On 26 November 2020, several media houses published a story of Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) having frozen R111m from the bank account of one Thabo Simbini, a businessman from Hammanskraal, for his alleged fraudulent claims from the scheme designed to provide financial relief to employers and employees adversely impacted by covid-19.
Simbini is alleged to have claimed for more than six thousand employees from the Temporary Employer/ Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) when he was the only employee in his business, Impossible Services (Pty) Ltd. We take comfort in the knowledge that AFU’s action shows Simbini will be held accountable for his deeds, but such fraudulent submissions should not have initially succeeded.
We know government is inefficient, but basic reference checks could have flagged the claim as fraudulent even when using antiquated technological solutions. Lesson for us all, even small businesses, is to never relent in keeping records even if on a simple spreadsheet. Of all man-made innovations, spreadsheets should count among the best things since sliced bread. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 30 November 2020.
Despite the size of one’s business, using technology for record keeping, among others, should be normalised. Technology has now been shown to play an important role and its use should be intensified, simplified and expanded to cover may aspects of the business as far as possible and resources should be made available to enable such coverage. It follows then that though our technology usage may initially not be sufficient to meet all needs, its use should be designed with the envisioned end or future in mind so when more resources become available, it can be easier to migrate and convert from that small base to a comprehensive desired end state.
November, for many companies, is the month for finalisation of new year’s plans and budgets while reflecting on performance against plans for the year about to end. While tempting to want to put off finalising plans at this stage, preferring to start afresh upon the new year, it is better to begin the year with zealous implementation of the plan.
Digitisation should be among priorities for the new year, if not already included in past plans. From as simple as using electronic statements instead of physical paper-based ones, or using easily traceable electronic financial transactions than using cash, should be considered. Digitisation simplifies referencing and searching for information and uses fewer resources than it would take in maintaining physical objects or records. With usage of simple cloud solutions, even free ones with limited capacity, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, among others, could greatly assist in setting a good digitisation foundation. As resources become available, cloud solution capacity or even private storage solutions could be considered.
Digitisation does not mean encouragement of clutter simply because of the availability of capacity and the ease with which information can be stored. Retrieval of information should also be considered because one of the quickest ways of increasing inefficiencies is through unstructured filing of information. Start with good habits so when better resources and facilities become available, migration and sustention of such practices can be simplified.
Security and accessibility of such information should not be underestimated. In case of incapacitation, business should still operate unhindered. Care should also be taken to ensure only those authorised access the information. And even with such access, that information should not be easily copied or printed without permission. And if a breach occurs, that the business is not held to ransom or its operations hindered.
Though measures to increase security and manage access require some investment of resources, vigilance and adherence to principles can go a long way in improving the situation. Many trustworthy zero-cost resources to assist in this regard are available on the Internet. They can be used until more resources become available for improvements to be made.
Success is attained through implementation of small, yet incremental improvements while maximising usage of available resources, however small. In time, it will show that it is better to adopt this strategy than waiting for availability of resources before doing anything.
To see how greatness can be achieved through maximisation of fewer resources, just take a drive to rural areas, particularly in Limpopo, and be amazed at the extent of achievements attained by ordinary people such as domestic workers in the types and styles of houses they built – all this with their few resources. By now it should be common knowledge that success breeds success, and how better that such success be achieved from the use and maximisation of available resources.
Our biggest challenge to success is overcoming our destructive and negative thoughts. Doing nothing or postponing doing something comes easier than getting started or sustaining actions already started. But like any other task, it starts with difficulty and eases as more activities are completed. Over time, such activities become routine and feel awkward when stopped. We need not tire but encourage ourselves to doing all we can to maximise using our fewer resources while pursuing ways also of improving our situation.
Success cannot be attained amidst distractions and busyness. Limiting these should be among our priorities as we head towards the new year.
May you have the courage and energy to implement your plan and ensure it comes to pass.
Season’s greetings!