by admin | Jun 29, 2017 | News
The preliminary results from the United States Postal Service’s recently conducted “Future of the Mail” survey of 1,500 businesses signalled optimism about the future of mail. Among other findings, 69% of large business customers are engaged in direct mail activities. Three in ten businesses indicated they plan to spend more in the future on mail, not less; this number was even higher among large businesses. Across businesses of all sizes, the primary objectives for increasing direct mail are to acquire and/or retain more customers.[1] Even in a digital world, there’s something direct mail can do that you’ll never be able to accomplish digitally.[2]It can be addressed and unaddressed and still be targeted. With an enhanced database you can set up customer profiles and keep up with their growing relationship with you. Below are some of the biggest reasons why Direct Mail produces results. Direct Mail loves e-commerce. It has the following direct effect on customers: Consumers don’t just open the mail and read, they interact with it too. Offering multiple devices and ways for a consumer to get in touch with you such as QR Codes, PURL’s and Augmented Reality is a great way to ensure a response. They can select the option they feel most comfortable with. 92% were driven to online or digital activity 87% reported to make online purchases 86% connected with businesses 54% engaged with social media 43% downloaded something Millennials are receptive to Direct Mail Millennials are concerned about their experience with your company. They want quality service and a great experience. So how does this translate to direct mail? Finding a way to create...
by admin | Apr 25, 2017 | News
Last year the Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the City of Tshwane in its drive to remove 25 apartheid-era street names in Pretoria, and replace them with those who fought for the liberation of the city.[1] The street name changes will affect more than 27 000 businesses and property owners directly. In all these cases, title deeds will have to be re-issued. Furthermore, businesses will have to make significant administrative adjustments in order to accommodate the name changes.[2] Some of the costs of a street name change include: 1. New street name signage and installation cost 2. Title deed registrations for new addresses 3. Business stationery, including websites, letterheads, business cards and other corporate identity costs 4. Changes to maps and physical direction guides for new names 5. Advertisement necessary to give notice of new addresses As per the South African Geographical Names Council 849 names of residential areas, suburbs and national geographic places have been changed over the past 14 years.[3] Statistics show that the most name changes were made in Limpopo with a total of 318, followed by Mpumalanga with 136 changes. The Eastern Cape had 134 changes, the North West 127, KwaZulu-Natal 54, Western Cape 35, Gauteng 31, the Free State eight and the Northern Cape six.[4] Hendrik Verwoerd Drive, Cape Town, is now Uys Krige Drive housing businesses such as Siemens House and Protea Hotel Coen Steytler Avenue on the Foreshore was changed to Walter Sisulu Avenue. The Avenue begins at Cape Town Lower Heerengracht Boulevard circle, passing the CTICC and Cullinan Hotel. The road accommodates a number of finance and property services companies (e.g. Metlife...
by admin | Mar 13, 2017 | Uncategorized
The Information Regulator held its first public briefing on 13 February 2017 regarding the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) act, or POPIA, as it is now referred to by the Information Regulator. Newly-appointed members of the South African Information Regulator were introduced for the first time by the Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister, Mr John Jeffery, during a media briefing in Cape Town early this year. The Information Regulator consists of three fulltime and two part time members namely; Fulltime members • Advocate Pansy Tlakula – Chairperson • Advocate Lebogang Stroom-Nzama – responsible for the Promotion of Access to Information Act(PAIA) • Advocate Collen Weapond – responsible for the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) Part time members • Mr Sizwe Snail kaMtuze • Professor Tana Pistorius- both members are responsible for POPIA and PAIA The Information Regulator, which was announced 20 February 2017, is empowered to monitor and enforce compliance by public and private bodies in line with the provisions of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPI). Key highlights from the briefing are noted below POPI Act commencement date Advocate Pansy Tlakulahas stated that PoPI could only come into full operation once her office had all its affairs in order. She cautioned that this is a complicated and time consuming process which could take up to two years, but that the Information Regulator was doing everything in its power to accelerate this process and to be fully operational by the end of this year. Regulations The process of drafting regulations under PoPI is underway. Benchmarking...
by admin | Mar 8, 2017 | News
IDATA sponsored and attended the 5th annual Southern Africa Postal Operators Association (SAPOA) Postal Forum held in Durban last month. IDATA’s CEO Darryl Joubert gave a presentation of the importance of data quality in post operations, leading to increased revenue from bulk mailers and greater customer confidence. The conference theme was: Presenting the face of the Post & Logistics. Various stakeholders at the conference includedservice providers and CEOs of postal operators in the Southern African region. Delegates came together for an interactive meeting and to discuss innovation within the postal service. South African Post Office CEO Mark Barnes, who was in Cape Town at the time in discussion with Parliament on the banking license for Post Bank, gave his input via a Skype session with the conference attendees. IDATA is excited and remains optimistic about the future of the South African Post Office and other postal operators in Southern...
by admin | Oct 4, 2016 | News
On 7 September 2016 the National Assembly approved the nomination of 5 candidates to the office of the Information Regulator. The office of the Regulator will consists of 3 Full time members – Chairperson Adv Pansy Tlakula- a former Chief Electoral Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Adv Cordelia Stroom – who presently manages business processes for Legal, Risk and Compliance at Sasria Ltd., and Mr Johannes Weapond – who is currently Chairperson of the Risk Management Committee Freestate Department of Public Works Once in office the most immediate actions the Regulator is likely to take are: drafting regulations to implement the Act, which will set out compliance obligations under POPI Act; and setting a commencement date for POPI, thereby triggering the 12-month period after which the Act will be enforced The earliest the Act is predicted to be enforced is mid-2017. Organisations will not be liable for non-compliance for a period of twelve months from the commencement date.The nominations are yet to be confirmed by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and thereafter finally approved by the President....
