Business Support Services
Support services help the Northern Cape economy to perform well.
The main economic drivers in the Northern Cape are mining and agriculture. These large-scale operations are often better off outsourcing some services to specialists rather than maintaining internal departments. In tourism, local communities are increasingly supporting established tour operators by offering local services that add to the unique Northern Cape experience.
Business-support services can include security, catering, cleaning, accounting, legal services, furniture and stationery supply, software and hardware management, recruitment, consulting, call centres and customer care.
A popular method of delivering business-support services is through national franchise operations. This ensures a set standard of service, while at the same time ensuring that the local business is run with commitment. According to the Standard Bank Franchise Factor 2008, South Africa has 531 franchised systems operating 30 000 outlets and employing more than half-a-million people. The report, which was compiled by Franchize Directions, states that the sector contributed 12.5% to the national gross domestic product and was worth R256-billion.
Popular business-to-business franchise offerings include courier services, printing, signage, bin cleaning and organizing travel. Northern Cape entrepreneur Pierre Markgraaf initiated the Moto-Inn franchise, which is now a national operation. The economic downturn has encouraged companies to think carefully about what their core business is, and to concentrate on that.
Entrepreneurs wishing to offer their services to corporates or take up perceived gaps in the business-support services market are not alone. The Small Enterprise Development Agency (seda) has a number of branches in the Northern Cape (including Springbok, Kuruman and De Aar) with Enterprise Information Centres offering useful information on how to start a business and how to approach funders.
T h e N o r t h e r n C a p e Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) has six active chambers, providing support and a voice for business. NOCCI Kimberley has initiated a Service Excellence Project in an attempt to improve standards in that vital aspect of business.
