.
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About Sherina Shawe

I am a strong believer in "What you put in , is what you will get out" and this drives me every day, whether it's at home with my gorgeous family or at work where I get to fuel my competitive spirit. I love who I am and who I'm becoming. I love where I am , but more importantly where I'm going.... #EternalOptimist #Aspire2Inspire

14 Nov 2019

10 Best Android Apps for 2019

by | posted in: Did You Know, General | 0

Trello

Trello is a simple and flexible tool that enhances productivity and collaboration. It can easily be used in different contexts, from tracking your aspirations, day-to-day work and those pesky to-do lists, to being used as a project management tool to manage your team’s projects and provide a mechanism for effective communication and collaboration between team members.

The building blocks of Trello are Boards, which are built up of Cards and are arranged into Lists as you see fit. Kanban boards are easy to create in Trello and most boards I have worked with have been based on them.

You can also form Teams, which perfect for setting up an environment for a project team or department to work in. Trello provides Power-Ups that extend the app with add-ons and integrations with external apps.

The Android version gives you all this in a compact, easy to use App. It comes with two widgets for your home screen! that allows you to add cards on the fly, perfect for when inspiration hits you and you are away from your desk!

Slack

Slack is an instant-messaging application that is immensely popular in the Software Industry. It provides all the functionality you would expect from any messaging application, with several twists and great features. One simple but helpful feature is the ability to seamlessly upload files in chat from a device or Google. Users can be tagged in messages and there is a built-in markdown language for formatting messages too.

Slack has Channels, which are similar to chatrooms, that can be linked to integrations with external applications. Each integration provides a set of commands that allow users to run tasks in an external app from a Channel. This is very useful when you are performing tasks based on a Channel discussion. I regularly use the Trello integration to add new Cards based on feedback and discussions in Project related Channels and assign them to team members.

G Suite

G Suite is actually a range of apps, but they seamlessly integrate to form a single app experience! If you have ever used Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendars, Google Docs or Sheets, you have used G Suite.

These android apps give you the power to work anywhere, anytime, and are versatile. Furthermore, many third-party applications provide integrations with G Suite products, so you can access them from third-party apps without interruption.

Basecamp

Basecamp is a project management and team communication tool that centralises access to tasks, documents, schedules and discussions amongst members of project teams. Without centralisation, information is often scattered across different sources and finding it becomes difficult and chaotic.

Basecamp allows provides To-Do Lists, Message Boards, Schedules, Document Storage, Group Chats and a feature called Check-Ins, which are an effective way of getting feedback on progress/status from team members on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Microsoft OneDrive

This is the android version of Microsoft’s ubiquitous Office suite. It offers the same benefits as the G Suite range, such as easy access to documents and easy integration into third-party applications.

Asana

Asana is yet another project management tool. It provides different views of a Project, such as a List view which lists all tasks, or a Board view (a Kanban board) that groups tasks into lists for each available status. Each task can be assigned a team member, due date, status and priority.

Skype

Skype is an application that offers video and voice call capabilities as well as instant messaging and is great for connecting with friends, family, colleagues and customers alike.

Evernote

The Evernote app allows you to capture and organise notes into virtual collections called notebooks using your android device. Like the other apps listed in this post, Evernote is great for personal and business use.

Tiny Scanner

This app turns your android device into a mobile scanning machine and is ideal for individuals or businesses alike without access to a scanning machine. It can convert a scanned document into an image or PDF document and gives you the option to upload them to a cloud storage service of your choice.

Google Calendar

This app integrates well with your Android device, giving you all the functionality of the web-based version in a more convenient format and the power to make the most of every day.

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit Leads 2 Business.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit Leads 2 Business Wiki.
To view more Articles, please visit our Leads 2 Business Blog.

About Ryan Esterhuysen

I'm a Software Developer at L2B. I joined the team in April 2019.

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