The Corporate SMME Development Forum (CSDF), a section 21 company (non-profit organisation) formed by some of South Africa`s largest corporations to boost the growth of job and wealth creating SMME`s, is building an SMME market place. The e-hub will be powered by Infobank Africa`s InTrade suite of software solutions and services.
This is the first e-hub in South Africa dedicated to enhancing trade between big business and the growing SMME sector.
Dr Douglas Boateng, CEO of Infobank Africa - a wholly owned, local subsidiary of the U.K. based Infobank International Holdings plc, says that technology, procurement, supply chain management and globalisation are factors that challenge the ability of SMME`s to trade with big business.
`The implementation of InTrade software to e-enable SMME`s is a prime example of how experience gained internationally by our parent company and locally by Infobank Africa interacts to the benefit of all sectors of the business spectrum in South Africa.`
Cyril Ramaphosa, newly appointed non-executive chairman of Infobank Africa says `As a member of the CSDF, we are committed to actions that support and grow the expanding SMME sector as a means of achieving sustainable economic growth whilst enhancing black empowerment. We strongly support initiatives that lead to the empowerment and upliftment of African business. We are proud to be associated with the provision of a market place for SMME`s, the first SMME-related contract in which Infobank Africa has been involved.`
CSDF chairman Justin Meth of PPC Cement says the provision of a trading hub to provide e-commerce connectivity between big business Forum members and accredited suppliers is an important milestone in the CSDF`s strategy of assisting in the growth of the SMME sector in South Africa.
Infobank`s InTrade suite of software solutions has been chosen because it automates the procurement process and leads to significant reductions in service, inventory and administrative costs for both purchaser and supplier. It enhances control, improves management reporting and accountability and increases the overall competitiveness of SMME`s.
`The task of the CSDF since the Forum`s inception five years ago has been to create meaningful opportunities to grow the role of SMME`s in the economy. This development is a logical progression towards providing SMME`s with the tools to grow their role as the driving force behind sustainable economic growth.`
The Forum`s executive director, Roland Charles, says the need to provide SMME`s with easy access to technology was met initially through the CSDF web site and online database.
`Accessibility to the stand-alone e-hub is limited to Forum members and accredited small firms. The business model for the SMME portal is founded on the knowledge base of suppliers maintained by the CSDF through its accreditation process and on the existing trade between these suppliers and Forum members.`
Charles says that the CSDF is convinced that e-enabling SMME`s is a vital component in boosting the economic empowerment of the small business sector.
`We have already accredited the first 100 suppliers, whose turnovers range from R300 000 to R140m per annum, and look forward to substantial traffic through the portal as users begin realising the full potential of this facility.
The involvement of Ntsika as a development partner will further enhance the ability of SMME`s to enter the digital economy.
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Infobank Africa
InTrade( software is supplied and supported in Africa by Infobank Africa, a wholly owned subsidiary of FTSE Infobank International, Europe`s leading electronic business-to-business (eb2b) software solutions company. The InTrade suite of products, based on industry standard Web server and browser technology with full support for international trading, comprises three fully integrated modules that span the full spectrum of B2B e-commerce activity. Intrade Purchaser is an Intranet-based e-procurement software package with support for multiple currencies, languages, locations and tax regimes. Intrade Supplier is a web-based e-supply solution that automates and controls the sales and customer management process. InTrade e-Hub provides the technology infrastructure for the development and management of electronic trading communities.
CSDF
The CSDF works to create and maintain an environment for profitable business linkages between big businesses and SMME`s owned by previously disadvantaged individuals. The CSDF was conceived in 1995 at a gathering of Corporate Practitioners engaging in Affirmative Procurement. It was registered as a Section 21 company in 1997 and opened its National and Gauteng offices in November 1999. Its Directors are all delegates representing their companies. They are elected at the AGM and serve for a 12-month period. A professional management team deals with the day-to-day operations.