Making our NEW NORMAL work

Dale Tomlinson - CEO OF ADVERTISING AGENCY THE HARDY BOYS

We are an industry able to work remotely. The reality was forced on us, and some aspects are not unwelcome. There are less cumbersome meetings and agility from that – but it is lonely. We need to come together to co-create and brainstorm. We can do that more productively, and when we do get together again, the time will be richer and better appreciated. There’s a better work-life balance now – we’re not cramming our families into Sunday. The response to Covid-19 will be prudent spending and business reassessment of brands, what role they play in people’s lives, and the new way of engaging.

Murray Collins - CEO OF THE COLLINS GROUP

Covid-19 has forced decisionmaking. Before the crisis institutions around the world were sitting on cash and the South African economy wasn’t the strongest. There was a lot of trepidation around property and investment before, but this has been replaced by decisiveness. The number of enquiries on our developments on the KZN North Coast since the pandemic has been unbelievable. We’ve sold units. We live in a great place – the equivalent of Florida in the USA. The sun is shining. We will come through. We are resilient and positive people.

The global economy has almost shut down due to Covid-19, but the wheels are still grinding. KZN INVEST asked a host of thought leaders about their new normal and how they expect the economy will change

Palesa Phili - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE DURBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Agility is now more important than ever. Business leaders are asking questions around reconfiguration of the fundamentals of business. What new products can machinery be repurposed for? What expanded roles/ functions can staff take on? What is the work-from-home capacity to handle future disruptions? What are the additional measures to strengthen and maintain customer relations? Continuing to resist technology is not an option. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is here, and many empowering free online training courses are available to assist business owners. There’s increased confidence in technologies that enable remote communication and management. As businesses embrace these new processes, it will, in turn, impact operational efficiency and budgets that once placed a premium on face-to-face meetings.

Philani Mgwaba - ILANGA EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

The impact of Covid-19 on the media industry – especially print – has been calamitous. National newspapers have shrunk considerably and some are now only accessible digitally. Magazines that were household names have shut down. The virus occurred when many media companies were already in deep trouble due to declining circulation and advertising revenue. Some bad newspapers have been kept afloat by their ego-driven owners when they should have folded ages ago. This is a time of reflection, consolidation and co-operation. Only products that understand their audiences and are relevant to their needs will survive. I hope the post-Covid-19 era will create a better business model for the media, and better journalism.

Miles Dally - CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT RCL FOODS

At RCL Foods our purpose is “More Food To More People More Often” so we have never been more relevant, rising to President Ramaphosa’s call to feed South Africa. We are doing this in the context of keeping our people safe and ensuring we have enough cash to keep the business going. As the old adage goes “never waste a crisis”. We have seen many positives emerge from this, in particular a smarter way of working and a stark reminder that we need a reset, in the broadest sense, as a society to ensure our survival.

Hamish Erskine - CEO OF DUBE TRADEPORT

We have had to balance essential operations onsite with most staff working remotely. The AgriZone provides food so it did not close. The Cargo Terminal has been on standby and TradeZone has remained open for tenants able to work during Level 5. The lockdown gave us a chance to test business continuity and our experience of remotely accessing key business applications and meeting online has largely been positive. At Level 4 more of our tenants are starting up again. There is a strong possibility that post-Covid-19 there will be a drive towards localisation of production and the emergence of new sectors. We are focusing on providing infrastructure, services and facilities to serve this growth.

Russell Curtis - INVEST DURBAN CE

Personal paradigms and business models must adapt. All processes from global trade to personal communications, mobility and consumption are reconfiguring. There is innovation and opportunity in all of these, from personal and professional reinvention to corporate efficiency, diversification and digitisation. It is going to be an expanding set of new playing fields where first movers will have advantage, where those eager to grab the change will add value, purpose and most importantly, hope. This will be a survival season, so we had all better speed up our introspection, adaptation and targetting of growth opportunities in the new normal. The haves are behoved to share resources with the have nots, more so than in the past. Tolerance for fraud and corruption is done. Many of our children are starving.

Jacquie Bhana - HR DIRECTOR AT TONGAAT HULETT SUGAR

Business will be completely different to survive. Some actions that were never contemplated in the old world order, will become the new normal. While it will be difficult at first, it will be a case of sink or swim. New ways of working and managing time will be based on what has become a necessity, for safety and to manage costs. Flexibility, creativity and agility will happen more naturally. Human beings are resilient creatures. People have come up with different ways of thinking – and so new opportunities have sprung up. People are acting with confidence and courage in testing new ideas and embracing technology – online meetings and trusting employees to work from home. People are supporting one another. This cannot change – this will not change.

Stefan Botha DIRECTOR AT RAINMAKER MARKETING

This unprecedented time has negatives and positives. In property and infrastructure, KZN has always fought way above its weight category based on prime land, climate, exceptional town-planning, and lots of bold and positive people. This trend will continue. There will be a new normal but that too will be an exciting space where we will naturally be forced to raise the game and be innovative and engaged, and far more receptive to technology and trends. This is a time for business leaders to step up by swiftly adapting, future-proofing their businesses, and creating a safe and secure environment for their staff.

Grant Gavin BROKER/OWNER AT RE/MAX PANACHE

The current crisis will bring about another period of enforced change for all, especially for our industry. The new norm will no doubt require us all to become more creative, adapt rapidly to changes in the market, and force those who were resisting technological change to embrace the opportunities that come with a new way of doing business. Overheads will need to be reduced as business models change, and the workforce will find benefit from more efficient use of their time due to their ability to work remotely.

Solly Suleman - CO-FOUNDER OF SPARKPORT

This has given us a chance to stop, introspect and re-examine our priorities. Never in our wildest imaginations would any of us have predicted this. Unfortunately, millions of jobs will be lost and poverty will not just be a problem for the poor. The knock-on effect of the lockdown will impact every business. Relief schemes will barely scratch the surface considering that we were already in a recession and still reeling from state capture. But, there will be major opportunities if the government appoints the most competent people, is tough on corruption, and demands accountability. Government has worked well with business and civil society. This rallying together could get the engine of our country moving again.

Andrew Turner SENIOR PARTNER, EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND

Our office was debating the merits of limited remote work before Covid-19 forced it on us. We have had to go from teams to Teams. The big positive is that – left to their own devices (literally!) – our people have problem solved and got things done with very little outside help. We have been forced to adopt those IT systems we used to find excuses to avoid – and they work. From a home perspective, I think schools may have discovered that they can also be more efficient. For the more senior pupils, they could move closer to a “varsity type” model with a combination of lectures, smaller group tutorials and kids’ personal work time.

Government has worked well with business and civil society. This rallying together could get the engine of our country moving again

Mandisa Ndlovu - FNB SEGMENT HEAD KZN

Many of our clients are in touch to find out if they qualify for assistance; if they can access payment holidays and secure a moratorium on bonds or other loans. We’ve been very busy. Traditionally we would be looking for new business, but now we are focusing more on helping customers stay in business. Our credit committees are meeting more often to assist with the volumes of applications. Some businesses are severely impacted. We were in a recession before Covid-19. As a net importer of goods, South Africa relies heavily on our international trading partners. While the whole world is in panic, this also serves as an opportunity for SA to localise faster, to source more goods locally.