Plan under way for service offering extension

22nd January 2016

By: Donna Slater

Features Deputy Editor and Chief Photographer

  

Font size: - +

Germiston-based bearings and power transmission company Bearings International (BI) is extending its in-house skills development to offer clients total solutions.

“Fierce competition in terms of price cuts, as well as new entrants to the market, remains a challenge, requiring BI to internally investigate ways through which it can provide quality customer services, despite the pressures,” says CEO Burtie Roberts.

Despite the challenge, he notes that the company is confident that its substantial investment in its quality brands, together with BI’s attractive value propositions, will ensure that it continues to deliver sustainable growth.

Roberts mentions that this is encouraging for the company, as there were performance improvements in some segments during the first half of 2015, supported by more relevant segmented offerings to the automotive and aftermarket segments and improvements in cost enhancements.

In terms of irregular exchange-rate pressures, he points out that, as a gross domestic product-driven business, BI has no control over the macrodynamics and, therefore, changes in the exchange rate will always have a significant impact on the company’s performance.

Its strategy to respond to such ongoing challenges is focused on “doing what it does best” – providing the best-quality products and service for customers.

Roberts adds that, in BI’s dealings with its customers, there is an understanding that economic pressure places more pressure on customers to do more with less.

“Owing to this, we train our clients to ensure they have an understanding of the products they buy from us, from product handling to fitment and maintenance. “These training costs are recoverable through relevant sector education and training authorities (Setas) from the National Skills Development Fund,” he says.

Moreover, as BI enters the new digital world in the engineering space, where customers research information on applications that will improve their business online, the company maintains a strategic focus to ensure it has the appropriate talent and capabilities to deliver on its new mission and vision.

“The success of BI is built upon the calibre of its people and its ability to offer well-rounded expertise in our solutions,” says Roberts.

In this regard, he states that BI invests extensively in skills and training. Through its blue chip Seta-aligned product training courses and training provided by some of its suppliers that have a vast knowledge on worldwide developments, the company ensures that customers get the highest return on investment, while maintaining its competitive edge and developing effective, transformational leaders.

“We strongly believe we should rather compete on value to ensure that our cost price fairly reflects the cost of providing advanced, industry-specific solutions and services, and thus safeguard industry sustainability.”

BI product and engineering head Ross Trevelyan says the market for motors, drives and mechanical power transmission is vital for the company, as it represents the core product group of BI.

Sustainable Future
BI currently ranks as a Level 3 broad-based black economic empowerment contributor.

“The way of doing business has changed; it is no longer business as usual. “We pride ourselves on employees who are loyal, with some having been with the company for many years, confirming its expertise and knowledge in the solutions it provides,” notes Roberts.

He highlights that innovation from its partners is also central to maintaining a competitive advantage, with BI having implemented a number of initiatives in support especially in its stock levels, to meet the demand.

“Similarly, a seamless customer experience in delivery and implementation of our solutions is critical to our leadership position,” Roberts says.

BI’s main sectors are the automotive original-equipment manufacturers and aftermarket clients in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and other sub-Saharan Africa countries.

“With our 47-branch network, we support clients in most major cities. “Our focus is to be the preferred partner in these areas before considering any expansion. However, where the Hudaco group (of which BI is a subsidiary) expands through acquisitions, we will be willing to look into those areas of opportunity,” notes Roberts.

In terms of the future of BI, Roberts says it will be key to leverage technology shifts and deliver more services through the branch network with the support of its back-end staff.

Edited by Zandile Mavuso
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION