By Tennille Bell, General Manager of Sales at PPO Today’s business landscape is characterised by complexity, uncertainty, and volatility. South African companies face an overwhelming array of challenges, from rising costs to erratic power supply and shifting consumer behaviours and in such an unpredictable environment, conventional strategies are no longer enough to manage fluctuating tides

By Tennille Bell, General Manager: Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO) Black Friday was the busiest shopping day of the year for South Africa in 2022, with online spending growing significantly, especially in the electronics, clothing, and home appliances product categories. This event shows that retailers and e-commerce players need to be prepared for peak

By Tennille Bell, General Manager of Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO) Although technologies such as artificial intelligence, business process automation and machine learning have developed at a rate faster than we could have imagined, we’re not yet at a point where we can say with certainty that machines are going to replace all humans

By Tennille Bell, General Manager of Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO) Times are tough and business costs continue to skyrocket. In response to global economic uncertainty, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) providers are embracing agile and flexible business models characterised by on-demand scalability with short-term, project-based engagements and customised solutions that aim to address real-world

By Tennille Bell, General Manager of Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO) Like all industries in South Africa, the Agri-sector is feeling the pressure of rising overhead costs. Coupled with the increase in the national minimum wage, a tightening in labour law regulations, and the operational uncertainty created by incessant load shedding, farmers are taking

By Tennille Bell, General Manager: Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO) South Africa boasts one of the world’s most diverse agricultural sectors, encompassing both corporate and private intensive and extensive crop farming systems, spanning the production of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains. In 2020, the sector contributed $10.4 billion to global exports, with citrus, grapes,

By Tennille Bell, General Manager: Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO) To minimise environmental impact, many organisations seek to implement eco-conscious strategies into their operational practices. If reducing their environmental impact was not enough of an incentive, implementing sustainable practices can result in cost savings for businesses while giving them a competitive edge with customers

By Tennille Bell, General Manager: Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO) In 2022, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) was adjusted from R21,69 to R23,19 for each ordinary hour worked with effect from 01 March 2022. This increase was welcomed by employees struggling under rising food and fuel costs, but businesses had to dig deep to

By Tennille Bell, General Manager: Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO) Unpredictable by nature, it can be tricky to anticipate growth or predict the direction a business will take in the future. For company founders, there are many factors to consider when evaluating the prospective survival and expansion of their business: the number of product

By Tennille Bell, General Manager: Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO) Going into 2023, budgets will only get tighter. South African businesses will have to dig deep to cut costs, as customers try even harder to extract maximum value at the lowest prices. In current economic conditions, companies will have even harder choices to make