Budget Management
Into Africa’s consultant have many years experience in quoting and Into Africa has put systems in place to support the quoting process ensuring that quotes are efficiently and accurately done. Into Africa invests in its staff on an on-going basis especially focusing on skills development.
Procurement Policy
Into Africa has developed its procurement policy to bring it in line within the South African context. On an operational level this means that many of the suppliers that service our offices are small businesses run by people from previously disadvantaged communities. As for our tourism suppliers Into Africa is developing its own Preferred Supplier list. Companies which qualify as Preferred Suppliers are those with which we have good working relationships, which have a good track record financially, which fulfill our Insurance and Safety requirements and where possible meet our CSR considerations.
Crisis Management Strategy
Into Africa has brought in a Disaster and Emergency Management Consultant (DEMS) who has run workshops with the Into Africa staff and assisted us in establishing a basic Crisis Management Strategy.
Risk Management
Into Africa has sought professional advice with regard to our Risk Exposure to ensure that our Public Liability Insurances are adequate.
Into Africa has implemented the procedures recommended to us by our Disaster and Emergency Management Consultant (DEMS) to reduce our exposure and that of our clients to Risk.
Into Africa recognizes the need for quality staff training in this field and has made this available to our staff.
Into Africa works only with suppliers that meet our standards in terms of Professionalism, Compliance and Insurance, thereby reducing Risk as much as possible up front. Our staff has many years experience in identifying potential risk areas and are encouraged to undertake a full risk “walk–thru” at site inspection stage.
Risk is assessed throughout the life of any project and clients are kept well informed of any new developments.
Financial Management
Into Africa has sought legal advice in drawing up our Terms and Conditions Policy this we have identified as key to ensuring the long term stability and security of our company. Into Africa has a good, strong track record financially since 1991.
Company Management
Being a small, owner run company, Into Africa has a strong handle of its running expenses. Into Africa has a professional accounting package which assists us in running a tight ship and making sure that operating costs do not go over budget.
Professional Staff
Into Africa puts great score on the quality of the staff it employs. Managing Director, Nick Buckland, has a business management degree from Cranfield and runs the company using sound business practices.
The employment of new members to the team is something which is taken very seriously. New team members need to be able to work together with our team cohesively. Staff members are chosen on their good language skills as we feel it is imperative that our staff can communicate with our clients clearly and professionally. This we find essential so that exact client requirements can be efficiently interpreted and carried out, saving time both for us and for the client.
The training, systems and time that we invest in our staff has paid off over the years and Into Africa has a high level of staff retention as a result – meaning great teamwork and better service levels delivered.
Partnerships
Into Africa has worked hard to build strong business partnerships both with the international trade and with the supplier chain. Our advantageous partnership with &Beyond means that Into Africa has the buying power of a large company while still being able to offer the focus, service oriented delivery of a small company. Our buying power is important. In general we have negotiated preferential rates which mean that if a full range of services are purchased through us, including accommodation, we can reduce our management fee.