Big business embracing entrepreneurial innovation and agility

[TeamSouthAfrica]

The spirit of entrepreneurship through the use of rare skills and creating innovative business relationships is alive and well in South Africa. This is attested to by the winners of South Africa’s unique The Growth Engines TV series, which saw their ability to provide innovative solutions across the ‘big business/SME divide’ worth nearly R1 million.

Showcasing the innovation driven through collaboration between big and small business, The Growth Engines featured success to inspire others about a future world of doing business in South Africa and abroad.

The Standard Bank-supported series, presented by Pavlo Phitidis on Business Day TV, underlined the effectiveness of large companies and their SME suppliers working together to deliver specialised skills to meet business and client needs. It also highlighted the ingenuity and can-do spirit of entrepreneurs posed with challenges to produce world-class solutions for the benefit of South Africans.

Of the 34 worthy businesses featured in the series, winners in three categories were selected.

Innovation and Strategy category: GridCars with BMWi

GridCars came up with a solution for BMW’s electrically driven cars that alerted when the cars needed to be refueled, closest plug in points, pre-booking refueling with an electronic payment system.

Innovation and Cost category: Qrent with the Discovery Group

Qrent delivered a cost saving solution to Discovery offering them refurbished desktop machines saving them approximately R30 million.

Innovation and Value category: The Bespoke Amenities Co. with the Legacy Hotel Group

The Bespoke Amenities Co. displayed its innovative spirit by manufacturing its own range of products of soaps, shampoos lotions and other hotel toiletries, for the Legacy Hotel Group.

To view previous episodes and in-depth articles on themes explored on The Growth Engines, log on at bizconnect.standardbank.co.za