Get in to Africa
James Hedley discusses SMEs and corporates looking to expand into Africa.
The US, Europe or Asia are all enticing markets for many SMEs and corporates looking to expand, but the barriers-to-entry in competition, never mind cost, are in many cases insurmountable.
Dig a little deeper and what’s evident is the smart money is actively prospecting and breaking ground on the content of Africa. As to why there is a growing appetite to invest where many have failed before all comes down to a combination of timing, technology and broad-based innovation.
With its rapidly growing population, coupled with the fact that it's getting younger – in 10 to 15-years-time the business sector opportunities to break into this market will equal those of today’s most competitive markets.
The pace of investment is ramping up fast already. So much so that five-out-of-10 of the world’s fastest-growing economies will be well-entrenched in Africa before 2024, and by 2034 Africa will have a bigger working-age population than India or China.
The impending arrival of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, is also another compelling reason to ready a business for continental growth. Add to that the fact that labour costs are one-third of those in the lowest-cost European countries, and all signs point to the continent as an attractive destination for businesses looking to scale, reduce overhead, and grow bottom-line returns.
Savvy South Africa-based SMEs are reading the signs and many have begun their journey north. James Hedley, co-founder and co-director of Quicket, one of South Africa’s most dynamic and pioneering businesses is one such company looking to expand its African ticketing footprint.
Africa’s Business Revolution, published by Mckinsey, has been a further inspiration for Quicket’s commitment to embracing all things African in the months and years ahead. “I think what you have to be most excited about is the exponentially growing, young up-and- coming population,” Hedley enthuses.
Historically African expansion has been hindered by logistical realities. Today, due to technological advances, the bigger challenge is more operational than it is competitive.
“This creates a massive opportunity for people who can innovate to come up with uniquely African solutions,” Hedley says. “The best example here is Mpesa, which flourished in Kenya because there was no proper banking infrastructure. There are however countless other examples in every sector from electricity to agriculture.”
SEE ALSO:
-
Chairman of Entrepreneurs Society of America claims Kenya’s economy to be driven by SMEs
-
Business leaders from the UAE and Africa join GBF Mentorship Programme
-
Read the latest issue of Business Chief, Africa edition, here
As with any new market, what’s enticing is its potential to scale. “It's essential that we can be super-efficient and innovative in rolling out our solution,” Hedley says of Quicket’s new-market considerations. “This all about creating systems, building partnerships and solving payments in a way that simultaneously works across all of the most important markets.”
“The challenge is to set up a viable operation that works for a lot less money,” he adds. “Key to this is using existing hardware (Android phone, web applications, etc.) and making things easy to use and self-managed, so you don't need to invest vast amounts in training and support.”
Rapid expansion is possible with digital solutions, compared with the traditional bricks and mortar requirements of old. With even the most basic of smartphones getting into the hands of more and more African’s the opportunity for engagement and conversion is ripe.
The caution, before entering any new market,however, is not to assume that one size fits all. A classic example of success, sighted in Mpesa’s case earlier, is not a guarantee that it will necessarily travel well. In the case of Mpesa, Vodafone looked to capitalise on its north African success in South Africa, and the market simply didn’t embrace it. Not even after two failed attempts, supported with strong marketing support.
Innovation is absolutely key, but on the ground knowledge and respect for the audience you intend appealing to is equally critical. “Companies that can adjust to these challenges, and innovate around them, should have enormous potential to tap into the world’s most significant growth market,” Hedley concludes.
The famous quote from the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, founder of Taoism, reads: ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Simply put, in an African reality, before you venture into new markets, make it your business to know if he even eats piscis first.
For more information on business topics in the Middle East and Africa, please take a look at the latest edition of Business Chief MEA.
