For that reason, we build differently
There is something special about Heritage Month. You can hear the braais sizzling, the eish clinking, and the hadedas hadeda-ing. These are the sounds that call us to come together.
As the whole country physically and metaphorically seems to thaw from the winter season, we celebrate and honour our South Africanness. Over the past year, many notable South Africans have continued to thrive on the field, on our screens, and in our hearts.
But what does this South Africanness look like? Not from the perspective of the headlines, but rather, that of the bottom line?
Local is still really lekker
Let’s face it, we do love us a locally-made product. We really embrace this philosophy, the benefits of buying and supporting local. Beyond the feel-good factor, there is an “if you know, you know” element. There are certain products and services South Africans need, that only a South African could create.
Our braais are built different (don’t come at us with no gas BBQ nonsense). Our beers taste different. And the smell of a pannekoek outside the shops on a Saturday morning, well, that just hits different entirely.
The same can and should be said about the B2B space.
We trade in trust. For reals.
As South Africans, we’ve had our fair share of broken promises. Whether it’s water, or lights or simply saying RIP to your tyres after a trip down a road that’s holier than a Sunday. Let’s face it, we have trust issues.
In fact, in the B2B space, trust is even more important because the deliverables and the services rendered are often intangible. Unlike our B2C counterparts: You buy a t-shirt. There’s a hole in it. You see it is poor quality. Much easier path to enlightenment.
In B2B, your investment is less clear. It might be in streamlined processes, increased sales, decreased risks. And the holes here are a lot harder to see.
So, trust equity is even more of a decision-making factor for businesses.
South African’s build from a place of problem-solving rather than simply product or service creation. So, we hold ourselves to a higher standard.
In SA-to-SA businesses, you’d better believe we hold it to a higher standard than “we hope it works”. It absolutely must deliver on its promise.
We invest in ‘rugged’ solutions. Because South Africa’s a tough country.
We trust certain bakkie brands with our lives, right? They have been built with our needs in mind. They have a reputation for getting the job done, no matter what.
As decision-makers, we are often tempted to look overseas for big-brand solutions. But let’s apply bakkie-thinking when we look for a B2B partner or supplier.
Why? Because most local businesses create solutions for South African problems. So, whilst B2B products and services may not rumble like an engine, taste like a beer, or smell like a pancake, we deeply meet a South African need in a way that no international brand can.
Who better to trust with your business than a business that faces the same challenges as you? On a daily basis. And, more importantly, has overcome these, and can help you do the same?
We proudly share in the mentality that “Hulle weet nie, wat ons weet nie“. But then we trust some of those who are not “ons”, with the livelihood of “ons” companies to “weet“ what we “weet“ they “weet nie”. You “weet“ what we mean?
Simply put, we are built differently. And so, we build differently.
On the sports field, in a factory or around the boardroom, we build from a lifetime of grit, resilience and passion. No one does it quite like we can. We get the value of trust equity, like no one else does.
And let’s be honest, as South Africans our BS radar is in “always on” mode. We don’t like being messed around.
South African-built businesses like Skynamo understand this. In B2B, you deal in trust, not just contracts.
So, how do you know who you can trust? Well, you look for trust cues along the way. Like testimonials, values, case studies, referrals. You find out if the company is still innovating, or if they’ve quietly stopped trying to solve new problems. You ask around and see what others think of a company before you answer their email or book a demo.
Ultimately, you want tech, services and products to be designed with you in mind, and the people you work with to do what they say they will.
And trust, in South Africa, is worth more than anything. Even more so in the B2B space where you engage in intangibles over a long period of time.
Ultimately, that’s why we trust other South African businesses to patch the holes in our business. Because they have learned to create a solution from patching their own.
I like it when you talk foreign
So, to recap: we are built differently, and we build differently. By South Africans, for South Africans. Get it? Got it? Good. Let’s go further.
It’s not only South Africans who appreciate how we are built differently. Beyond the rugby field (where we’re numero uno, as a gentle reminder), South African work ethic, candor and creativity are widely acknowledged at an international level.
Why wouldn’t it be, right? South Africans and South African business are built on resilience, grit and passion. And the most important thing of all we build: trust.
All that‘s to say, next time you’re in the business to do business… make sure it’s a South African one.
Happy Heritage Month, fellow Saffers. You legends!
written by Taylea du Toit (Marketing Manager)
