Tag: competitiveness

Everyone understands that, in order for a retailer to be competitive, it must invest in the best technology to remove friction for customers and employees. Retailers must also provide the agility and capability to take advantage of big events such as Black Friday, improve operational efficiencies, and build long-term customer loyalty. However, many retailers have discovered that a technology solution decision is far more complex than it would seem. Therefore, instead of simply adopting new technologies, they should be investing in self-enablement.

The South African government has concluded its 2025 budget deliberations. It announced a Value Added Tax (VAT) increase of 0.5% from May 2025. It also announced a possible further 0.5% hike by April 2026. These increases are part of measures to address the growing budget deficit.

There is a new sheriff in town. Global investors have been digesting the change in policy direction after President Trump’s return to the White House. In contrast to his first term, actions on the trade front have been a policy priority and the rules of the game are changing.

In "Seven Days That Changed the World", a small Chinese startup made a rapid and remarkable shift that splits the Artificial Intelligence (AI) atom. Last month, it went from quietly releasing a new AI chatbot to fending off cyberattacks, security leaks, accusations of theft and allegations of sanctions-busting.

Good governance helps an organisation thrive in a competitive environment. It ensures transparency, efficiency, and ethical integrity in organisational operations. Corporate governance also enables executive management to execute strategic decisions effectively. However, failing to adopt a robust digitised governance framework weakens the board’s oversight capabilities.

South African businesses face an environment where many employees, especially in lower income segments, cannot afford basic healthcare services. Medical aid remains unaffordable for most workers, even when subsidised, exacerbating the existing healthcare access disparities.

As technology accelerates and sustainability gains global attention, supply chain management is becoming a crucial driver of business success. In South Africa, unique challenges such as rising costs and resource constraints are inspiring innovation through digitisation and sustainability.

In Johannesburg, City Improvement Districts (CIDs) play a crucial role in urban development and management. These districts focus on collaboration. Property owners and tenants work together to tackle critical urban challenges. As a result, they enhance the quality of business environments.

So, your idea has taken off and is wildly successful. Next step is to franchise it and make some serious money, right? Not so fast: while the franchising model can be applied to almost any industry, not all businesses are ‘franchisable’. The first step to building a successful franchise is having a concept that has been growing well as a freestanding business, and being able to understand how the business operates and what is at the root of its success.

National Treasury is set to address a critical anomaly in the Value-Added Tax Act, No. 89 of 1991 (VAT Act). This anomaly has significant implications for multinational companies with foreign subsidiaries.