Vodacom is launching a series of workshops and interactive sessions called the Fast Forward Series, to drive significant growth and change within the South African business environment.
Fatima Hassim, Managing Executive: Fixed and Mobile, Vodacom Business, said, 'Our objective here is to create an environment that will address key business challenges – focusing on helping them to develop strategies to survive and thrive in today’s digital economy. The initial phase has workshops and collaborative sessions that will be focused on helping SMEs streamline and accelerate business processes and growth. This initial phase will see up to 480 businesses given free access to content and receive hands-on training from experts to grow their digital skills. As the trusted partner of choice for businesses in South Africa, we want to help them understand and prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution by adopting the technology that is being made available to optimise their business processes and efforts.'
'We have partnered with digital pioneers, some of the best in the industry, to pave the way for South African businesses looking to undergo a digital transition. We look forward to a successful initial phase and are certain there will be room to grow in the future. Our ambition is to connect and grow our SMEs to become as large as our network,' adds Fatima.
About the series
Vodacom will be breaking the initial series down into two parts. The Growth Hacking Workshops, facilitated by WeAreMonsters, will give 30 businesses the opportunity to book over three-month-long sessions that will comprise of engaging eight-hour workshops followed up by an in-depth evaluation and plan of action that will recommend the best way forward for each business. The Business Acceleration workshops comprise four sessions, monthly, done in collaboration with Google, Facebook and Business Doctors. These will facilitate workshops with 30 businesses per session and will provide them with tools to evaluate their 'Business Health' giving them key tools to create more efficient business processes and, leverage Google and Facebook optimally to reach the right customers at the right time through social media advertising and Search Engine Optimisation.
This type of hands-on engagement is priceless for small-to-medium business owners in need of advice and reassurance that they’re up to speed with the new ways of finding, selling to and serving their customers. This is also the first time Google is partnering with a telco to provide skills to small business owners in South Africa. Powered by Samsung, attendees not only get access to first-grade content but will also experience the new technology they have available and the power of mobile through an office simulation installed in the Business Experience Centre also the first of its kind launched by a Telco in Africa.
Businesses, specifically SME’s, today are required to stay relevant and in touch with the latest trends to be able to adapt to the rapidly transforming market in which they operate.
'As a support network for small businesses, we’re dedicated to helping SMEs successfully integrate into the digital economy and grow. By partnering with Vodacom on the Fast Forward Series, we will jointly set SMEs up for future economic growth. Our focus is on helping SMEs succeed through applied business development solutions,' Steve Sutton, Chief Executive Officer at Business Doctors an ecosystem partner for the Fast Forward series.
The first phase for the series runs until the end of November. For more information please visit Vodacom Business online.
