Feb 13, 2019 | News
[1] South African rural areas are often neglected or completely ignored by the rest of the country despite a significant portion of SA’s population still residing in these areas. Statistics South Africa, reported recently that slightly over four-fifths (80.1%) of South African households lived in formal dwellings, followed by 13.6% in informal dwellings, and 5.5% in traditional dwellings [2]. Rural address allocation is in the midst of being completed for large portions of the country by the South African Post office and its partners. This includes location details, registering villages within areas, identifying sections and dwellings in villages, capturing resident details such as the head of each dwelling, and postal details (post office, routing, postcode). Here are three important reasons why the accurate addressing of these rural areas are so critically important for South African citizens living in these areas: Firstly, its voting season and voter registration took place in January with general elections expected to take place in May 2019. Without an accurate SA address, voters cannot register on the voter’s roll. To complicate addressing efforts, many voting districts change shape due to various geographical, population and political changes that take place between elections [3]. Voting districts must also be aligned to new boundaries determined by the Municipal Demarcation Board [4]. Secondly, an address provides the basic tool in planning for municipalities. Without this basic data point, municipalities struggle to align budgeting and project implementation with strategic priorities affecting much-needed infrastructure development and basic service delivery. Lastly, residents residing in rural areas are becoming increasingly more important as recipients... read more
Jun 26, 2018 | News
South African addresses have several functions including a means of physically locating a property or a building; for FICA and Know Your Customer compliance; as parameters in statistics collection and marketing segmentation, to name a few [1]. Addresses are still the most widely accepted representation of a location and essential data elements to an address are accurate suburbs and respective postal codes. We note on that on average there are approximately 50 changes every month to the South African suburb-postcode table file, of approximately 16 000 records, which includes both street and box related postcodes. Of these changes, approximately 80% are new suburb additions and on average there are four suburbs per postcode, with a maximum of 210. With an average number of streets per suburb of 30, these 50 changes per month to the suburb-postcode file, potentially affects up to 1 500 streets per month (including box addresses). The potential number of actual delivery points affected is within the range of 3-10 times this number (4 500 – 15 000), not taking into consideration multi-unit complexes or buildings with multiple letterboxes which would significantly increase this number [2]. SA postcode and suburb data were collected from several publically-available lookup websites as common sources for these data. The total number of records and accuracy of these data were then compared to IDATA’s SA Suburb & Postal Code tables. IDATA’s tables are the most current and accurate in the country as they are actively researched in conjunction with our client companies, municipalities, property developers, estate agents, and the South African Post Office (SAPO) on an ongoing... read more
Nov 22, 2017 | News
[1] South Africa recently suffered its largest data breach as the sensitive and private information of estimated 30 million personal records, dead or alive, with a South African ID number (13 digit identity number) were leaked on the Internet [2]. The breach contains‚ among other things; ID numbers‚ ages‚ locations‚ marital status‚ occupations‚ estimated income‚ physical addresses and cell phone numbers. It remains unclear what the source of the information was [3]. South Africa is implementing its Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), which restricts how companies handle personal data to safeguard individuals from security breaches. A new report by IBM Security and Ponemon Institute finds that the average cost of a data breach in South Africa is R 32.36 million – a 12% increase from 2016. The study found that these data breaches cost companies on average R 1,632 per lost or stolen record [4]. Top factors that contributed to the increase of cost of a data breach in South Africa include compliance failures and the extensive use of mobile platforms for companies that embrace Bring Your Own Device for its employees. The danger of the digital world is that attacks or data theft can happen unnoticed [5]. Cyber-attacks are getting more and more sophisticated and it can often take a few years for a company to realise it has been hacked. On average, local companies took 155 days to identify a breach, and 44 additional days to contain a breach once discovered [6]. A data breach currently unravelling in the news is that of Uber, who disclosed this past Tuesday that hackers had... read more
Sep 29, 2017 | News
Source [1] Part one of this article showcased that it’s certainly not small pocket change when it comes to the ongoing cost of renaming streets in South Africa. The further impact of this will now be explored in part two of this article where we look at changes to South African Post Codes and Suburbs which affects addressing in SA. As previously discussed, there is an ongoing number of place name changes being proposed by the South African Geographical Names Council [2]. In addition to this, municipalities (eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities and 226 local municipalities) and other property development bodies in the country affect the naming and access to existing and newly developed streets, where individuals reside and businesses operate from. None of these bodies is regulated by any central governmental authority and is effectively autonomous and independent of each other. This creates problems in managing and maintaining customer databases where physical and postal addresses are used. Therefore, the effective management of the SA address, composed of streets, suburbs and postcodes, needs to happen reactively. That is to say that SA individuals and businesses are responsible for informing their service providers of changes to their address that they are aware of, or new street and suburb place names in that the of new residential, commercial and industrial land developments. Changes to the suburb name or relevant postcode for a given street name affects mail delivery directly but also a host of other public and private services indirectly, including verification of proof of residence which is of critical importance for FICA and financial Know-Your-Customer compliance. IDATA... read more
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... read more
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... read more
Sep 1, 2016 | News
3 reasons why Direct Mail appeals to customers What’s been your experience? Are you more likely to make a purchase based on something you first saw in print in your letter box or online in your inbox? Are you part of the 33% who find direct mail the most effective way to remember a product? How about the 79% of consumers who will act on direct mail immediately? Or maybe you’re part of the 74% of consumers who can’t wait to find out what’s in their letter box?[1] In a tough economy when businesses are slashing budgets and wanting a clear ROI on every Rand spent, there’s nothing like direct marketing to validate your marketing investment. Businesses love finding new ways to connect with customers, but what if one of the oldest ways is still one of the most effective? Part of direct mail’s longevity is its strong results, but those results don’t come without challenges. One important detail is making sure you have a strong list: a list with appropriate up-to-date information on your target market.[2] A well-executed direct mail campaign, combined with work in other channels, will get noticed and build engagement with your target audience. In fact, it must be considered for any one-to-one campaign, if strategy, time and budget are to align. According to the 2015 DMA (USA) Response Rate Report: Direct mail is over 7x more effective than all digital channels combined. Direct Mail, even with its higher cost, offers the same ROI as social media at 15% – 17%. 3.73% is the median direct mail response rate for warm prospects that have... read more
May 18, 2016 | News
The Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) readiness for the municipal elections was called into question when the Electoral Court instructed it to postpone by-elections in Tlokwe, North West, due to problems with addresses on the voters’ roll. The IEC then postponed by-elections around the country, suggesting the problems might be more extensive. The Electoral Court decision came months after the Constitutional Court last year also found problems with the voters’ roll in the area.[1] Several irate South Africans have since taken to social media to complain about the fact that after living at the same address for over 20 years, they are suddenly receiving an SMS from the IEC informing them that the IEC does not have their address. Lance Mitchell DFS, @sempir (2016, 11 April): “How could my home address change from one election to the next if I haven’t moved for the last 10 years? #IEC.” René, @runawayrene (2016, 12 April): “Registered at voting station at Umhlanga. Not asked for proof of address. How can IEC be sure I am legitimate?” Magasela, @NtokozoMagasela (2016, 13 April): “Registered #IEC I’ve always been a voter based in Diepkloof but as to how my address ended up being in Zola I have no idea!” The IEC has been sending the text messages in an effort to get voters to register their addresses ahead of the 3 August 2016 Municipal Elections.The messages are being sent to 5.3 million (whose cellphone numbers the IEC has sourced) of the 6.92 million voters for whom the IEC says they do not have addresses. Efforts to reach the remaining 1.6 million voters include radio adverts and... read more
Apr 15, 2016 | News
The Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA) was formed in 2008 with the mandate of playing a significant role in promoting a culture of savings and investment in South Africa by working as a united body towards making financial services more relevant to the consumer.[1] ASISA represents the majority of the country’s asset managers, collective investment scheme management companies, linked investment service providers, multi-managers and life insurancecompanies.[2] ASISA issued a Standard on Unclaimed Assets that came into effect on 1 June 2013 and set out the tracing process that should be followed by life companies. It also stipulated what should happen to assets when beneficiaries cannot be traced. Since the implementation of the Standard on Unclaimed Assets, Life Insurers have reunited 431 364 policyholders and beneficiaries with their unclaimed benefits.[3] More than three million South Africans are owed more than R45 billion in unpaid benefits from retirement funds they have left already.[4] As of January 2016, the same Standard was extended to include Collective Investment Scheme assets. ASISA is engaging with the Financial Services Board on extending the principles contained in the Standard to cover unclaimed pension fund benefits. The main elements of the standard on Unclaimed Assets: Member companies have to report to ASISA once a year on efforts to trace policyholders or beneficiaries, and cases that have not been settled within three years. These statistics will be made available to the Financial Services Board Prescription will not apply. Therefore, an unpaid benefit is a debt of a respective company to a policyholder, but does not have to be paid after a period three years[5] A... read more
Dec 12, 2008 | News
Intimate Data has launched it’s next innovative product in the SA Market. Intimate Score will analyse any Customer Base, PER Product, and build a Response Score Card. This allows a company to select true prospects based on the desired Response Percentages. Intimate Score can be utilized for Cross Sell, Up Sell, as well as true Prospect Targeting for Direct Mail... read more
