BY KERRY DIMMER

The Covid pandemic had a profound impact on most small business owners. Confidence Mathebe, who is affectionately known as Pinky, is no exception. Prior to 2020, she was running a successful financial services business, known as Confisolve Business Solutions (CBS), in Trompsburg in the Free State, but the business almost crashed due to the pandemic lockdown.

CBS services largely required Pinky to physically meet with her clients to receive information about their business situations and propose interventions such as coaching or giving strategic advice. Without guidance on adjusting to a post-pandemic world, Pinky struggled and needed to pivot her business strategies with haste.

The irony of needing support herself is not lost on Pinky, as CBS offers mentorship, coaching and planning services to its clients. However, she suffered from two serious health conditions: namely Long-Covid for which she sought private medical care; and clinical depression, which was aligned to her business stagnation.

For assistance, Pinky applied to the DigiBiz Coaching Programme, an initiative of the Entrepreneurial Planning Institute, Catalyst for Growth, and the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of the Western Cape. The programme brings together an ecosystem of professionals to support and boost small business growth and innovation in South Africa.

“This (DigiBiz Coaching) really helped me to understand that a person’s physical and mental health is critical to being able to make important business decisions.”

Pinky was matched with experienced leadership coach Dr Jabulile Msimango-Galawe, who authored the book Dear Mr Entrepreneurship and has 20 years of experience in the entrepreneurship space.

Pinky says that after speaking with her coach she had clarity, for the first time in two years, on how to move forward with her business. The first step was to seek help in recovering from her depression, which was impeding her ability to rescue her business.

“This (DigiBiz Coaching) really helped me to understand that a person’s physical and mental health is critical to being able to make important business decisions, which I had been unable to do,” she says.

With her health improving, Pinky was able to engage deeper with the DigiBiz Programme, her coach guiding her thinking, which she says was stuck in a pre-Covid mindset. As Pinky says: “Processes had changed and CBS had not kept up with the times. I really needed to make changes at every level.” To do so required the incorporation of digital processes, which DigiBiz encourages small businesses to explore so that they may improve their efficiency.

“I realise that I have to stay up-to-date with technology and receive appropriate training, as well as being alert to cybercrime.”

While Pinky was not fearful of such technologies, she says her lack of energy and knowledge meant she could not easily grasp how to best use digital strategies without a large budget. The DigiBiz Programme provided such clarity, allowing Pinky to make informed decisions with confidence.

Pinky’s immediate need was to make client payments easier. A handheld Speedpoint allowed her to receive payments immediately after issuing an invoice or delivery of her services. “Beyond the convenience of Speedpoint, other advantages include its safety features, and being able to reconcile invoices with the payments,” she says.

Another digital gap in CBS’s operations was flagged during discussions with her coach, namely unstable internet connectivity. In the rural area of Trompsburg this is further exacerbated by weather conditions and load shedding.

“By acquiring a new WiFi device and battery backup, CBS is now connected to the world at all times, which gives the business a competitive advantage. I can use this combination of server and battery back-up on site, and in the office,” says Pinky.

Pinky was also encouraged by DigiBiz to explore useful business applications.

“These apps can be really helpful, especially as some are free. I really enjoy using Google Forms and apps that assist me with accounting, meetings, Quicket for events and PDF form-filling,” she says.

“The DigiBiz Programme came into my life for a reason, which is to take my business to the next level.”

“There has been so much transformation within the business since DigiBiz took an interest just three months ago, that CBS has been able to shift from a predominately paper-based office to a digital workspace,” explains Pinky. “It has also helped my employees to manage their own spaces. They are very receptive and highly motivated to engage with the digital world. It also helps to have young members in my team who are constantly seeking apps that will work equally well whether you use a laptop, tablet or phone.”

While not all of CBS’s business processes are fully digital, Pinky is confident that she can now fulfill her objective for the enterprise. She says her aim is to nurture client companies to operate at maximum potential and create employment opportunities in their community.

“I realise that I have to stay up-to-date with technology and receive appropriate training, as well as being alert to cybercrime,” says Pinky. “The DigiBiz Programme came into my life for a reason, which is to take my business to the next level.”

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For more information on the DigiBiz Programme, contact DigiBiz@the-epi.org

To join the DigiBiz Network, go to https://DigiBiz.net.za