11 Apr 2019

Clever Marketing Strategies Retail Outlets use

by | posted in: Construction Chat, General | 0

Clever Marketing Strategies Retail Outlets use

Many years ago, my uncle had a general trading store in a little town called Komga in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. He was building his store up from scratch and had many items for sale. One particular item, a box of pens, had been sitting on the shelf, not selling and were priced at 99c each. He made a sign, wrote the word “Special – R 1.00 each”, put the box on the counter and all the pens were sold within a week.

My uncle’s strategy was visual (no mobiles and social media invented yet) but today’s retailers have many more options at their disposal. Many people are bargain hunters and the words “special” or “sale” are like homing beacons, calling us, tantalizing and convincing enough that sometimes, even if we don’t really need the item, we buy it cause we are getting it on “special”!

In this consumer driven world that we live in, we are bombarded from all sides with marketing ploys and adverts, specials, etc to convince you that THIS is the store, THIS is what I need. To draw the foot traffic into their stores, retailers have many options at their disposal and how they use them will determine if their strategies are working……

Retailers need to ensure that their STOREFRONTS are relevant and enticing, when it is a sweltering 40 degrees outside, gorgeous fur coats draped over the mannequins with lace up boots and scarfs will not set the right tone. INCENTIVES TO RETURN and a LOYALTY PROGRAM, this marketing strategy is widely used and is very successful. If I am faced with two shops, side by side, selling the same merchandise but one is offering me an incentive to enter, boy oh boy, that is the one I am going to choose, I mean, who does not want a free coffee while I browse through wonderful stuff that I don’t really need? And if buying something results in a “kickback” to me (loyalty points etc) that’s the way I am gonna go. SOCIAL MEDIA is a powerful tool utilised in retailer’s marketing strategies, promoting their in-store goods on line and even better when there is a limit to the special e.g. buy 2 leggings for R50, Special ends Monday. Goodness, best I get there right now, good price and it ends soon and I don’t want to miss out! Advertising on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and pinning your goods to a PINTEREST board is always a good idea. REVIEWS! Personally I like to check reviews and they most certainly have an influence as to whether I wish to patronise that retailer or not. BRANDS, lets face it, a lot of people are brand conscious and a brand name beats a no-name brand any day! Retailers have a multitude of options at their fingertips and in order to succeed they need to stay one step ahead of their competitors.

Leads 2 Business takes great pride in producing relevant, comprehensive and updated information in the Construction Industry by publishing new tenders and projects on a daily basis. Our up-to-date, user friendly website is a breeze to operate and will save you time when looking to increase your order book. Do not miss out on this opportunity! For further information on our services please contact me on DebbieW@L2B.co.za , I look forward to hearing from you!

 

 

Sources:

Vendhq
Fitsmallbusiness.com
Wordstream
Shopify
CampaignMonitor
Pixabay

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 Events, please visit our Leads 2 Business Blog.

About Debbie Wessels

I started at Leads 2 Business in April 2008 in the tenders Department and transferred to the Projects Department during the same year. I was appointed Head of Department for Projects from February 2011 to March 2022. April 2022 I started a new adventure as Content Regulator.

3 Apr 2019

Inspiring Mall Designs

by | posted in: General | 2

Inspiring Mall Designs

When one thinks of a mall certain things initially spring to mind. When I think of a mall, it just reminds me of working there. Not knowing what the weather outside is doing, I think they need to build more malls with open-air garden courts or glass roofs. But a Mall all depends on whose mind it is, Clothing stores, grocery stores, appliance stores, movies, restaurants, coffee shops, international chain stores. According to Dictionary.com; “A Mall also called a shopping mall is a large retail complex containing a variety of stores and often restaurants and other business establishments housed in a series of connected or adjacent buildings or in a single large building”.

That is the perspective of the general public. But shall we take another point of view? Today’s malls are not only about what you can get inside but what the surroundings look like. Some of the worlds top architectural firms and designers use eye-catching materials to enhance the retail experience along with art installations and landscaped enhancing gardens.
Nowadays a mall may not be just a mall. The Mall of Africa, for example, is one of the largest, to be built in a single phase in Southern Africa. The 131 000 m² mall was announced as the winner of the Engineering Excellence Award. The Mall of Africa, is part of a mixed-use development which includes offices, residential, retail, a logistics hub, schools, hotels, a hospital, parks, restaurants, entertainment and more. So not just a shopping centre.

The Mall drew inspiration from Africa’s geological beauty, a ‘column-free’ mall design, wide passages, high shopfronts, an undulating roof feature in the middle. Atterbury Property Group says “The Mall of Africa combines the latest international trends, environmentally sustainable materials and technologies. It is designed around new urbanism principles of walkable, mixed-use environments to create a truly cutting-edge shopping experience”.

Sources:
MissNadiaSingh
Dictionary.com

 

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 Events, please visit our Leads 2 Business Blog.

About Meghan Coslett

28 Mar 2019

Directory Ranking: Tips That You Need to Know

by | posted in: General | 0

 

This won’t be a long read but I promise it will be worth your time 😉

As you are all aware we have an extensive directory that lists anyone from Painters to Civil Engineers and anyone in between, in other words – anyone that you will ever need in the construction, civil and mining industry…you’re welcome!

In amongst this vast array of professionals, vendors and contractors you get our Buyers.

Our Buyers are subscribed to our Leads 2 Quotes (L2Q) platform, aka The Pricing Platform. They use our directory to price their tender documents by sending out Request for Quotes (RfQ’s) and in turn, get to know and appoint sub-contractors for those specific contracts if and when they are awarded the contract.

On our directory, we also have our vendors who are active to receive the above referred to Request for Quotes (RfQ’s). You can be a non-paying Vendor or a paying Vendor (referred to as our Open Quotes Subscribers), both Vendor and Open Quotes subscribers will receive RfQ’s and will be able to price or decline online and view specifications or drawings should the contractor upload these.

The major benefit of being subscribed to Open Quotes is – that you will receive all award information for all Request for Quotes received! This gives you the opportunity to send your prices to the awarded contractor too! You will also be able to ensure that your directory entry is up to date to ensure that you receive the relevant Request for Quotes as well as ensuring that if anyone wanted to contact you that they could successfully.

So after some background information let’s move onto the tips on how you can improve your ranking on our directory. This just means that the better your company scores the higher it will rank in position on the list of companies (vendors or suppliers) our buyers see when they want to send out Request for Quotes (RfQ’s).

See tips below:

1) Just price the RfQ’s that you receive

When you receive an RFQ from a contractor please price it online or send it back via email and “reply all” on the email so we can get a copy and make sure that the positive response is entered into our system (the buyer can see this too).

2) Regularly Update the details on our database

Even if there is nothing to change just ensure that we know that your details are still correct so we can go update it or mark it as still correct and this will help rank you higher, try do this every 3 months or so – if you are an Open Quotes subscriber you can do this from a link on the Request for Quote email you receive:

3) Subscribe to Open Quotes and we can help you get into contact with our buyers

The more contact you make with the buyers, whether it be sending through your prices or sending them your company profile or specials you may be running the more your company name will come up and you are more likely to be remembered and this could lead to your company becoming a preferred supplier/vendor of theirs and ultimately end up with your company ranking higher.

If you have any questions or would be interested in subscribing or updating your details, please send us an email on Directory@L2B.co.za and I will be happy to assist you.

Happy Pricing

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 Events, please visit our Leads 2 Business Blog.

About Sally Nell

I joined Leads 2 Business in November 2011. I started in the Daily Tenders department and later moved to the Directory Department in May 2014.

12 Mar 2019

Simple Tips that will improve Vendor Responses

by | posted in: Construction Chat, General, How To | 0

 

As the main contractor, your daily schedule involves plenty of organizing, planning, and meticulous work. In a busy world with a busy schedule, it is very easy to lose track of time and lose your objective for the day, even if it is just slight details or information that you need to obtain.
When you tender on a project (or a few), the stressful work can get a bit much, but never fear, as Leads 2 Business is here with a solution.

By using our L2Q Pricing Platform, life has become a little simpler in obtaining prices from various Vendors in just a few clicks.

Once a Bill of Quantities has been added onto your pricing platform profile, you can send Request for Quotes (RFQ’s) to various vendors to obtain prices for specific trades that you require.

Our dedicated Control List team will meticulously follow up on these RFQ’s to assist in obtaining the necessary responses.

By using the following tips, the responses you receive from vendors could be improved:

  • Provide vendors with drawings and/or specifications of the project.
  • Should a vendor contact you with regards to the quotation, assist as much as you are able to at the time.
  • Confirm that you are sending the RFQ to the correct vendor i.e read the description of the company, which will give you the necessary insight on their scope of works.
  • Keep an open line of communication, as good communication will assist with dealing with the same vendor in the future. For example; if the tender has been awarded, notify the vendor if you have been awarded the tender or not. This will let the vendor know that he/she is not pricing in vain.
  • Give the vendors sufficient time to respond to the RFQ (at least 5 – 7 days).

Hopefully, using these few tips, it will assist in an even smoother process to obtain your responses from various vendors, without being bombarded by unnecessary responses that you don’t need.

Feel free to give us a call if you require more information about our Leads 2 Quotes package on +27(0)860 836 337.

 

To view more articles, please visit the Leads 2 Business Blog.
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 the Leads 2 Business Wiki.

About Nadine Vermeulen

I started working at Leads 2 Business in October 2014 in the Leads 2 Quotes Department. I managed all the Daily Tender Bill Requests and followed up on BoQ's for our Daily Tender Subscribers. In 2017, I was promoted to L2Q Assistant and now work with Bill of Quantities for Contractors. 🙂

7 Mar 2019

Jumpstart your spread with L2Q

by | posted in: General | 0

Jumpstart your spread with L2Q

I must be honest…when I first started working at Leads 2 Business, the department that “freaked me out” the most was by far L2Q. I knew the only way I would overcome my fear was to get myself into L2Q and learn as much as I possibly could. And here I am.

So firstly, what does L2Q stand for? Leads 2 Quotes (L2Q) is an electronic pricing platform used by buyers to send out requests for quotes to their preferred suppliers.

You have the following benefits:

  • One system – which makes it easier and more efficient for you so you don’t have to try and find vendors to provide pricing. It is all right there for you – just by a click of a button;
  • Trade Mapping – where we will code the trades according to your company’s needs;
  • L2Q has the ability to transfer a bill of quantity into various electronic formats;
  • Easy access to a database of vendors / suppliers within different regions;
  • Time saver;
  • We have a support team who will follow up on the requests for quotes and update you accordingly on their response;
  • We upload any drawings that you may have.

The L2Q process is super simple and straight forward and is as follows: Buyers / main contractors will do an L2Q Bill Request on the L2B system, which guides you through the steps such as contract number, description, respond by date, closing date, then on to the trade mapping, attaching files, etc as below:

The bill of quantities can either be attached on the request or the contractors can send it to us directly via e-mail. From there, we will convert it, make it “pretty”, code it into the correct trades and upload it onto the buyer’s L2Q Desktop, for you to begin the process of electrically requesting quotes. This process does take some time, our turn-around times are as follows: Excel bills is a minimum of 24 hours and PDF a minimum of 48 hours.

We then also have Trade Mapping available which is where we will code the trades according to your company’s needs.

You will have the option of selecting your preferred suppliers/vendors. You can earmark the businesses that have given you the best response, service and pricing. Our pricing platform will also start recognising the vendors on our system who have given you the best response to the requests for quotes. So should you not have dealt with a company before, their rating will give you a guideline on their response rate. You can then generate a Control List report which will show you the vendors you have sent to as well as your engagement with them, how they are responding to you as well as the follow ups done by our Control List team.

We understand the time constraints and therefore our directory of over 90 000 companies is expanding and updated on a daily basis which then gives you even more options to your business and ultimately more competitive pricing when submitting a tender.

The e-mails that are sent to the vendors through the L2Q system include your company branding, drawings, addendums, terms & conditions and specifications which bring clarity to the vendors when responding.

In conclusion, Leads 2 Business’ biggest and strongest point of differentiation is our Leads 2 Quotes platform – our very own. I hope that my explanation of the L2Q system has been useful as well as beneficial to you, and that those who have been a bit weary of it, will now grab it by the horns 😉

 

To view more articles, please visit the Leads 2 Business Blog.
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 the Leads 2 Business Wiki.

About Bianca Edgcumbe

I started working at Leads 2 Business in May 2013 in the Africa Tenders Department. I worked my way to the Leads 2 Quotes Department in September 2016 and have been there ever since.

28 Feb 2019

Create a Tender that gets Results

by | posted in: Construction Chat, General | 2

Create a Tender that gets Results

In the world of construction, we often hear the word “tender” being used more often than ever…”Who was that tender awarded too?”, “X & Y have just put out a tender for the building of A”, “I wonder which company got awarded that tender?”…the big question then becomes, what is a Tender?

A tender is a process where an offer is put out to do work or supply a service/goods at a fixed price. Usually given by government and financial institutions they invite bids for large projects and have to be submitted in a finite deadline.

Creating a tender that will get the desired results may seem rather impossible but the reality is its all dependant on a few but relevant pointers will have a look at below:

  • Ensure that you are registered on the supplier database – find a sector that works for your line of business and register to be informed of the tenders that would be published.
  • Attend the briefing sessions so you would know what’s expected for the project.
  • Have the correct documents – it’s standard to have the correct documents as a company. Have a valid and current tax clearance and BEE certificate.
  • Have a good banking record, credit history and relationship with your clients and suppliers.
  • You must have the cash flow and necessary resources to bid for the tender.
  • Price in a competitive manner with proof – avoid pricing extremely low, get the pricing just correct.
  • Provide references – this will assist in boosting your chances of being awarded
  • Source out partnership – completing a project without assistance is always a bonus but it always helps to get assistance if needed.
  • Keep note of the of the closing date and submit before that time.
  • Keep a copy of your tender documents
  • Never give up – the tendering world isn’t easy at all but just because you didn’t get the first doesn’t mean the ones to follow won’t be a success.

Do remember that tenders are a lengthy process which may take a while before they are awarded, this doesn’t mean you should just bid for one and sit back waiting for the work..put in the effort and do as much research as you can in order to create a tender that will get you the results you desire.

It’s not so much that it is a difficult task but it needs you to be specific and pay close attention to the finer detail.

 

Sources

News24
Entrepreneurmag
Investopedia
GoogleImages
GoogleImages
GoogleImages

 

To view more articles, please visit the Leads 2 Business Blog.
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 the Leads 2 Business Wiki.

About Lungile Chauke

27 Feb 2019

Fraudulent Tenders: What to look out for

by | posted in: General | 2

Is it too good to be true…

I see all sorts crossing my desk, when it comes to researching and sourcing tender notices. I see not only the various notifications companies and organisations put out alerting the public to the scams out there, but I also get sent quite a few scams myself. This has inadvertently created a new skill set. And that is, inhouse dodgy tender notice identifier.

Fraudulent tenders and scams involving tenders is not new. It tends to take on various incarnations, and, unfortunately, tends to get more inventive as time goes on. There’s a bizarre combination of old tricks and new tricks. So this misuse of imagination keeps everyone on their toes. It takes learning on the job to a new level.

Scams are not limited to any one type of service or product. It can be anything from supplying wheelie bins to building RDP houses. It doesn’t matter what the service or product is, because it’s just used as bait to lure unsuspecting suppliers and contractors to fall for the scam.

Any procurement process is competitive. And companies have to work hard to take advantage of all the opportunities that come their way. Fraudsters tend to prey on this eagerness, and in some cases desperation. They use a company’s naivity to their advantage as well as greed (to be blatantly honest). Heightened emotions, of any kind, put someone at risk of making a risking decision.

Money is the focus for scammers. They are trying to get as much as they can as quickly as they can as often as they can. So a red flag is any tender deposit that is exorbitantly high. A registration fee of any kind, needs to be questioned.

Has a tender notice or request for quotation shown up unannounced? Unsolicited quotations are very common. There are all manner of electronic procurement systems out there allowing buyers to send RFQs to vendors legitimately. But if you do not recognise the format or who the RFQ has come from, always double check. The way to double check, is to not call any numbers listed directly on the quotation. Look up the switchboard numbers of the organisation and call them directly and this will allow you to get confirmation of the legitimacy or the fraudulent nature of the tender notice/ quotation.

These fraudulent quotations/ tenders tend to also ask for very specific goods or products. Usually, where there’s only one company that can supply the item in question. Be wary of these types of quotations, as they channel you in the direction that the scammer wants you to go.

Did you tender for the contract award that has suddenly shown up in your inbox or doorstep? No? Then it’s most likely a scam. You cannot be awarded a tender you did not submit a tender/ quote for.

You will never be asked to pay, before being awarded a tender.

Is the quotation/ tender notice not only on a “official” looking letterhead, but has a watermark and all manner of crests and coats of arms? Trying too hard to look legitimate and official; then give this a wide berth, and call the organisation and check

Is the email address given, some bizarre derivative of an official organisation’s domain name? Then it’s a scam. Government Departments, Municipalities and legitimate private companies do not have various versions of their own domain names. There’s one official domain name and that’s it. This is a dead give away.

Most of these fraudulent tenders/ quotations are variations of exactly the same advert but with varying dates and slightly different cell phone numbers listed. This repetition stands out. Companies are posting warnings of these scams; so a good Google search can quite quickly confirm whether the tender/ quotation is fake or not.

It might be tedious; double checking and notifying the proper companies of these scams out there, but it helps tremendously in shutting these scammers out by spreading the word.

Once bitten, Twice Shy.

 

 

 

To view more articles, please visit the Leads 2 Business Blog.
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 the Leads 2 Business Wiki.

About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

20 Feb 2019

How to Stay Safe from Criminal Activity

by | posted in: General | 0

How to Stay Safe from Criminal Activity

How do we stay safe in a world where crime is always prevalent? Anyone and everyone is a target nowadays.

According to reports from IOL and BusinessTech these are some of SA’s biggest crimes:

Drugs
Burglary
Assault
Theft
Malicious injury to property
Commercial crime
Career Scams
Inheritance fraud
Online Gaming Fraud

Criminals devise new tactics daily.
Cybercrime remains a massive global threat with text, voice, malware and email to name a few. Banks alone list at least 16 Types of Scams on their website:

Vishing scam (otherwise known as phone call scamming)
Remote access takeover scam
Phishing scam (emails)
Change of banking details scam
SIM swap scam
Twin SIM scam (duplication of your SIM)
Number porting scam
Deposit and refund scam
Spoofed website scam (fake websites that look legitimate)
419 scam (upfront payments)
Dating and romance scam
Holiday scam (false advertisements)
Keylogger scam (software recording keystrokes)
Smishing scam (SMS)
Online goods scam
Email hacking scam

In most cases the main aim of criminals using the above types of scams is to obtain your personal information for financial gain. This is often achieved by impersonating companies (like SARS) and deceiving unsuspecting individuals.

Do you know how to identify these crimes? How can you decrease your likelihood of falling prey to criminals and fraud?

Having healthy scepticism and security protocols are key in staying safe from criminals.

Some red flags and general tips to stay safe are:
Be aware of your surroundings and trust your gut
Competitions you win but never entered
Upfront payments to receive money/prizes
Always log off/sign out
Latest anti-virus versions
Don’t auto-save passwords
Avoid using public computers
Type the URL – Don’t use links
Set transaction banking limits
Use websites that have a lock icon as well as “https://”
Protect and don’t share personal information/passwords/OTPs
Strong, impersonal, unique and frequently changed passwords (password tips from How-To-Geek)
Don’t confirm personal or account details via a hyper-link, icon or attachment in an email or over the phone

Other identifiers specific to emails/phishing also include:

Displayed names and headers can be deceiving
Look first before clicking
Typos and Grammar
Analyse greetings
Beware of urgent/threatening requests
Assess the signature
Don’t open or download attachments
Delete, mark as spam/junk and report

 

Lastly: If it’s too good to be true… it probably is.

The above suggestions don’t guarantee your safety from criminal activity. Technology is ever evolving and opportunists are always developing new tactics.

Be vigilant, stay informed of the latest trends and as they say “fore-warned is fore-armed”.

 

 

Sources/Further Reading:
Cambridge Dictionary
BamkingOrg
StandardBank
MyBroadband
Nedbank
IOL
SafeInternetBanking
PhishingOrg
CSOOnline
GlobalSign
PixelPrivacy
ZoneAlarm
Comodo
Norton
InfoBunny
DuoCircle

 

 

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 Events, 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

14 Feb 2019

Is your BBBEE Grading impacting your Business?

by | posted in: General | 2

Is your BBBEE Grading impacting your Business?

What is the meaning of BBBEE?

Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE or B-BBEE as written by the South African government) is a form of economic empowerment initiated by the South African government in response to criticism against narrow-based empowerment instituted in the country during 2003/2004. It has been said that “B-BBEE legislation is the most significant piece of legislation affecting South African business today”.

The Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003 affects all business and individuals in South Africa. It is not only vital for the country’s integrated prosperity, but a catalyst for economic growth. It makes sense to ensure that your BEE rating is as high as possible. Government has taken small and medium-sized businesses in consideration with the development of BBBEE legislation.

You have to be BBBEE compliant to be able to do business in South Africa. One of the 7 elements of the BBBEE scorecard is preferential procurement and supplier development. This is the element that carries the most weight (nearly 40%). If you procure from other entities that are BBBEE compliant your BBBEE score increases. One can see the trickledown effect from suppliers to government down to their suppliers. Once again the goal is to try and achieve a level 4 as this gives you 100% contribution towards preferential procurement.

BBBEE makes it possible for the business to get access to contracts.
BBBEE can help the business to achieve its social responsibility towards the community
BBBEE can result in the acquiring of new customers for the business.
BBBEE can lead to new innovative ideas with the input of the empowering partner.
BBBEE makes it possible for the business to invest in affordable skills development for employees.

The challenge is to improve on your B-BBEE activities and score each year. If your annual turnover is between R 10 million and R 50 million you are defined as a Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE).

The Generic Scorecard includes all seven B-BBEE Elements, namely: Ownership, Management Control, Employment Equity, Skills Development, Preferential Procurement, Enterprise Development, Socio-Economic & Sector Specific Contributions.

How is BEE Compliance Expressed and what Level is considered Compliant?

BEE CONTRIBUTION LEVEL SCORECARD POINTS PROCUREMENT RECOGNITION
1 100 or above 135%
2 85 to 99.99 125%
3 75 to 84.99 110%
4 65 to 74.99 100%
5 55 to 64.99 80%
6 45 to 54.99 60%
7 40 to 44.99 50%
8 30 to 39.99 10%
Non Compliant < 30 0%

 

The codes define three types of companies;

EME below R10 million
EME – exempt micro enterprise – a company that has an annual turnover of less than R10 million. These companies are automatically given a BEE score of 65 points (level 4), and if majority black owned, level 2 and if 100% black owned, level 1

QSE between R10 million and R50 million
QSE – Qualifying Small Enterprise – an enterprise with an annual turnover of between R10 million and R50 million. The QSE will need to fill in a scorecard but use slightly easier targets.

Generic above R50 million
Generic – all companies with a turnover above R50 million per annum.

Benefits of B-BBEE for business

Your clients will know that you are doing whatever it takes to stay ahead in your business – that you mean business and that you are look to them to support your efforts.
You will have a clear picture of what types of supplier you have. A rating would give you leverage to be able to negotiate better discounts, etc. Supplier analysis will assist with your procurement policy development.
Your image will be enhanced by your demonstration of leadership in your industry – be perceived as in step with development initiatives.
By focusing on HR development, enterprise development and BEE, you will demonstrate commitment towards the social, educational and economic developments in the community in which you operate.
Attempt to increase your develop your employees’ skills and potential development as well as your BEE ratings enhance fair and progressive employment practices.
Your staff will see what you are doing, which will boost their morale.
The sooner your business is rated, the sooner you will understand how to develop a BEE strategy to increase your annual BEE rating. Your BEE strategy should form part of your company’s overall strategy plan.
BEE can also be a marketing tool. As a client of BEE Empowered, your company’s name will be listed on our website’s BEE directory and will be available to all those searching for BEE-compliant suppliers.

Don’t get left in the dark. 

A level one contributor is the highest achievable status and the lowest level of BEE compliance is level eight. The higher the BEE status level, the stronger a company is in relation to its competition.

 

Sources: BeEmpowered

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 Events, please visit our Leads 2 Business Blog.

About Devika Suresh

I started at Leads 2 Business in January 2010 (12 Years ago). I am presently Deputy HOD of L2Q. I started in the Daily Tenders Bills department and worked my way up to the L2Q department.

7 Feb 2019

CSD – How, Where, Why to Register

by | posted in: General | 6

CSD – How, Where, Why to Register

CSD stands for Central Supplier Database. It came into effect in April 2016. Basically, if you want to participate do business with the South African Government and its entities, you are required to be registered on the CSD.

Below is from the CSD website:

What is the CSD?

The Central Supplier Database (CSD) is a single database that will serve as the source of all supplier information for organs of state. The supplier information will be verified with institutions such as the South African Revenue Service, Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, Department of Home Affairs etc. All suppliers will be required to complete the required information on the CSD website and must ensure it is complete, accurate and comprehensive.

What do I need to register on the CSD?

Depending on the supplier type, the following would be amongst the required information:

  • A valid cell-phone number to receive a One Time Pin (OTP);
  • A valid email account;
  • Supplier identification information e.g. identification number or company registration number or trust number, etc.;
  • Industry classification information;
  • Supplier contact information e.g. preferred contact name, email address, cell-phone number, telephone number etc.;(Note: Please ensure that you provide all relevant numbers where available i.e. telephone number (landline), cell-phone number, fax number, toll-free number, website address. This is to enable the Organ of State practitioners to reach you when intending to contact you for procurement purposes) ;
  • Supplier address information e.g. country, province, municipality, city, suburb, ward, and postal code;
  • Bank account information if relevant to ensure future payments; (Note: It is critical to refer to the banking FAQ on the OCPO website prior to capturing your bank information. Verification against the banks may take up to four (4) days, please complete this information in advance to prevent payment delays);
  • Supplier tax information if relevant;
  • Directors/Members information, e.g. name and identification number of directors, members etc.;
  • Commodities the supplier can provide; (Note: commodities need to be captured accurately as they are used by the Organ of State practitioners to search goods and services required by them. The delivery locations of commodities must be accurate to prevent you from not responding to request for quotations sent from practitioners in areas where you do not supply commodities); and
  • Accreditations the supplier is associated with e.g. CIDB, SETA, SANAS etc. if relevant.

How do I register on the CSD?

You are required to follow a two-stage, self-registration process:

How do I know I am successfully registered?

The registration is complete once the supplier information is assigned a Supplier number and a 36-digit Unique Registration Reference Number.

How do I obtain a registration report?

  • Click on Report, followed by Registration;
  • Enter your Supplier number and the Unique Registration Reference Number;
  • Click View Report.

I sent a list of questions through to the CSD on 10 December 2018, in a bid to not only get some answers to questions but also to see how responsive they were to my queries. You are able to contact the CSD directly through their website, by using their Provide Feedback option. I have corresponded with them previously, and haven’t had any complaints about their response time, and with this little test; I was impressed. They responded a couple of hours after I emailed them. Below are the questions I sent and the answers, I received:

Q. How long, on average, does it take from beginning to registered?

A. It takes about 20 minutes to register a supplier. The bank takes up to four business days to verify after registering.

Q. Which form of communication is encouraged by the CSD? Through the website, telephone or the Walk-In Centres?

A: All those forms of communication are encouraged, it depends which one you prefer.

Q. What info is required should a supplier use a Walk-In Centre?

A. To register in the walking center one should bring their ID, tax clearance, banking details (business account), CK (depends what type of business it is).

Q. Is there any company/ supplier that doesn’t have to be registered on the CSD?

A. Everyone that wishes to conduct business with the government needs to register on CSD.

Q. Does a supplier’s registration lapse?

A. As long as you pay your CIPC annual fee, you will not be de-registered.

Q. How does a supplier de-activate their registration, i.e. remove themselves from the CSD?

A. One can deactivate or delete their profile at any point. When deleted, the supplier number cannot be retrieved back.

Q. How many companies can be registered per profile?

A. You can register up to five (5) companies under your profile.

Q. Is the CSD involved in payment being made to suppliers for services rendered?

A. The department that awarded the tender will be responsible for payment for services rendered.

Contacting the CSD:

The website address is https://secure.csd.gov.za/

There are various ways to contact the CSD, the main being National support: csd@treasury.gov.za

012 406 9222

The direct link for all the Provincial options is https://secure.csd.gov.za/Feedback/ProvincialContacts

There are seven Provincial Walk-In Centres:

Walk-In Centres

National Treasury

National Treasury

240 Madiba Street, City of Tshwane, Pretoria, Gauteng

Free State

Free State Provincial Treasury

Fidel Castro Building, 55 Elizabeth Street, Mangaung, Bloemfontein,

Free State

Eastern Cape

Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury

Tyamzashe Building, Phalo Avenue, Bhisho, Buffalo City, Eastern Cape

Western Cape

City of Cape Town

12 Hertzog Boulevard, 2nd Floor Civic Centre Building, Cape Town,

Western Cape

Limpopo

Limpopo Provincial Treasury

56 Paul Kruger Street, Capricorn, Polokwane, Limpopo

Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga Provincial Government

Building No 4, Lower Ground Floor, 7 Government Boulevard, Ehlanzeni, Mbombela, Nelspruit,

Mpumalanga

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Kwa-Zulu Natal Provincial Treasury

Treasury House, 145 Chief Albert Luthuli Road, Msunduzi, uMgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-Natal

Sources:
http://ocpo.treasury.gov.za/Resource_Centre/CSD/Supplier%20Leaflet.pdf
https://secure.csd.gov.za/
http://ocpo.treasury.gov.za/Resource_Centre/CSD/CSD%20User%20Guide%20Master.pdf

 

 

To view more articles, please visit the Leads 2 Business Blog.
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 the Leads 2 Business Wiki.

About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

1 … 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 … 46