BEE charter-beaters have the edge

The trend to proactive BEE engagement has been identified by EmpowerLogic, BEE measurement rating and strategy development consultancy.

So far, only three industries have "active" BEE charters in place - the oil, mining and financial services sectors.

Yet Prince Booi, of EmpowerLogic, says an increasing number of business enquiries about compliance measurement and BEE acceleration come from enterprises that operate outside the charter-driven industries.

Says Booi: "This is a sign that go-ahead companies already recognise that BEE compliance creates a competitive edge. They are not waiting for industry charters to be drawn up. The competitive battle-lines have already been drawn. To steal a march on their competitors they are eager to boost their BEE status and improve their strategic position."

"The message is clear for reactive companies who don't seem to 'get it'... it's a mistake to use slow-moving industry-wide consultations as an excuse to sit tight, wait and see. It's in your own interest to take the initiative and improve your BEE profile ahead of your industry peers. If you don't, your competitors will."

Experience at EmpowerLogic indicates that strategic advantages can be achieved in terms of new business gains (specifically from tender processes involving government and quasi-government enterprises), staff motivation, the corporate skills-base and consumer insight as companies become more representative of the markets they serve.

In some cases, companies concerned about compliance find they already have a solid BEE foundation, though a thorough investigation is needed to determine their precise BEE status.

EmpowerLogic uses standardised processes and broad based BEE balanced scorecard to establish the "AS IS" BEE score first. Its consultants then engage in scenario planning with senior executives of client companies to explore optimum BEE outcomes, timeframes and investments.

Says Booi: "Empowerment will soon cease to be a novelty. We will then enter a scenario in which BEE status by itself will no longer differentiate a company. The key differentiator then becomes when a company embraced BEE and the quality and pricing of their products. Companies that moved along with everyone else will simply be saying 'Me-Too' while the BEE winners will be pointing to their early-adopter status. This is why a proactive BEE stance is so vital."